Ball Python Personalities

They definitely have their own personalities. If you're defining 'personality' as a unique way of responding to external and internal stimuli, then just about every animal I can think of has a personality. It just makes evolutionary sense; if there were no variations in behavior whatsoever in a population, it wouldn't last long. One 'bad reaction' would doom an entire species. Instead, there is a wide range of reactions to stress, pain, ect. that have their own advantages and disadvantages. The snake that doesn't react too strongly to stressful or 'scary' situations like being handled may be the snake that is brave enough to traverse an open area and find a better food source. Or it could be the snake that gets eaten by a predator because it was out in the open. I can think of a lot of examples.
Their personalities are certainly not as complex as those of a mammal; their brains just aren't built for navigating social structures or solving complex problems. They don't need to be. But I'd say they definitely have personalities.

As far as the capability to love goes, I don't think snakes have that capacity. They don't form social attachments to their own species, as they have no need of another individual beyond mating, so why would they form an attachment to another species? Their hardware just isn't wired for that. I think that, depending on the species, interaction with humans can range from being simply tolerated to being 'enjoyed'. For example, I think a snake with a faster metabolism that would display a lot of seeking behavior in the wild in order to find plenty of food could definitely gain something from a novel experience such as being handled, as it meets the need of that seeking behavior.
All 'love' is in any species including our own is a way to meet needs. Sure, we like to think we're above that, but we're social animals. We are safest in a group of other humans that will help us accumulate resources, our offspring are more likely to survive with the help of other adults, ect. 'Love' is just a chemical reaction that helps convince us to work together.
'Love' is going to be a completely different concept for any species. Like a colorblind person looking at a stoplight; you're seeing the same object, but your brains are processing it in two very different ways. I have no doubts that my dog 'loves' me and looks at me as a member of his pack. I'm important enough to his survival that he is willing to put himself in danger and show aggression in order to defend me. It's not the same exact reaction or thought process you undergo when you help out your friends or family, but IMO it's close enough to be called the same thing.

Why is it Universally accepted that dogs and cats have personalities?

Experience is why.

I bet greater than 95% of the US population has either owned, has owned, or had interactions with dogs and or cats.

How many of these people own, have owned, or have interacted with captive snakes?

10% ? Less, more, I don't know. But I would venture to say that due to lack of experience with snakes is why folks and your friend does not believe that they have personalities.


http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...30815fee49.jpg

your friend has no experience to speak on this

i have 28 ball pythons, and they all have different personalities

i'm far from "disillusioned" (i think your friend may have meant "delusional", which also does not apply)

They definitely have different personalities. each reptile is like a little snowflake lol. I don't think they're capable of feeling true love and affection, but they definitely seem to get used to certain people and will act differently around them.

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They definitely have personalities, or at least different qualities. They're not all the same, and they aren't living machines. Just think about these questions...

1. If they're all the same and don't have personalities, why do some snakes prefer certain prey?
2. Why are some more active?
3. Why do some snakes hiss when you pick them up?
4. Why do some snakes constantly try to escape, but others stay in one place all day?
5. Why do some snakes like water (shown by voluntarily soaking) while others act like it'll kill them?
6. Why do some snakes strike more than others?
7. Why don't all snakes use their hides?
8. Why are some snakes ok with larger spaces, while others want to be in a small area?
9. Why do some snakes eat like it's their last meal every week, while others couldn't care less about food?
10. Why do some snakes climb while others stay on the ground?

Do they have the capability to love? Hey, I don't know. Ask a snake, not me. Regardless of whether or not snakes have emotions, I believe it's possible for them to have personalities based on what I've observed with my group.

I only have 2 BPs (and a third I take care of), but each has a very different personality. I suppose it's just their level of natural fear vs curiosity.

My first snake, a Mojave male is very curious, but extremely shy and will go running for his hide if he sees you move towards him across the room while out exploring. He is very nervous being picked up and it takes him a good 5 minutes to start moving once in my hands. Then he will explore my hands briefly before trying to head for the floor or just generally away from me. Only snapped at me once when he was really young, but definitely not a snake that loves being handled. He's only 4 months old, so maybe it will wear off with time (and I make sure to handle him a couple times a week long enough for him to calm down and be comfortable with me).

My second snake, a Coral Glow female is the complete opposite. She is extremely friendly and is the only snake I'd allow someone else to hold without fear of being bit. She has never even taken a defensive striking stance with me at all and at worst will just ball up a little if she gets scared. She loves to wander her cage at night and if she's out and I open it, she'll come to my arm and crawl aboard to continue her exploration. It may not be puppy love, but she is an absolute joy to handle.

The third snake, my friend's normal who I take care of, is not curious at all it seems. He spends all day in his hides and at night it seems he'll just poke his head out a little. I've never seen him out exploring the cage. If I pick him up he is a little nervous at first, but quickly comes around and settles in on my hand where he does the same thing he does at home...sit around. I don't think anything is wrong with him, just a lazy snake. Out of the three, he is actually the strongest even though he is about 30 grams less than the other two. He really takes a firm grip when moving around and has never come close to falling (unlike my Mojave who is Mr. Clumsy and I've had to catch him several times when he makes a bad move). He is also the fastest to kill and eat his dinner.

Sure, I probably like to assume there is more to them than not. In reality the each have different levels of general fear, survivalism and curiosity (as was mentioned, variations in these traits is a good thing for the evolution of their species in the wild). I think those traits are enough to give them personalities, especially when keeping them as pets.