Snake Activity and Frequency of Handling

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Originally Posted by WhiteSoxPyro83

This is exactly the kind of condescending talk I have encountered quiet a bit on this site. And frankly, it frustrates me. If it's not EXACTLY the way you see it...then you are wrong and stupid. I know there are a lot of morons out there, but I am not one of them. That bathtub comment is ridiculous. He hangs on my neck because I put him there. He enjoys the new smells and things...just like Kaorte said. And I am aware they are nocturnal...did you even read this thread? That wasn't what I was asking about.

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How was I condescending? If we are using your logic then I should be calling you naive, unwilling to learn or just delusional but I'm not because there's no point to that. Try looking up the reptilian brain, it has nothing to do with you seeing EXACTLY the way I see it. It's fact, look it up.

The bathtub comment is ridiculous, some people actually think burrow dwelling snakes actually enjoy being forced to swim with no way out.

And of course he hangs on your neck when you put him there, what other option does he have besides falling?

How do you know he enjoys new smells and things? Does he tell you? Or is it that he is trying to identify if something is predator or prey, danger our a hiding place?

I am not trying to tell you not to handle your snake or anything of the sort. Just look at it for what it is, a snake. Not a dog, not a cat and not a person. Basic animal behavior and human behaior are not the same thing.

To me it is condescending, because that was not what I was talking about at all, and your patronizing me by talking to me like I am an idiot. My comments more or less pertained to my interpretation of what I see in my animal with my eyes. I see a soul in every living thing. It is my interpretation of his body language, and when I use the word "love", I am not using it its literal sense. I am using it as an expression of enjoyment. By enjoyment, I mean my interpretation of his body language. I can totally tell he is not threatened or upset, and is having a way better time than just roaming his cage. It may be anthropomorphizing it, but it's better than sucking the life out of it. Isn't that human nature? Isn't that why we have pets? I totally understand everything you guys are saying; however, I just see things differently. You guys just take the fun out of everything...and that sucks for you. There is no logic in affection.

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Originally Posted by WhiteSoxPyro83

To me it is condescending, because that was not what I was talking about at all, and your patronizing me by talking to me like I am an idiot. My comments more or less pertained to my interpretation of what I see in my animal with my eyes. I see a soul in every living thing. It is my interpretation of his body language, and when I use the word "love", I am not using it its literal sense. I am using it as an expression of enjoyment. By enjoyment, I mean my interpretation of his body language. I can totally tell he is not threatened or upset, and is having a way better time than just roaming his cage. It may be anthropomorphizing it, but it's better than sucking the life out of it. Isn't that human nature? Isn't that why we have pets? I totally understand everything you guys are saying; however, I just see things differently. You guys just take the fun out of everything...and that sucks for you.

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It really doesn't suck for me. It allows me to take better care of my animals because when I see my animals freak out I don't think it's dancing. When I see them moving around quickly I see them looking for cover and not playing. When I see them breathing hard I don't think their excited, because I know they're stressed. Viewing your animals like people can absolutely be detrimental to the animal. So either you actually don't get it or you just don't care. You may love your animal, and that's all well and good. I love mine too but I realize that my snake simply doesn't have the capacity for it to be mutual and as such I try not to let it cloud my vision.

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Originally Posted by WhiteSoxPyro83

There is no logic in affection.

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There's none your argument either.

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Originally Posted by mackynz

It really doesn't suck for me. It allows me to take better care of my animals because when I see my animals freak out I don't think it's dancing. When I see them moving around quickly I see them looking for cover and not playing. When I see them breathing hard I don't think their excited, because I know they're stressed. Viewing your animals like people can absolutely be detrimental to the animal. So either you actually don't get it or you just don't care. You may love your animal, and that's all well and good. I love mine too but I realize that my snake simply doesn't have the capacity for it to be mutual and as such I try not to let it cloud my vision.

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You are making the assumption that the OP is interpreting his snakes actions/body language incorrectly. Based on his descriptions, do you truly believe this is the case? Because I do not. I believe the OP has a good understanding of his snakes body language.

You are using hypothetical situations to describe your point, which I understand, but none of these situations reflect what the OP is describing.


None of us will ever truly know what is going on in a snakes brain. We can only make inferences based on observation. That being said, there is no problem with either of your methods of snake interaction. Neither are wrong nor right. As long as the animal is not being overly stressed with handling there are zero issues that can arise out of handling your snake a bit more or letting it slither in the grass. I don't handle my snakes THAT much, but I have in the past and I had zero issues with feeding.


OP: I understand the point of your post, but try not to become upset when people don't share the same viewpoint and opinion. None of us are any less loving of our animals because of the way we do (or don't) handle them. Honestly, I don't think the snakes really care either way! As long as they have a nice cozy hide and a rat every week they will be healthy and happy.

This kind of topic is a matter of opinion. Anyone who looks down on a fellow keeper for their handling practices (assuming husbandry is spot on) is making this discussion unproductive. We are all animal lovers here!

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You are making the assumption that the OP is interpreting his snakes actions/body language incorrectly. Based on his descriptions, do you truly believe this is the case? Because I do not. I believe the OP has a good understanding of his snakes body language.

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I do. It's silly to claim your snake likes to see and smell new things when unless you're Harry Potter your snake isn't doing much talking back to you. Like I said, I don't think his snake likes being around his neck, I think it likes not falling. It's usually how most of the (few) deaths from big snakes in the US have occured, they think they're falling and they wrap. Take something that isn't arboreal and put it high up and it's sure going to hang on. That doesn't mean it likes it.

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Originally Posted by WhiteSoxPyro83

I am not trying to sound disrespectful or anything, but how do you guys know pythons do not have emotions? Have you ever been a ball python? Do you know him? Does he call you at home?

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Plus when someone asks for an opinion on a public forum and then turns around and says they didn't because they don't like the results it irks me. Also in regard to that quote, OP have you been a ball python?

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

None of us will ever truly know what is going on in a snakes brain. We can only make inferences based on observation. That being said, there is no problem with either of your methods of snake interaction. Neither are wrong nor right. As long as the animal is not being overly stressed with handling there are zero issues that can arise out of handling your snake a bit more or letting it slither in the grass. I don't handle my snakes THAT much, but I have in the past and I had zero issues with feeding.


OP: I understand the point of your post, but try not to become upset when people don't share the same viewpoint and opinion. None of us are any less loving of our animals because of the way we do (or don't) handle them. Honestly, I don't think the snakes really care either way! As long as they have a nice cozy hide and a rat every week they will be healthy and happy.

This kind of topic is a matter of opinion. Anyone who looks down on a fellow keeper for their handling practices (assuming husbandry is spot on) is making this discussion unproductive. We are all animal lovers here!

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True facts.

If you'd like to believe the snake merely tolerates it, you have every right to believe that! I somewhat agree, but I'd also like to think that they don't really mind it that much.

Also, no recorded human deaths from a ball python. So while it isn't wise to put many larger snakes around your neck, a ball python will never be able to hurt you. I put my BPs around my neck all the time. They don't act stressed out, so why would I assume they are unhappy? They might not "like" it, but they sure don't hate it either.

It is okay to disagree, but I think your posts have become somewhat condescending, implying that the OP is stupid for his beliefs. That just isn't fair. He isn't harming his animal by handling it in the manner that he does.

No one has to agree on this topic because it is simply a matter of opinion. You are acting similarly to the OP by being disrespectful of his opinion. I do agree that the OP posted this thread expecting a different discussion than the one that transpired. I do agree that the OP became frustrated by the responses.

Be kind to one another! Kumbayaaaaaa