pythons and music

So, I just got my first ball python and this question could be COMPLETELY ridiculous, but being new to snakes in general I thought I'd throw it out there. I have my enclosure on the middle shelf of a multi-tiered shelving unit where I also have my turntable and stereo set up. The speakers are relatively small and on the top shelf of the unit. I remember somebody telling me a long time ago that snakes are sensitive to vibrations and I was just wondering if the vibrations from the speakers has any effect on my snake. Again, I'm sorry if this seems dumb, but being a new snake person I have every question under the sun running through my mind in regards to my new buddy. I've got two bearded dragons and I got pretty obsessive with random crap like this when I first adopted them too. Just curious... thanks for any input.

It could affect him and make him nervous. But it's about impossible to predict what may go on in those little brains. I'd give it a try and see if the snake acts normally (sleeps 95% of the time) and eats well. If so, then I wouldn't worry about it. If the snake is constantly cruising (not counting the first week or two it takes to settle in and get used to a new home).....and/or refuses to eat...then I would seriously consider moving it to a more peaceful location.

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Originally Posted by Billthesnake

So, I just got my first ball python and this question could be COMPLETELY ridiculous, but being new to snakes in general I thought I'd throw it out there. I have my enclosure on the middle shelf of a multi-tiered shelving unit where I also have my turntable and stereo set up. The speakers are relatively small and on the top shelf of the unit. I remember somebody telling me a long time ago that snakes are sensitive to vibrations and I was just wondering if the vibrations from the speakers has any effect on my snake. Again, I'm sorry if this seems dumb, but being a new snake person I have every question under the sun running through my mind in regards to my new buddy. I've got two bearded dragons and I got pretty obsessive with random crap like this when I first adopted them too. Just curious... thanks for any input.

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First of all, welcome to B-P.net :D

Second... Your ball python does not have an external ear, middle ear, or tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Instead, he uses a small ossicle (ear bone), called the "columella," to detect vibrations of sound waves conducted through the ground.
He is able to pick up some sound waves conducted through the air, but only at very low frequencies.

Snakes also smell in a very different way than mammals. Mammals bring air particles into contact with the olfactory (smelling) nerves by breathing them into the nasal cavities through the nostrils. Snakes have both nostrils and nasal cavities, but they are not used to smell. Instead, the flicking tongue is actually a smelling device. There is a small organ on the roof of the oral cavity called the "vomeronasal organ", or "Jacobson's organ." The forked tongue is used to bring minute air particles into contact with this organ, and the snake then perceives and identifies the smell as prey, predator, or otherwise. So, unlike mammals, the tongue is not used to taste or aid in swallowing, but simply as an accessory smelling organ.
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That was just a little informational blah blah for you :D, but it never hurts to know... in my opinion, the vibrations of the sound system you have are probably an annoyance to your snake... and I honestly do not know the decibel ranges of a ball pythons columella...
I had a baby ball sitting on my computer desk when I first got her and she was constantly stressed and moving and just not right... and as soon as I moved her into my closet... she started acting normal... and that was just the vibrations of my desktop tower... so it would be safe to say that you need to just watch your python's attitude and make sure he is hiding properly, and doesnt seem slugish and sick when you pick him up...
thats my two cents

As far as Ball Pythons are concerned, I am unsure. However, I have 3 things that may be useful.

My BPs have never been exposed to music; However, my corn snake has. He has not had a reaction to anything that I play nor the volume in which I play it. My neighbors play music loud enough to shake me house and that does not seem to phase him either. He is a happy snake with or without any music interference.

In the plant world, it has been proven that plants exposed to classical music have lead greater lives with more flourishing. The same is shown with babies that listened to classical music.

As for bugs, the bark beetle which is a major nuisance in the forest world there is also a musical effect. When exposed to Heavy Metal they begin to attack each other until death.

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by L2.BP.Plox

As far as Ball Pythons are concerned, I am unsure. However, I have 3 things that may be useful.

My BPs have never been exposed to music; However, my corn snake has. He has not had a reaction to anything that I play nor the volume in which I play it. My neighbors play music loud enough to shake me house and that does not seem to phase him either. He is a happy snake with or without any music interference.

In the plant world, it has been proven that plants exposed to classical music have lead greater lives with more flourishing. The same is shown with babies that listened to classical music.

As for bugs, the bark beetle which is a major nuisance in the forest world there is also a musical effect. When exposed to Heavy Metal they begin to attack each other until death.

Hope this helps.

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I just want to say, not to bash you in anyway, but the Plantae kingdom is something entirely different than the Animalia kingdom genetically and biologically... so... the effects of one environmental stimuli on a plant cannot be comparable to the effects of the same environmental stimuli on a ball python. Plants utilize photosynthesis... while snakes use an internal heat regulation that maintains homeostasis... two different things.... just to.. I guess... clarify... sorry if I came off as snobby :(


But now that I re read this, I think of this awesome idea... for a scientific study of the positive and/or adverse effects on a ball-python from classical music... very... intriguing...

I have a 1200watt surround system in same room with snakes for computer. They will eat while music is playing and bass is shaking house.

After a while they get used to it.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

I have a 1200watt surround system in same room with snakes for computer. They will eat while music is playing and bass is shaking house.

After a while they get used to it.

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I think that when it all comes down to it... it is all variant to your specific snakes temperament... since there is NO real scientific studies to indicate anything for or against snakes and sound waves :)

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Originally Posted by Trey Yeoman

I just want to say, not to bash you in anyway, but the Plantae kingdom is something entirely different than the Animalia kingdom genetically and biologically...

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I understand this, which is why the bulk of my post was about my snake and the bark beetle which are both in the animal kingdom. Also, in that same paragraph I mention human babies.

Classical music in most species has positive effects. I would not doubt that a study on snakes with classical music has been done. However, if you yourself would want to do one -- it would have to be very tightly controlled.

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Originally Posted by L2.BP.Plox

As for bugs, the bark beetle which is a major nuisance in the forest world there is also a musical effect. When exposed to Heavy Metal they begin to attack each other until death.

Hope this helps.

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That is SO awesome!

cant be any worse than my cat jumping on top of my snake's enclosure to investigate ALL the time LOL..
the snake often stretches up and they are nose to nose looking at eachother.
then snake goes about her business, sleeps all the time(except for exploration at night) , and eats fine :)