Questions for the biology types.

Oh, ball pythons don't have great vision, but they can still see. In fact, they can see some things that we cannot see.

Reptile eyes are very interesting. :)

Here is probably the best study I've found so far on vision. I'll continue to look, but from what I gather vision IS important to the B/P and they see day and night. The study is quite technical and I could use another read but if you are interested in this sort of thing it's worth a looksey : )


http://jeb.biologists.org/content/202/14/1931.full.pdf

The book by VPI (ball pythons) is a excellent all rounder for royals. It have very good research and has a chapter dedicated to senses. I highly recommend it.

Intelligence is hard to pin down. I have had lots of dealings with BCC not as a primary keeper but lots of time handling them and working with them. I find that royals kept in larger display type enclosures much like big boas often are. Show much wider range of responses than the ones in tub like enclosures. In general the ones I keep like this are less timid and more 'outgoing' and curious. For example with all mine I often add something new every few months a bit of rock, or branch, a new plant something. The ones I keep in a rack rarely show much interest where the enclosure ones almost alway do. My most curious snake (she has one eye and a very short tongue from a birth defect) will in 30 min be out day or night poking and prodding what ever it is. The others often wait till after dark to do so but they typically all do. I have often wondered if the environment plays a large part in the amount of non instinctive response.

I will check that book out. I keep digging around on the web and I found this, which seems to be from the same group that did the sight study.

http://www.rcreptiles.com/articles/s...hon-regius.pdf

I'm a long, long way off from being knowledgeable enough to stop reading care/husbandry articles but I'm so interested in the snake/snakes that I feel the need to "go BIO" and learn more.