I think my snake loves me

I don't think that we can perceive a snakes emotions at all similar to ours. We can not tell nor can we be sure that the snake has emotions other than the instinctual flight, fight, and eat responses.
However, from personal experience, I feel that they may have emotions that we can not categorize as 'our' human definition of emotion. Why does our love have to be any different than their comfort?

For scientific purposes only, it has been recorded that humans and dolphins are the only two species that have recorded brain waves of mating for 'pleasure and enjoyment'.
If such an animal like a dolphin can think this, and there has been evidence of homosexuality in apes, then why can't other species have unexplainable feelings?
In my personal experience I have noticed that certain species of snakes show different aspects of personalities than others. Corn snakes tend to be more fearful and 'flight oriented' while Balls are very docile and calm.
I have also noticed that ball pythons can associate specific smells (such as the smell of their owner) with a comfortable experience, where their natural reaction is relaxation. We learned in anatomy that the 'smell' center of the brain is the same part of the brain used to store memories, thus snakes too would have more accurate memories or recorded thoughts from smells (considering their smelling sense is much higher than ours).

So can snakes love? Maybe not the way we see it. But they can fear, be angry, be comfortable, and be unfamiliar. Maybe it is just the 'flight or fight' response and it is all instict. But I think that if every animal was entirely guided by instinct, there would be no variability in personalities that some people claim snakes don't have.
I have seen variability, comfort, along with different aspects of personality that may not just be an aspect of fear or comfort, but maybe more.

Maybe we can never truely tell.

Your human brain anatomy is a little off. the ofcatory cortex is located on the supperficial (outside) aspect of the brain. Emotions are controlled however by the limbic system's amygdala which is locaded closer to the cor of the brain. But, the limbic association cortex is ajacent to the olfactory cortex (this is thought to be why scent is closly related to memory in humans). Snake's brains are organized much more differently than a humans and lack a well developed cortex all together.

TimmyG hit the nail on the head. :gj:
Smells trigger those strong memories due to the proximity of the memory center.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

So can snakes love? Maybe not the way we see it. But they can fear, be angry, be comfortable, and be unfamiliar. Maybe it is just the 'flight or fight' response and it is all instict. But I think that if every animal was entirely guided by instinct, there would be no variability in personalities that some people claim snakes don't have.
I have seen variability, comfort, along with different aspects of personality that may not just be an aspect of fear or comfort, but maybe more.

Maybe we can never truely tell.

For scientific purposes only, it has been recorded that humans and dolphins are the only two species that have recorded brain waves of mating for 'pleasure and enjoyment'.
If such an animal like a dolphin can think this, and there has been evidence of homosexuality in apes, then why can't other species have unexplainable feelings?

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As far as species besides our own (and actually those species are bonobos and dolphins) that's not exaaaaaactly true. It depends on what you mean by "pleasure". The only thing that can be said conclusively is that they have sex at arbitrary times or regularly. Monogamy, polygamy, homosexuality, and masturbation exists within nature as well, but obviously it's in a different way then it exists within human beings. We've built cultures and businesses around our sexuality.

I still maintain that reptiles absolutely do not have capability for emotion. It's just my opinion, but I think it's pretty naive to think they do. Reptiles were designed to respond purelyto their sharp instincts, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

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Originally Posted by TimmyG

Your human brain anatomy is a little off. the ofcatory cortex is located on the supperficial (outside) aspect of the brain. Emotions are controlled however by the limbic system's amygdala which is locaded closer to the cor of the brain. But, the limbic association cortex is ajacent to the olfactory cortex (this is thought to be why scent is closly related to memory in humans). Snake's brains are organized much more differently than a humans and lack a well developed cortex all together.

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I don't know the exact details about it. I just knew something about smells being in a similar section to the brain and triggering memories. I just started anatomy a week ago and it was mentioned in a movie. :oops:

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Originally Posted by darkangel

TimmyG hit the nail on the head. :gj:
Smells trigger those strong memories due to the proximity of the memory center.


As far as species besides our own (and actually those species are bonobos and dolphins) that's not exaaaaaactly true. It depends on what you mean by "pleasure". The only thing that can be said conclusively is that they have sex at arbitrary times or regularly. Monogamy, polygamy, homosexuality, and masturbation exists within nature as well, but obviously it's in a different way then it exists within human beings. We've built cultures and businesses around our sexuality.

I still maintain that reptiles absolutely do not have capability for emotion. It's just my opinion, but I think it's pretty naive to think they do. Reptiles were designed to respond purelyto their sharp instincts, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

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I don't disagree with you. But I think there has to be something else that can form their personalities as not all snakes and reptiles act the same way. Those effects that run them off course of their pure instinctual behaviors makes it possible for other environmental factors to have an effect on them.
Technically, if a snake was run by pure instinct alone, wouldn't they all act exactly the same no matter what the situation?

I love my snakes but they don't return the favor.

Every week my BP's show me they love me by eating all their dinner and never complaini.I wish my twin sons would do that for me after I cook.:)

Its all conditioned behavior and association with familiarity. Snakes are calmer with people they're familiar with (i.e. more secure with familiar settings, etc). No love or liking involved, IMO.

My snake doesn't love me... but I'm sure he prefers me (in fact on know this because he'll ball up when someone else holds him and relaxes when I hold him) but that is only because I'm familiar. I'm sure if my boyfriend (or anyone else for that matter) handled him as much as I did he would be relaxed with them too.

I don't really care about the facts, my ball just loves being rubbed gently on the belly. If he would ate me, he wouldn't stay on me. I know I love him ALOT!:gj:

I know he recognizes me and my youngest. He likes us both and when he sees her, he immediately gets on her. The same for me.:blowkiss:

So that's my response to your poll even if a snake can't feel anything.

Have a nice day! :P

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Originally Posted by python kid

no,snakes don't have feelings they're mindless.

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snakes are not mindless they are void of the emotions that mamals have that's all... snakes are actually quite smart.I mean not teachable smart but in their own right..