enjoying being pet?

[sunn_maiden]

when i hold hydra she snuggles into me. today i was letting her roam around on my bed while i was sitting there and i reached over to pet her. she lifted her body to rub herself into my hand. she did this several times like she really enjoyed being pet. once when get toward the end of her body she pushed so hard against my hand her back end actually rolled onto its side. it reminded me of a dog that rolls over for better petting.


is this normal? are most bps that cuddly? or are we just super lucky? shes only 4 months old and we have only had her 2 weeks. she warmed up to us instantly and settled in right away.

also id like to take back the negative comment i made about petsmart. we love our newest baby. thank you petsmart for helping us find her.

[Banana]

I don't have a lot of experience with BPs yet as this is only my second, so I don't know if that's normal or not, but I just wanted to say that's super cute I'm hoping my little guy becomes this social, I've only had him for, well, today, but I already have high hopes :-D

[Coopers Constrictors]

She enjoys the heat from your body.

[Parysa]

She may enjoy the sensations of being petted. Mine seem to like rubbing against things and the rubbing combined with the heat could be pleasant for her.
I've noticed that there are two sides to the question of whether a BP likes something or not. Generally, the pet-type owners tend to have more of a tendency to read behaviors as enjoyment or trust or bonding while the business-type owners have a more pragmatic view and see it as just instinct. I think it may be somewhere in the middle. I think our BPs can learn to recognize us and trust us. I don't think they have the capacity to love us like a dog does. She's probably seeking the heat from your hand, but she may also be enjoying the heat and sensation. We really don't have any way to know for sure. I've noticed that my snakes tend to display preferences and have personalities. For example, my male spider is comfortable being handled by almost everyone while a female spotnose I used to have showed a very clear preference for women and would strike at men every time, but never women. It was probably the difference in how men and women tend to handle animals. Men tend to be more heavy-handed. My pastel seems more comfortable with a firm grip while it stressed my spotnose and my female spider just plain doesn't like being handled, but my ghost will sit with you as long as you want. My males also seem calmer than the females. So I can't believe that they're pure instinct and don't have preferences and personalities. Otherwise, you'd get the same reaction from every snake to the same stimulus.
Does she enjoy it? Possibly. If she seeks it out rather than stressing or trying to escape or strike, then she's most likely at least comfortable with it.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

One of my ball pythons used to do this a lot, mainly when she was on a flat, smoother service like our old couch. I didn't think much of it, other than joking and saying I've discovered the "Camel ball!"
I guess they just like the rubbing sensation.
On a different note, some reptiles really do like being rubbed and petted.

[Marrissa]

One of my ball pythons used to do this a lot, mainly when she was on a flat, smoother service like our old couch. I didn't think much of it, other than joking and saying I've discovered the "Camel ball!"
I guess they just like the rubbing sensation.
On a different note, some reptiles really do like being rubbed and petted.

lol that is freaking adorable.

[Chkadii]

One of my ball pythons used to do this a lot, mainly when she was on a flat, smoother service like our old couch. I didn't think much of it, other than joking and saying I've discovered the "Camel ball!"
I guess they just like the rubbing sensation.
On a different note, some reptiles really do like being rubbed and petted.

Cute video! Here's another one, with tegus-
http://youtu.be/jva0NDlT_wk


I would assume that tegus are a bit more "evolved" than ball pythons, but even bps would have to have some sort of understanding if they're not all striking defensively. It may not exactly be "affection," but it isn't necessarily nothing, either.


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[rabernet]

I think it's normal behavior. Many of mine who are handled once a week exhibit similar behavior. I don't interpret it as affection. But I have no problem with pet owners interpreting it as such, if it makes them feel even more bonded to their pet.

[Neal]

I agree with the learning to enjoy a sensation like being pet, because it most likely resembles being massaged kind of. Then the heat we give off from our hands makes it more enjoyable.

Snakes don't have the brain to learn to love like mammals do. I believe they can associate different smells of people and remember that this scent is one that doesn't harm me so they tolerate handling.

[Forrester86]

It must be something with the Petsmart BPs. My normal from them is the same way.. Active most the night and early morning and very curious. It doesn't seem bothered by handling either.

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