Snakes ARE affectionate - Page 4

elkied243 · 04-23-15, 05:00 PM

I would love to think that my snakes loved me back but I know unfortunately that they don't. Apollo can't stand me half the time and would rather be left to wander alone (I don't let him), and while Bubbles enjoys my sleeves he too enjoys his freedom. I believe my snakes have personalities and that they do to an extent appreciate the fact that I feed them but I don't believe it is affection they feel. Snakes don't even like to be around each other 90% of the time...why would they feel any differently around us?

**lady_bug87** · 04-23-15, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

sooooo............looking at the reptilian brain.....inspecting the structures that are actually present, and noting the structures that are absent from said brain....noting that there is absence of certain structures that are responsible for formation of emotional thought patterns....and given all of this demonstrable data...oh well....

I. Love. This. So. Much

RAD House · 04-23-15, 05:51 PM

"snakes don't have a limbic system. Someone keeps saying they "experience the same chemical reactions we do" but that isn't true(at least not to the extent suggested) because their physiology is completely different."

I am sorry but this statement is entirely untrue according to modern science. I think you are referring to the triune theory that has been proven entirely false. This theory lead people to believe that the basal ganglia was known as the reptilian brain because according to this theory this is the only part of the brain reptiles possess. This is a false statement. It is now known that brain structure and chemistry is identical in all vertebrates from the lamprey to humans. The only thing that differs is the size and functionality of each part of the brain. This is the same theory that led to the term "bird brained" when in fact several species of birds are more intelligent than most mammals. cough cough "your cat" cough cough. I do agree with you about the op's display animal statement, it was a bit outlandish.

MDT I am sorry if this discussion has offended you in some way. I find it quite interesting, but you are probably right I am a nerd.

MDT · 04-23-15, 06:16 PM

Not offended at all...I am quite nerdish as well....

This is the beauty of dialogue (with some decent ribbing thrown in for good measure)...we learn form each other.

If you have reference to legit peer reviewed studies, please post 'em up....I would love to see them and I'm not above revising my sentiments if the science is legit. That's what science is all about. However, to my knowledge, I have not seen any studies that would suggest that reptiles love each other, let alone me

BTW...my cat doesn't fly into windows. Just sayin'

reptiledude987 · 04-23-15, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

BTW...my cat doesn't fly into windows. Just sayin'

LMFAO. So true.

sophiedufort · 04-23-15, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

My retics could give a rat's behind who or what i am....when I open the enclosure, it's game time. Unless I break that response by tapping with a snake stick, paper towel roll, etc, if I put my hand in the enclosure, I will get bitten. Every. Single. Time.

I had ten snakes so far, not counting two that I found in the garden and kept for a couple of days before releasing them. I have never, ever been bitten. Not once. I reach inside my snakes' enclosures a hundred times a day, and they are never hostile. Then again, I hold them for hours on end, and pet them just as much, and so does my husband. The only snake that sometimes seems to be on the edge is my smallest Brazilian rainbow boa. She is ready to strike when I reach into the feeding tub to pick her up after she ate, but as soon as she can smell me she ceases her display of aggression and lets me grab her.

MDT · 04-23-15, 06:36 PM

A hundred times a day? Literally? And you hold them for hours.....so you take an ectothermic animal from a controlled environment and subject them to room temperature for hours... and they don't act froggy? I guess if I was an ectotherm and you cooled me off like that, I'd probably be a little "docile" too

btw, I've had hundreds (ok..well..over 150) of snakes since 1976....my "n" is greater than your "n"....

RAD House · 04-23-15, 06:44 PM

My point to this whole thing is that love is entirely a human construct and has many facets. Also that there are more similarities to snakes and humans than most know, this disparity is due to the fact that we must place ourselves above every other species. If someone wants to use these similarities to think that their beloved pets love them back, I see no issue with that. As far as I know there is not all that much is known about reptile brain function compared to mammals. Birds used to be in this same boat but recent studies have shown that we were entirely misguided in our prior ideas about them. I know you were joking but birds flying into windows has more to do with the way they see than brain function.

sophiedufort · 04-23-15, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

"I do agree with you about the op's display animal statement, it was a bit outlandish.

I see that a few people felt attacked by my statement relating to 'display pets', and I apologize if my comments seemed to be offending. That was not my intention. What I was actually trying to say, is that some people get reptiles just for the thrill of it, stick them in an enclosure and don't really care, nor try to understand the needs of their pets. I think that a snake owner, just like every pet owner, in general, should get fully involved in the care of their pet, respect and love that pet, not use it as a thrill factor. I referred to 'display pets' in the first place because I felt that some members' comments about snakes were too blunt and unfair.

SSSSnakes · 04-23-15, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sophiedufort

I had ten snakes so far, not counting two that I found in the garden and kept for a couple of days before releasing them. I have never, ever been bitten. Not once. I reach inside my snakes' enclosures a hundred times a day, and they are never hostile. Then again, I hold them for hours on end, and pet them just as much, and so does my husband. The only snake that sometimes seems to be on the edge is my smallest Brazilian rainbow boa. She is ready to strike when I reach into the feeding tub to pick her up after she ate, but as soon as she can smell me she ceases her display of aggression and lets me grab her.

To keep a snake from biting you, all you have to do is not cause the snake to fear you and see you as a threat. This does not mean the snake Loves you. I can handle supper aggressive snakes and not get bit, because I handle them slow and confidently and they do not fear me. Another person handles the same snakes quickly and carelessly and they get bit. It's not Love, it's the snake not feeling threatened that keeps you from being bit. I handle my snakes as little as possible and they do not bite me when I have to handle them. It's not making them fear you that keeps you from getting bit. This come from 35 years of experience and keeping up to 200 snakes at a time and having kept thousands of different snakes over that time period.

eminart · 04-23-15, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Birds used to be in this same boat but recent studies have shown that we were entirely misguided in our prior ideas about them. I know you were joking but birds flying into windows has more to do with the way they see than brain function.

As a falconer, I can also confirm that hawks don't love us any more than snakes do. Nor are they geniuses.

SSSSnakes · 04-23-15, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sophiedufort

I had ten snakes so far, not counting two that I found in the garden and kept for a couple of days before releasing them. I have never, ever been bitten. Not once. I reach inside my snakes' enclosures a hundred times a day, and they are never hostile. Then again, I hold them for hours on end, and pet them just as much, and so does my husband. The only snake that sometimes seems to be on the edge is my smallest Brazilian rainbow boa. She is ready to strike when I reach into the feeding tub to pick her up after she ate, but as soon as she can smell me she ceases her display of aggression and lets me grab her.

If you truly love your snakes you would stop doing something that causes them stress, like taking them out and holding them a hundred times a day.