Is it true...

I just recently read this somewhere and of course I had to come here and ask.

Do Ball Pythons tend to get along with only one family member?

Please keep in mind I'm still a newbie to all of this and I'm liable to be asking questions like this for a while to come. LOL

I think us owners would like to think that we have some bond with our pets but to be honest - I don't think bp's have the ability to reason that way. I don't think they really like any human - just tolerate us - lol.

Just my thoughts

Only in our dreams. they just tolerate us, they're not that intelligent.

They are solitary creatures, they have no need to build a bond with anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheWinWizard

Only in our dreams. they just tolerate us, they're not that intelligent.

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That's true. Maybe I should have worded it more along the lines of "Do they tolerate one family member better than others?"

I have noticed with Ophion that if I'm holding him he crawls around and sticks his tongue out a lot and will lay stretched out across my hands or lap for awhile but if my husband has him he seems to tense up and stay in a ball most of the time he's holding him.

Probably just wishful thinking on my part since all of the dogs love the hubby more than me. *grins*

What I think is likely is that certain individuals move around in ways that are more likely to startle a snake, or if one member holds the snake significantly more, the other person's scent may come off as unfamiliar and cause the snake to be a little more defensive.

I definitely know that a snake will be more comfortable in the hands of an experienced owner than is the hands of a kid who jumps around and keeps trying to pet the snakes head.

Most of their behavior comes from our own. If you are the only one who can stay calm holding the snake, the snake will be calmest in your hands. It's like that here. Everyone almost gets bit but me, because I'm the only one who isn't afraid of it happening and everyone else gets panicked, almost just asking for it! :P

Be the calmest with your snake, learn to read it's body language, and it will for sure want to be in your hands as opposed to the people holding it nervously!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by purplemuffin

Most of their behavior comes from our own. If you are the only one who can stay calm holding the snake, the snake will be calmest in your hands. It's like that here. Everyone almost gets bit but me, because I'm the only one who isn't afraid of it happening and everyone else gets panicked, almost just asking for it! :P

Be the calmest with your snake, learn to read it's body language, and it will for sure want to be in your hands as opposed to the people holding it nervously!

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x2

i know for a fact that due to my 7 yr old disabled son's erratic movements & excitability my mojo girl was really jumpy around him for quite awhile. now that i've had her for 8 months she's gotten a little more used to his ways and doesnt scare as easily around him. he's also learning how to "check" himself before approaching or petting her. this is where i tell him "check yourself." & he'll take a couple deep breaths & calm himself before reaching to touch the snake & since doing this i think the snake can sense his excitability level is lower & is alot calmer with him in return.
snakes dont "choose" people per say, not like birds, dogs & cats, anyways.
as stated they only learn to tolerate us.
of course, we can always imagine they love us but reality says thats just not the case. they'll never wag their tails when they see us & jump on us & lick our faces excitedly when we come home from a long day at work.