Affectionate Snakes! :)

Are you guys affectionate to your snakes?
I am. I take them out whenever I get a chance, let them watch movies with me and cuddle them on the bed. Salem is particularly cuddly, he likes to lay over my heart when I lay down or I just cup him, he usually falls asleep I believe. I never really cuddled Shilo, he was too nervous at first so whenever he stressed out I placed him back in his terrarium where he was safest.
Lately though, Shilo has been sick. I believe he's got a parasite, and right now I'm trying to get him to defecate. It's taking a while.
Yesterday I was really worried. He didn't eat any rats, he didn't want anything to do with anyone. He's never hissed or bit, but he could be reclusive and curl up into a tight ball.
Well, just yesterday I got done holding Salem and really wanted to hold Shilo too. I took him out and placed him on my chest while he was curled up, and let him uncurl as he liked. I talked to him. I was surpsied that he kind of responded to my voice, he turned to look at my face when I talked. So I continued to speak, it sounds really cheesy but I said "You know, I can't get you better if you don't cooperate with me. I love you, I don't want you to die. You're still a baby."
I held him for hours, and he enjoyed it I think. He curled up in my hand and relaxed, eventually moving around my wrist while I worked on homework, and then came to wrap around my neck where he stayed a while. Now today, despite weeks of refusing food, he actually took it this time. I was so happy, I gave him two mice (Since he should be eating young rats and we attempted mice a week earlier)
So I know all of this was silly, but last night he bumped his nose against my cheek. I thought it was cute and called it a kiss, though I doubt thats what it is.

Please don't try to rationalize the post either. :( I'm so happy, and I think all living creatures do have personalities and emotions.

Do any of you have stories similar to this? Do you cuddle your snakes? ;)

Magnus and I cuddle sometimes. He usually ends up trying to go under my pillow, and I'm uncomfortable with not being able to see him, so I pull him out and we go back and forth that way for awhile. When I first got him though he spent a lot more time wrapped around my wrist than trying to explore.

He also usually ends up flicking my nose with his tongue, or trying to nest in my hair.

It's a sweet idea to believe that our snakes show us affection back, so I like to think so.

I don't believe that snakes have the physically complex enough brains to feel emotional attachment or anything beyond basic instincts such as hunger, fear, and pain.

However, I often project emotions onto my snakes, and it's fun to think of them that way.

I would only caution against using emotions to rationalize strange behaviors, as snakes that are behaving strangely always have a physical reason behind doing so, and projecting emotions onto them may affect your husbandry.

Sounds like you have some experience with the veterinary medical profession; I'm my Vet Tech classes we are also counseled about anthropomorphizing the patient; since we can express different moods depending in our feelings, we tend to attribute actions of our pets to these emotions, when there can actually be a serious problem going on.

that being said, I think Mycroft misses me when I don't take him out if his cage for a few days. I even take him with me when I go on a walk around e neighborhood...he really likes that (lol)

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Originally Posted by meowmeowkazoo

I don't believe that snakes have the physically complex enough brains to feel emotional attachment or anything beyond basic instincts such as hunger, fear, and pain.

However, I often project emotions onto my snakes, and it's fun to think of them that way.

I would only caution against using emotions to rationalize strange behaviors, as snakes that are behaving strangely always have a physical reason behind doing so, and projecting emotions onto them may affect your husbandry.

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Well said. In excess it can harm more than help. A common example-- when keepers see their BP roaming rather than hiding, and think it's a sign of contentment and exploration when the snake is actually anxious and restless due to a husbandry issue.

my girl and i have 4 ball pythons and they are always out gong on field trips with us of if its nice sunny warm cool breze we will be sitting outside with a blanket and let them tan.
My spider ball is so funny he is very curious the pastel is affectionate and loves to cuddle our yellow belly is mr grumpy gills because he never looks happy always seems grumpy but as sweet as a kitten he a big :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: cat lol
and lastly our lavender albino she is new so i haven't got to see her personality fully. but i love them all

I know the difference between anthropomorphizing animals and actually being affectionate. But I still think that they do have some form of emotional attachment, unless Salem coming out of his hide to my voice is just because. I know strange behaviors is strange behaviors that should either be looked at by a vet or taken into question. Like I said, I know that a lot of this is probably coincidence, but for my own self esteem I'd like to imagine they feel something for their caretaker.

My snakes don't care about me, they don't cuddle or want to be cuddle, they don't give "kisses", and I don't believe they respond to my voice in the sense that they "know" its me (though I'd like to see it that way :P). I am affectionate towards each of them though as I love each dearly and can tell that they do have their own personalities.

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

Well said. In excess it can harm more than help. A common example-- when keepers see their BP roaming rather than hiding, and think it's a sign of contentment and exploration when the snake is actually anxious and restless due to a husbandry issue.

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It can also mean they are hungy ;) Mine definitely start to roam close to feeding day haha. Conversely, I don't see them out of their hides the first day or two after a meal :P

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

My snakes don't care about me, they don't cuddle or want to be cuddle, they don't give "kisses", and I don't believe they respond to my voice in the sense that they "know" its me (though I'd like to see it that way :P). I am affectionate towards each of them though as I love each dearly and can tell that they do have their own personalities.

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You know retics have keeper recognition like King Cobras? If i go up to Pajama's cage and talk to him, he'll come right up and look at me, and give a couple tongue flicks. Anyone else, they get no response. it's a familiarity response

I dont believe reptiles have the same type of emotional responses that dogs, cats etc do, they just weren't made that way. However they absolutely have their own unique personalities. I also believe that while they don't show love by "hugs and kisses", they do develop trust. You know when a snake is comfortable with you and they know you won't hurt them. Fear is what keeps them alive in the wild and when they trust you and are taken care of properly I believe that is a type of bonding for sure. But there are other positive things about them not needing the same social/emotional needs of a dog, cat, etc. If I don't get my snakes out or I go on vacation, their feelings will not be hurt. I don't have to worry about their emotional needs by NEEDING to show them affection. They don't poop on my carpet because I was gone all day etc. Lol. But I do love to snuggle my babies and they seem very comfortable with it.

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Originally Posted by iPanda

You know retics have keeper recognition like King Cobras? If i go up to Pajama's cage and talk to him, he'll come right up and look at me, and give a couple tongue flicks. Anyone else, they get no response. it's a familiarity response

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I haven't seen this behavior with my retic: notice I didn't say all snakes, I was only talking about mine.

I've noticed that my boa seems more comfortable when around myself or my boyfriend than anyone else, since we've been with her from the first day we brought her home. I think she can recognize myself, my boyfriend, and the few other people she sees on a daily basis. As for "cuddling" with us or being affectionate, well... we call her willingness to hang around our shoulders and not wander off "cuddling", but in all honesty it's probably just because we're warm. :P

I believe they have basic emotions and even curiosity, but I don't think they have emotions like "love". She's never bitten me but she has no problem giving anyone a piece of her if she feels like it, and if we leave her alone for a week she'll act just the same when we take her out than if we took her out every day. Sometimes she'll do the same cheek-bump or tongue-flick on our face and we call them "kisses" too, but I'm always careful to watch her to make sure I don't get a "kiss" with teeth. :P


I wonder if anyone's ever done a psychological test/study on snakes or reptiles. That would be interesting.






I know it was just good shutter timing, but this is one of my favorite photos! A nice "kiss" on my cheek from Satin:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5.../Photo0427.jpg

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Originally Posted by Daybreaker

I haven't seen this behavior with my retic: notice I didn't say all snakes, I was only talking about mine.

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How long have you had him? That's crazy! Mine definitely knows me from others.

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Originally Posted by iPanda

How long have you had him? That's crazy! Mine definitely knows me from others.

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I've had her for a year and got her when she was less than one month old. I can tell that certain snakes of mine seem more relaxed when I handle them over my bf (my retic being one of these) but I don't believe they know it's me in the sense that they can recognize my voice :)

I enjoy showing affection to my snakes, although I'm pretty sure they're not capable of returning it in kind. They do seem to have just a gentle nature though, that I appreciate!

But I will say, my roommate and I joke that my female normal thinks of me as "Familiar-Smelling Thing" whereas he is "Unfamiliar-Smelling Thing." She acts fearful of him and calm around me. The other snake has no opinion. :o

I personally don't think reptiles (especially snakes in particular) feel any kind of emotion besides instinctual ones. I do not believe they can be "affectionate", love, be "happy" or "angry", none of that. I think the only reason they may "cuddle" as you say is because your body is a giant heat emitting machine, and since they don't produce their own body heat, they get as close to you as possible.

However, I do think they can get used to a certain owner, and become uneasy when someone else handles them. I think they get used to your particular sent, and recognize that you aren't going to harm them. I've had people that handled my biggest Ball Python that I've had since I was 14 (17 now) and I can tell she is definitely not as comfortable with them as she is with me.

I've noticed that my ball seems to be more content being handled by me than by others. If I am near a guest who is holding him, he will tend to stretch out in my direction. I just assume it's a scent thing but it could just be a coincidence. If I am lying on the sofa, he will always curl up in the same spot on my chest. I used to always think maybe he was a familiar/secure with my heart rhythm as a "safe place" but who really knows. As an adult, he's handled less but still tends to exhibit these same behaviors. Although, I'm sure if you put a warmer bodied person next to me, I'd be left in the dust in a flash!

I dont think any of my snakes care about me at all. That being said i believe they get use to certain smells and sights and with time they can feel comfortable being around you.

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

I've noticed that my boa seems more comfortable when around myself or my boyfriend than anyone else, since we've been with her from the first day we brought her home. I think she can recognize myself, my boyfriend, and the few other people she sees on a daily basis. As for "cuddling" with us or being affectionate, well... we call her willingness to hang around our shoulders and not wander off "cuddling", but in all honesty it's probably just because we're warm. :P

I believe they have basic emotions and even curiosity, but I don't think they have emotions like "love". She's never bitten me but she has no problem giving anyone a piece of her if she feels like it, and if we leave her alone for a week she'll act just the same when we take her out than if we took her out every day. Sometimes she'll do the same cheek-bump or tongue-flick on our face and we call them "kisses" too, but I'm always careful to watch her to make sure I don't get a "kiss" with teeth. :P

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Thats pretty much what Salem does. He nudges my cheek and some times he'll lay his head against my cheek. It may be because I'm warm, but there are times when I'm cold and he'll still do it. He will however respond to my voice, whether its just because he's picking up those vibrations or not I don't know. Maybe someday I'll get a video taken of it when I'm not so afraid to show off my ugly mug.

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

I dont think any of my snakes care about me at all. That being said i believe they get use to certain smells and sights and with time they can feel comfortable being around you.

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I know my snakes don't care about me. They wouldn't come looking for me if they escaped.

I also don't require my snakes to love me, in order for me to love them. ;)

Sent from my Samsung Note II using Tapatalk 2

"I think my snake loves me." :rofl::rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by MorbidWolfess

Thats pretty much what Salem does. He nudges my cheek and some times he'll lay his head against my cheek. It may be because I'm warm, but there are times when I'm cold and he'll still do it. He will however respond to my voice, whether its just because he's picking up those vibrations or not I don't know. Maybe someday I'll get a video taken of it when I'm not so afraid to show off my ugly mug.

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Their "love" probably comes in the form of "I know this creature won't harm me, so I feel okay being around them". That's probably why they act normal around people they interact with often, and seem skittish around new people. Honestly, I feel more honored with this trust they have with us than if they loved us like a dog or cat; they aren't domestic animals so earning the trust of a "wild" animal makes me feel pretty damn cool.

Either way I love my scaly "kids" whether they like me or not. Satin is such a traitor though; my boyfriend is way warmer than I am, so if he comes close when I'm holding her she'll inevitably try to go to him instead. :rofl:

I get mine out a lot also for TV time or just for walking around. Some of them are better for this than others though, as I tend to not get the squirmy ones out when I'm wanting to be still. Brianna is by far the best one for that. She has even been trusted to stay wrapped around my arm while I'm driving, and she is often my TV companion. Kay is very good too, when she is out of breeding season. Mocha is a very good TV buddy, as is Jackson.

Ace, Iris, and Cleo never seem to be still for long so usually I only get them out when I don't mind exercising them.

Bryan, meanwhile, is moody. Sometimes he will sit still and cuddle up to me while other times he's looking to make a break for it.

But I love all of them and once they get established, they get a name and are like part of a family so I am attached to all of them.