I think my snake loves me

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Originally Posted by repforlife

Not that i am aware of (Them breeding behind my back ,i meen)I am sure it is possiable and may have happened?I myself do not beleive in breeding Ball Pythons,i meen if it happens it happens,i have had my fare share of baby Ball Pythons born right here and it was hard enough time to just find good homes for them all.But there are so many around here at least that people get and think,"Oh i am going to breed these guys and make a ton of money",that they find out the hard way,that it kinda,not works that way,at least around here,that alot of them end up in crappy homes and then get passed to a even crappier home and then usally end up here with us,and i end up treating them,for what problems they endure and then find good forever homes for.I do beleive certain allmost extinc reptiles (Monkey Tail Skinks,Mertins Water Monitors,White Throat Monitors,ect...)Should be bred for the simple fact that there numbers are allmost gone in the wild.But not all reptiles should be bred for the fact of a quick buck.

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Am i missing something here? How can one say that BPs should not be bred.. and then, allow a male and a female BP to live in the same enclosure? Please do explain. :confused:

I don't think they have the capacity for love, but they definitely have emotion. They can feel stressed, and they can feel relaxed. How much further you want to go with that is up to you.

The part of the brain that deals with social aspects is greatly reduced in a snake. They don't take care of their young either so I'd say they don't "love". But that doesn't mean they can't feel emotion, just that they may not be able to express it.

actually there is a snake which cares for it's young. we were watching it on steve austin... and it stayed with it's young - protecting them.

can't remember what it was though... hubby thinks it was an african rock python.

I think my snake shows it affections by they it acts around me, when she sees me come up to her tank she gets active like she knows she might get to come out, and when I do have her out she seems to enjoy when I rub the top of her head and chin. She wont pull away and sometimes she even rubs her head on my hand.

I'm not saying either way, I didnt even vote, but come on guys psych 101, our emotions come from the most primitive parts of our brain.
http://www.crystalinks.com/reptilianbrain.html

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Originally Posted by qiksilver

I'm not saying either way, I didnt even vote, but come on guys psych 101, our emotions come from the most primitive parts of our brain.
http://www.crystalinks.com/reptilianbrain.html

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I don't think that link is saying that they are generated from the "reptilian" section of brain, i think it is saying that they have evolved from the original reptilian brain. (just a side note, it isn't the best resourse site)

Quote From your site "It's 'preverbal', but controls life functions such as autonomic brain, breathing, heart rate and the fight or flight mechanism....It's concerned with fundamental needs such as survival, physical maintenance, hoarding, dominance, preening and mating. It is also found in lower life forms such as lizards, crocodiles and birds."

Just because there is part of our brain is called reptilian, doesn't mean it reacts the same way a reptile's would. Basic human emotions can be linked to the more primitive sections of the brain this is true but, there has been millions of years of evolution both between reptiles and mammals as well as reptiles to humans. As it is true that over this trek of evolution the human brain has evolved different portions of the brain to control emotions and actions.(Leiberman, 2001) People tend to anthropomorphize alot and not think about what their capabilities really are. If you step on a snake he will respond with a fight or flight response. If provoked and not given a way to retreat the animal will fight, often called aggression by people. When mating and a battle ensues between males (still talking reptiles) people term this aggression, when it is really just a display of physical fitness and who is more fit to mate with the females (fitness reffering to their genetic ability to sire young).

I will say in my opinion mammals have a more evolved brain therefore i believe that they do feel some level of emotion, for instance a dog will know it shouldn't be happy if it went to the bathroom on the carpet, but a snake will never realize that it was wrong by bitting the hand that feeds.

For those of you who feel your reptile does love you, i am not trying to disuade you all from feeling that way, not at all. i just wanted everyone to understand the definition of the reptilian brain both in reguards to humans and actual reptiles. Feel free to read that article on the bottom (just google it), it is very interesting.

~mike

Leiberman, Phillip. 2001. Human Language and Our Reptilian Brain: The Subcortical Bases of Speech, Syntax, and Thought. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. Volume 44, Number 1, pp. 32-51

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

actually there is a snake which cares for it's young. we were watching it on steve austin... and it stayed with it's young - protecting them.

can't remember what it was though... hubby thinks it was an african rock python.

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I agree they care for their young (more commonly know in crocodilians )with protection to help ensure their genetic information and physical investment makes it to adult hood and breeding capabilities. I think anacondas hang out around mom for protection but not sure. This is also why mamma snakes are aggressive when gravid or coiled around eggs.

mike

Well I do not know about all snakes but I do know about BP'S and yes I can say that I do think they know if they like a person or not I have a female and a male Bp and when I have either one out they love to stay on me and hang out with me no matter what I am doing. My BP'S are just for my pets only and no I do not breed them and yes I am with them alot and I enjoy them that is the whole reason for having pets in our lives is to be able to care for them and love them uncondtionley and enjoy the time we have with them and I am talking about from a pet point of veiw and no I do not beleive the part about all they think about is food if that was the case you would never be able to hold them without getting bit all the time. So if they can think and can stress out when they are not happy that right there should tell people that they are smart to some point and are not dum. I mean hay they know when they are hungry and know how to kill there prey before they eat it so I it would be wise for people not to always think they are dum. So I vote that they know how they feel about a person and if they like them I just do not know about if they are capable of love. But that is just my opion I just have a careing heart when it comes to my pets and no there is nothing wrong with that either even if it is a snake. :D

my snakes are boys... so they arent gay lol

I don't know about snakes loving or not, but I defiately believe that they recognise you. I have noticed a big difference in the way that my girl and my friends snakes act when they are being handled by their owner and when they are being handled by someone else. My Lilly will get comfertable when I'm holding her and just chill out. Maybe explore a bit, but she's pretty relaxed when I have her. When my mom was holding her (I don't live at home, so she doesn't see Lilly much) Lilly was much more active, not frantic really, but definately looking for somewhere else to go. Even when my mom would hand her back to me, she would calm down again. I konw it's not real affection, but I kinda consider it as such. My girly knows me and trusts me, and I love her!! haha

No, my snakes do not love me, like me, or need me. They are unwillingly dependent on me as I have caged them for my own personal gain.

To me LOVE is an emotion BACKED UP by an action: The desire, decision, and subsequent action one takes to nurture ones own, or another's, emotional, physical or spiritual growth and well-being.

LOVE has long been debated (and mis-defined) so I thought I'd present this simple definition (for your consideration) that crosses all kinds of relationships.

By the definition above, one would have to make a conscious choice to determine what makes someone, or some being, FEEL loved or nurtured, and then peruse those actions. This is as opposed to behaving in a way that they, themselves, like to demonstrate love. (Like an Italian Momma constantly trying to feed people who are full. That's not love.)

Example, at first, I liked to "pet" my snake. My snake moves his body away in the opposite direction in the area where I was rubbing him, giving me a signal he doesn't like it. I stopped petting my snake. That is a loving demonstration.

The feeling of attachment we feel for others, (fondness in all it's varying degrees) and our pets, perhaps can be "defined" as loving when it is producing positive results. However, a women who neglects or beats her children might say she loves them, or have a feeling of attachment or obligation, but is not demonstrating love (by the definition presented above). A former boyfriend said he loved me, but wanted me to only peruse activities he deemed as valid. Again, not love.

My cats, for another example, want to be near me all the time. I believe it's for their own security, need for warmth etc. They rub me so I pet them. Not because they are trying to be affectionate toward me. When they lick my hand, it's because it tastes pleasing to them. All very self serving. I might go so far as saying they "enjoy" my company and affection as it makes them feel good but I do not think they care for my well being, as such. They'd eat my entire dinner and not leave any for me.

Having said all this, I care very much for my pets and my people. I admire a lot of things about them and am very fond of them. I need them very much for my well being. I depend on them for many things. I like to, and need to, derive certain emotional and physical needs/benefits from them. In appreciation, and out of desire, which seems like an unconscious choice, through action and affection, I love them right back!

mine likes to spend time in my lap resting and likes bein near me

I think my snake loves me in the sense that he no longer sees me as a threat. When I first got him and started to handle him he would sqirum away and hide in the nearest nook or cranny.
But now when he wants to hide he hides under the crook of my leg or in the folds of my shirt and dosn't try to get away. :D

I think his love is, hey you won't hurt me and you're warm.

This thread is still going huh? I OPT for Sticky so that everyone can read this thread when thinking about snake love :)

i saved its life it better flipping love me :P, so i havent handeled yet it can sense my love though the tank... time to stare at it using night vision goggles in itsd naturual nocturnal state :)

i think all the snake thinks though is - bloooooody hell this guy is warm, and alive but way to big for me to eat so i wont bother. - now with a 30 foot python it sees me as, 'oooo a little warm snake..i think ill constrict it untill its eyes pop out'

I really think that my snakes dislike me. I am an annoyance that brings them food, water, and provides them the nescessities of life out of my paycheck. If I could only be faster when changing their substrate, and offer them rats anytime they wanted I am sure they would adore me. ;)

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Originally Posted by Shaun J

To those who answered, My snake loves me, how did you come up with that conclusion????

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It's weird but my man's snake (its basically mine too) acts like she loves us... As soon as we come in the room she pokes her head out and see who it is... She likes to be picked and she loves being around people (especially me or Cris). Cris thinks the same. If we put her down in the yard she will follow us around as if she knew we are her way. He's had her for 9-10 years.. She knows we not gonna hurt her, just feed her and care for her. :)

Oh wow! She follows you around. I love that! What a fabulous connection you have made with your snake. That must feel awesome.

Omg I believe in a way my baby will do the same things later on. Your so lucky to have great snakes. Good luck with them in the future girl :)

come on guys give kilo a break show him some love cause his snakes can't ok.

I like to think they do... even if they dont ;)

I think that my snake has fallen out of love with me. he sulks in the corner of his tub, does not answer when I call him.. I left him numerous messages on his voicemail until it said "memory full" and hung up on me. I got something in the mail that said he had a restraining order against me..
Nope.. my snake does not love me.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I think that my snake has fallen out of love with me. he sulks in the corner of his tub, does not answer when I call him.. I left him numerous messages on his voicemail until it said "memory full" and hung up on me. I got something in the mail that said he had a restraining order against me..
Nope.. my snake does not love me.

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Play hard to get, that always gets them wanting more. (don't give in to easily) :D

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

Play hard to get, that always gets them wanting more. (don't give in to easily) :D

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lol..
So stalking and calling on the phone 100 times a day is not the route to go?

:cool: shoooooooooooooot lol. i dont kno about ya'lls snakes, but my baby got luv for me. and YES she does give me kisses on my lips,lol.she just places her little head right in front of my lips and flicks her lil tongue.my wittle Saebre can tell the difference between me and others cuz i handle her a certain way that separates me from others(and probably the smell and the way my skin feels), and i can tell she knows cuz you can see signs of mood change when she senses that she's been passed to someone else.(even with someone who is familiar with snakes)and im the only person she'll quickly climb back on...... i also find it interesting that so far im the only person whom she feels comfortable with touching around the head area and mouth area. she's amazing. im NOT making this up,this ones got a good nose on her, THE FACT THAT SHE CAN MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN ME AND OTHERS is wut i consider snake luv. even though snakes might have barely anything of a brain, i believe that as humans, we rely toooooo much on science and so called....proven facts. humans overestimate their intelligence, and its always either THIS or THAT with alot of ppl, well i believe theres always inbetween. humans will NEVER be at a level in which they know everything, so i believe that theres sum stuff bout snakes we dont kno either....nature can outsmart the human, if it couldnt we would know everything by now.

Kisses on the lips are fun until your snake mistakes your tongue for a rat and coils.. lol. I never align my face, hands or any other body part right with my snakes' face. It is a sure way to get chomped, as it has happened to me a few times in the past. I hope that you would not let an 80-pound Burmese do the same!

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Originally Posted by Nelza

even though snakes might have barely anything of a brain, i believe that as humans, we rely toooooo much on science and so called....proven facts. humans overestimate their intelligence, and its always either THIS or THAT with alot of ppl, well i believe theres always inbetween. humans will NEVER be at a level in which they know everything, so i believe that theres sum stuff bout snakes we dont kno either....nature can outsmart the human, if it couldnt we would know everything by now.

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LOL. Yeah. Proven facts are stupid.

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Originally Posted by Nelza

:cool: shoooooooooooooot lol. i dont kno about ya'lls snakes, but my baby got luv for me. and YES she does give me kisses on my lips,lol.she just places her little head right in front of my lips and flicks her lil tongue.my wittle Saebre can tell the difference between me and others cuz i handle her a certain way that separates me from others(and probably the smell and the way my skin feels), and i can tell she knows cuz you can see signs of mood change when she senses that she's been passed to someone else.(even with someone who is familiar with snakes)and im the only person she'll quickly climb back on...... i also find it interesting that so far im the only person whom she feels comfortable with touching around the head area and mouth area. she's amazing. im NOT making this up,this ones got a good nose on her, THE FACT THAT SHE CAN MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN ME AND OTHERS is wut i consider snake luv. even though snakes might have barely anything of a brain, i believe that as humans, we rely toooooo much on science and so called....proven facts. humans overestimate their intelligence, and its always either THIS or THAT with alot of ppl, well i believe theres always inbetween. humans will NEVER be at a level in which they know everything, so i believe that theres sum stuff bout snakes we dont kno either....nature can outsmart the human, if it couldnt we would know everything by now.

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Please dear lord you are using "satire" with this post.
If so, it is absolutly brilliant.. but somehow the sarcasm alarm in my brain isn't going off.

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its always either THIS or THAT with alot of ppl

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GOD people and their This or That! man. i get so tired of it.

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so i believe that theres sum stuff bout snakes we dont kno either

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I also believe there is 'sum stuff bout' the english language we don't know about yet.

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nature can outsmart the human, if it couldnt we would know everything by now.

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Of course a human cannot outsmart nature! I just dont sit in an air controlled room all day while it hits 100 degrees outside, drive a car, wear clothes, eat cooked food, control fire, have sex and manage not to get pregnant, keep exotic animals in rubbermaid continers in my closet, wear a rain coat or use an umbrella, shave my legs/armpits, wear deoderant, not be eaten by my parents, not kill off my siblings in competition for food (all of this, of course, in no particular order.). I mean good lord. I'm glad I haven't one-upped nature.

You are like, going off on an insane tangent that I just had to follow you on. I honestly do not understand how you can take yourself seriously on that post. I bet if i put you and your snake in a room, you on one end, a fat steaming mouse & a warm hide on the other, that snake wouldn't choose you. I'm quite sure if you never handled your snake again for the rest of her life except to change her bedding & feed her she'd wouldn't be too upset.

;3

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Originally Posted by shhhli

I also believe there is 'sum stuff bout' the english language we don't know about yet.

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:rofl:

excellent post.

just sayin'

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Originally Posted by jeffnme

:rofl:

excellent post.

just sayin'

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oooo i like your icon. :B

Well, I don't think my snakes love me. I think they could care less about me.... except that I'm the one that tosses the chow into their containers.
My king snake doesn't care if I'm around or not or if I snatch her up and play with her for a while. She *will* however, run (well, slither) back to me when I put her in one of the kids' hands who she's not accustom to. My bullsnake... he hates everything and everyone, except food of course. He'd just as soon never see me near him again, much less have the nerve to take him out and want to hold him.... oh the horrors!!!

I think my ball python definately likes me. It's more that he knows there's nothing to fear from me, and we share the same space. If he was in the wild I would probably be his favorite tree. Doesn't care that much, but I'm his prefered tree out of the options.

I know my snakes know no emotion however... one is a rotten little ehem that will only let me hold her when she feels like it and the other one has a great temperment that will burry itself in my clothes and when shedding time is a little too close he will try and use my hands, legs, pants, chest... anything to start his shed. He'll only do it to me... so emotion, no. But I do believe they associate certain smells with a non-threat and get used to it being that way.

my little female bredli loves me... she always comes up to the glass when i walk past her viv as if to say "cuddle me mummy" ( mummy not a typo, I'm an Aussie)
:sunny:

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Originally Posted by Shaun J

If one more person votes for " My snake loves me." I'm just going to give up snakes lol. Forget jumping from a cliff.

J/K I 'm not going to give up my snakes because some people don't get it.

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I haven't read all the way through the thread, but I see over 100 people feel their snake loves them (ahem, including me!). Have you at least torn your hair out?

I got tired of the pessimism, so I've jumped to the end also.

I could type for days, but I'll just get to the point.

I won't say that kobi LOVES me in the way humans love, but I will say that she recognizes me, enjoys my company (I'm her junglegym), and prefers me over other people. So I guess she loves me as much as she mentally can. This may only be 1% of what we consider love, but I would not dare ever say they have no emotion and are incapable of love.

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Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

I got tired of the pessimism, so I've jumped to the end also.

I could type for days, but I'll just get to the point.

I won't say that kobi LOVES me in the way humans love, but I will say that she recognizes me, enjoys my company (I'm her junglegym), and prefers me over other people. So I guess she loves me as much as she mentally can. This may only be 1% of what we consider love, but I would not dare ever say they have no emotion and are incapable of love.

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I like the way you put it. I do see some sort of connection happening with our snake, but how to define...?

My snake tolerates me I think. I wouldnt call it love but more of an understanding. He knows who I am for sure but I think if I crossed a line with him, he wouldnt hesitate to put me in my place. I dont think he would consider his feelings for me before he bit me. As the old saying with snakes "bite first, ask questions later" :rockon:

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

you needed a brain capable of rational thought

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Bull:cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:. You clearly need a brain capable of IRRATIONAL thought to love. ;)

I don't care about facts I know my snake loves me and I love him...
He's like a little angel... :D

i think a snake can get a sense of security from it's owner, which is kind of like love.

all i know if i was set for my life with food and shelter and entertainment plus a soon to be stable of chicks to do the horizontal monster mash with at like 6 months old i would at least feign love!

Sotek is so spoiled!

Well, snakes may not feel 'love' as we humans are accustomed to it, but they do feel security and comfort, fear and stress.

I also believe that they have a way of 'recognizing' their owner as opposed to others who handle them. This was shown to me first hand just yesterday when my dear BF decided he was ready to try holding Nagini for the first time. He's not afraid of snakes...just wary. She had been cruising around on my arm, flickering and such, but when I handed her over she froze...even though Ari is warmer than I am. It was interesting, and I had to reassure Ari that he hadn't freaked her out or anything, she just didn't know him. :)

All animals have feelings and emotions, they just aren't expressed or felt in the same way as humans.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Well, snakes may not feel 'love' as we humans are accustomed to it, but they do feel security and comfort, fear and stress.

I also believe that they have a way of 'recognizing' their owner as opposed to others who handle them. This was shown to me first hand just yesterday when my dear BF decided he was ready to try holding Nagini for the first time. He's not afraid of snakes...just wary. She had been cruising around on my arm, flickering and such, but when I handed her over she froze...even though Ari is warmer than I am. It was interesting, and I had to reassure Ari that he hadn't freaked her out or anything, she just didn't know him. :)

All animals have feelings and emotions, they just aren't expressed or felt in the same way as humans.

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This is an excellent point.

Two weeks ago, one of the guys who works at the local herp store came by to see our collection.

Now mind you this dude does nothing but handle snakes day in and day out. He owns several boas and a couple of BP morphs. The point is that he is not nervous about snakes.

He wanted to see two snakes in particular, our blackheaded male and our tarahumara boa.

The blackhead (Bart) was his usual self, coming right out of the cage as soon as it was opened. I held him for about three minutes while the guy talked. Then I went to hand Bart over.

He wouldn't go. Again, this is a snake that my 6 year old son will hold in my presence. Bart has no issues going to him. With a new person, he gently refused to be handed over.

Second up was Diego, our Tarahumara boa. Again, Diego rested on my my shoulder for about five minutes. He eventually allowed me to hand him over to the new guy, but would not settle down for him - basically trying to get away.

Of course our snakes don't love us, but they do know who we are (in a sense). By taking good care of them, seeing to their needs and acclimating them to us, a basic type of trust is formed.

It's the same when we have our yearly run to the vet. When it comes time to look in the mouth, we have several who will only let me touch their heads.

It ain't love but I'll take it.

Snakes don't actually love people like a dog or cat but they can know their owners and get used to him/her, so I answered yes.

Couldn't answer this poll, because neither of the selections was true.

Snakes don't experience the emotion of love, but they DO have emotions. Reptiles have an array of simple emotions. Love is a complex emotion, and it's found only in mammals and birds.
You only find love in species that pair-bond, and care for their offspring. That's the purpose it serves--to keep animals together.

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Originally Posted by shhhli

How is this a question?
anyways. I know my snakes would love me if they were able to make a connection between

me having money :: no rat
me having no money :: rat

then again, they would just probably hate money.

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isnt this backwards? shouldnt it be

money = rat
no money = no rat?

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Originally Posted by Lokua

isnt this backwards? shouldnt it be

money = rat
no money = no rat?

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I think the point was the sacrifices we make to feed the snakes. If I have $5 in my pocket, then I don't have a rat. When I give away the $5 (to the pet store clerk) then I have a rat to give my snake. ;)

I agree with the majority of people, i don't think my snakes love me...i think TOLERATE would be a better word.