The old debate... Affection??

My opinions on the matter is that snakes don't have emotions. Or at least anything we can call emotions. i believe that their world revolves almost entirly on instinct.

There is scientific research that their brains lack the ability to have emotion.
I think that we want them to have emotions so bad and love us that we convince ourselves that they really do.
I love my snake. And he helped me overcome my depression and still to this day eases my anxiety or calms me when I am upset. I can't explain it.
But Just knowing that he sees me as a nice tree radiating heat. Is enough for me. My love is enough. He doesnt have to love me back for me to love him. :P

well snakes have basic emotions, i know mine can be content, scared, or pissed off lol. as far a love or anything like that, no.

as far as snakes showing affection, i highly doubt it, just observing the 20 some snakes I have. same reasons as above.

Ok so the battle continues... LoL jk

Well does anyone know what the head bumping is then?
Is he trying to see if he can move me out of the way?
it's odd, I have never seen a python act in such a way...

Typically when I handle my snakes, which I do daily, I always am quickly to wash my hands and anything the snake was in contact with. Typically I'll take them out in the yard for sun which is easy with no cleanup, but far from cuddling with them. When I was a kid I would always play with my snakes, until I learned about all the diseases rats carry and snakes have on their body, so I really don't handle my snakes much more than I really need to. Now I disinfect everything almost every other day, and even wash my snakes with a very dilute listerine. As for their emotional state.... well snakes simply don't have emotions, but it doesn't take away from anything.

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Originally Posted by NikkiePastel

Ok so the battle continues... LoL jk

Well does anyone know what the head bumping is then?
Is he trying to see if he can move me out of the way?
it's odd, I have never seen a python act in such a way...

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its a snake just being a snake, he could be trying to move you, burrow "into you" and he not exactly understanding he can't, might be just seeing what you are.... affection, nah.

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

There is scientific research that their brains lack the ability to have emotion.
I think that we want them to have emotions so bad and love us that we convince ourselves that they really do.
I love my snake. And he helped me overcome my depression and still to this day eases my anxiety or calms me when I am upset. I can't explain it.
But Just knowing that he sees me as a nice tree radiating heat. Is enough for me. My love is enough. He doesnt have to love me back for me to love him. :P

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I agree with you totally. What I am curious about were you ever not a 'tree' but something to fear? And if so when did that change and what was that change? I know that it is some sort of learned response that isn't an emotion but it is recognition of non hostility or some snakie varation right? I suggest that emaotion and affection isn't the right words but if it was no longer sees me as a threat or as something to fear. I personally would say of my 7 all but 2 absolutely do. Oddly 2 of mine still react to my motion and presence with fear and hiding one of mine disregaurds me when I change his water and often after I have him out (I always change the water and wash the bowl out) he will stop to drink on the way back in while I am holding him.

I dont think they necessarily feel emotions or display affection or love. But they are recognizing a mutual relationship. I have a female that is such a personality, like no other ball python Ive seen so far. Is this because I got her so young and have raised her myself? maybe. I open the tank she may be hiding 1/3 in her hot or cold hide. The first thing she thinks is, food undoubtedly. If there is food, there is no mistaking it for her, she will come and get it. If there is no food she quickly catches on and comes out of kill mode. Ive even went as far as opening the tank and offering my hand as if it were at rat when she was hungry, but she doesn't bite unless she smells them. I can tell she recognizes. Another thing I have tried doing is taking off the lid and standing to watch her and what she does. 90% of the time when I do this, she will raise her head and go into kill mode, realize no food and start to investigate in my direction, she will come out and look at me smell me. Is this affection or love? no. emotion? no. Its my snakes genuine curiosity of me(or she knows I serve food and is going to kindly wait), she doesnt fear me at all. I think they have more going on in the brain than we give them credit for.

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Originally Posted by SSR Regius

If there is food, there is no mistaking it for her, she will come and get it. If there is no food she quickly catches on and comes out of kill mode. Ive even went as far as opening the tank and offering my hand as if it were at rat when she was hungry, but she doesn't bite unless she smells them. I can tell she recognizes.

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That doesn't necessarily mean she recognizes you... that just means you don't smell like her food. Proof of that, for me, came when it took me 6 months to switch my rescued burm over from live rats to rabbits. She didn't "recognize" it as a rabbit...just didn't recognize it as something edible. Heck even right now I'm trying to switch 2 new balls over from live to frozen and they won't take it because they don't recognize the F/T as food.

If they really recognized you, you could rub a rat all over your hand and stick it in the tank without being bitten.