Do you think your snakes can be affectionate?

RachelS. · 02-08-03, 03:25 PM

Today I took out my black blood python and layed him on the ground next to me. Next thing I knew, he was cuddling up to me so I hugged him and pet down his back for a while. He really seemed to enjoy it. He actually went up to me and sat in my lap! It was so cute! Maybe it was because of my body heat? Or do you think snakes can actually understand how to "love" someone in a snake-like way?
I would also like to share an experience last year. My friend was holding my female boa constrictor as we were watching TV, and the snake seemed a bit restless after a while. She slithered over and got all snuggly in my lap then curled up. She just layed there for about 45 minutes before I decided to put her back in her enclosure. It was weird, though. I never knew snakes would actually "go" to their owners like a dog or cat and want to be warm and loving.
I have also heard of burmese pythons getting excited when they see their keepers. It's a very cute thing, actually.
But anyway, do you believe snakes can show the affection they have? Do you think they have this sense of personality? I believe they do after witnessing my experiences. It's an incredible herp world out there...

honduranfreekk · 02-08-03, 03:32 PM

Hey Rachel I once had a 16 foot retic kiss me in the back of the leg lol dont think it was love tho loland i did not love the doc after the stitches

j/k

hehe

tightsqueeze · 02-08-03, 04:52 PM

i totaly believe it is possable .... my ball python is skiddish and restless id everyones hands exept mine and my g/fs

snakemann87 · 02-08-03, 04:59 PM

Aw thats awesome, I hope my burm and boa become like that

If not, I'll love them just as much anyways though. But my boa seems to REALLY enjoy being handled, when i come in she'll rub up against the screen to her lid.

PoiSoNouS · 02-08-03, 05:21 PM

My big burm is always getting exited each time Im in the snake room, he goes to the door and tries to get out, once hes out on my shoulders.. he gets quite calm.. I dont know if its only because hes tired of his enclosure or if he really enjoys our company.. And he hisses when someone else is handling him...

Little Burm Sunkiss gets nervous when someone else is handling her too.. like the vet... heheh but with us shes an Angel...

Maybe its just the smell... they get used to us and maybe feel confortable with what they know..

Maybe its just that..

Tim_Cranwill · 02-08-03, 05:51 PM

I wish they could show or feel affection but I thinks it's pretty much a scientific fact that they can't

snakemann87 · 02-08-03, 06:02 PM

, oh well, still love em

Jeromerules · 02-08-03, 06:35 PM

I think my ball python is a lover not a fighter. I have yet to see him eat. I've had hiim for nearly 1 month now and when I leave him in a container that is dark for an hour he is usually resting and cuddling with the mouse that he is supposed to be eating. i call him a big baby. He like to cuddle up to me too because i am warm. Anyways. He is about 1 month and half old. And wow I noticed a growth it's cool to watch them grow. Sorry for getting off topic. But yeah. Snakes i think have personalities and like different things.

marisa · 02-08-03, 06:50 PM

Definitly think snakes can become accustomed to a person and being handled. But like cranwill said its not really possible for them to feel love. Love doesn't have a place when you are trying to survive in the wild so there is no reason they would ever become able to love.

Marisa

JasonBrennan · 02-08-03, 08:17 PM

I do not think that a snake (or any reptile, for that matter) has any concept of love, affection, or anything remotely resembling it. I do think that they can become used to handling, and that they do not feel threatened when handled, and some people take that as enjoyment.

Think about how big a snakes head is. Now think about how small his/her brain actually is. As far as I know, snakes are pretty much instinctive creatures, and at most, simply become conditioned to captivity.

Not to take away from anyone who believes that their pet love's them. If you love your pet, that is what matters.

katev17 · 02-08-03, 10:15 PM

Hmm I actually am in the process of reading a book that proves reptiles can have the concepts of love & affection as such .... well it also proves that all kinds of other animals can but it talks about snakes and reptiles and such.. I will try to find the name of it cuz I actually forgot about it ....

Kate

marisa · 02-08-03, 10:34 PM

How does it go about "proving" ??

Just curious
marisa

Lisa · 02-08-03, 10:42 PM

I think a snake may enjoy being handled, but not because they like you as a person, but because you are warm and smell familiar. I do know some snakes hate being handled.

snakemann87 · 02-08-03, 10:44 PM

i agree with lisa

katev17 · 02-08-03, 11:06 PM

I haven't gotten to it yet, but so far the first part of the chapter goes into stories about why one would think an animal is capable of these feelings, and then the other is the similarities between hormones excreted in humans and hormones in other animals... so we'll wait and see what the book has to say... also, just cuz the book says it doesn't mean it's true... Anyone with enough money can publish whatever they want!!!

I'd like to think that they are capable, but Lisa's theory is much more likely. Oh well, I guess I'll see what the book has to say.

Kate