Snake memory

I have a question that I'm pulling from a different thread (in case others won't see it).

Do snakes have the ability to remember?

Example: Can a snake remember abuse, and there for associate the abuse with people?

Can a snake differentiate between door A, with a safe, cozy hide behind it (free of scents), and door B, without? (I don't use food for this example because the snake would obviously be able to tell the difference).

If they can, indeed remember, how long does this memory last? ("A goldfish has a 3 second memory span", etc.)

I would love to see the input on this subject because now I am seriously interested.

Of course they can. I tell mine to make sure and pay my bills every month, and just like clockwork they make sure the bills are paid without being reminded, and that is just one example of the amazing things my snakes remember :rofl::rofl::weirdface:weirdface

Okay, smartass. It was a serious question. Why wouldn't they be able to remember. They aren't complete morons.

Goldfish can be conditioned beyond the mythical 3 second memory. Watch them come ro the surface in a pond for feeding.

Im sure they remember. How much is the question

As I mentioned in the other thread, I think they can form what you'd probably call associations more than memories :) There's not a whole lot of official literature that I've seen on memory in reptiles.

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Originally Posted by kaitala

Goldfish can be conditioned beyond the mythical 3 second memory. Watch them come ro the surface in a pond for feeding.

Im sure they remember. How much is the question

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They say goldfish have the memory of approximately 3 months, not 3 minutes. I was just quoting the saying. I'm just really curious to know. I mean, monty knows that if I give him a mouse today, and I didn't give him one yesterday, he gets another tomorrow.

I think it'd definitely be an interesting one to test. A good experiment, wish I'd thought of it in middle school.

Yup, best answer here. Gold fish in studies were shown to retain the memories of how to perform tricks for a food reward up to 3 MONTHS after they were taught the trick. I don't recall there being any specific similar studies being done for snakes, but I would assume they would be capable of at least that, if not more. Now the question of what transforms a short term memory into a long term one is a bit trickier. Obviously, repetition with the same outcome (preform action, get same result each time, preferably in the for of some sort of stimuli) can form long term memories, but what about short term trauma, like you described (abuse, rat bite)? The answer there is, we just don't know, and I doubt we have a basis for speculation at this point.

I feel like a huge part of the lack of studies on snakes is probably because they're deaf and solitary. So they can't communicate with sounds and they don't really have much desire to communicate at all. I mean, how do you reward an animal that just wants to be left alone? lol

I had a goldfish that would follow your hand and do little tricks for food once :D

People believe the 3 min thing. :)

I look at it like this, i present the food in front of them. So when i reach in to pick them up, i come from behind the head. bitey in front, no bitey in back. Its not like we can hope they'll solve differential equations.

It would be cool to see what they can learn. If you design an experiment that tub kept bps could be subjects, I'll be happy to participate!

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

I feel like a huge part of the lack of studies on snakes is probably because they're deaf and solitary. So they can't communicate with sounds and they don't really have much desire to communicate at all. I mean, how do you reward an animal that just wants to be left alone? lol

I had a goldfish that would follow your hand and do little tricks for food once :D

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Well that and people just don't like snakes. Totally unfair bias if you ask me!

My first betta was a hoot. He would flare, and do a little flappy dance when I greeted him in the morning, and when I brought out food for him. No other time!

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Originally Posted by kaitala

People believe the 3 min thing. :)

I look at it like this, i present the food in front of them. So when i reach in to pick them up, i come from behind the head. bitey in front, no bitey in back. Its not like we can hope they'll solve differential equations.

It would be cool to see what they can learn. If you design an experiment that tub kept bps could be subjects, I'll be happy to participate!

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I will definitely let you know. I'm thinking about how to do it without stressing him out

Stop over-thinking it, and let your snake be a snake :snake::gj:

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Originally Posted by albinos_rule

Stop over-thinking it, and let your snake be a snake :snake::gj:

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I'm not talking about Monty specifically, I mean in general. It was an "I'm curious" post not an "I'm worried" post.

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Originally Posted by MontyAndMelissa

I have a question that I'm pulling from a different thread (in case others won't see it).

Do snakes have the ability to remember?

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Snakes are genius at snake-things. They survived for millions of years before being kept in rubbermaid bins.
I let my snake wander around the apartment and he has figured out 2 different routes to get from his enclosure to his favourite hiding spot. It's only about 12' away directly, but since he only travels along the walls it's an indirect 30 feet, as the snake crawls. He learned the routes on his own, remembers them and can move surprisingly quick at times.

Pathfinding? Yes.
Abuse and speciesist generalizing? I can't say.

Yooo, my biologist friend hooked me up with a link but it was a relatively recently published study and there isn't a PDF version on the full thing available, only a print copy for purchase. The abstract still has some interesting information though! Linky here.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Yooo, my biologist friend hooked me up with a link but it was a relatively recently published study and there isn't a PDF version on the full thing available, only a print copy for purchase. The abstract still has some interesting information though! Linky here.

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That looks interesting. I'll have to see if I can get it through my student login. It's been awhile since my undergrad neuro classes, but I've really missed reading about brains!
Ha... I love how they're still stumped by where exactly turtles belong phylogenetically.

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

I feel like a huge part of the lack of studies on snakes is probably because they're deaf and solitary. So they can't communicate with sounds and they don't really have much desire to communicate at all. I mean, how do you reward an animal that just wants to be left alone? lol

I had a goldfish that would follow your hand and do little tricks for food once :D

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Ball pythons aren't deaf.

Vibrating Skulls Help Snakes Hear:
http://news.sciencemag.org/2011/12/v...lp-snakes-hear

Before I ever thought about owning a snake, I was using Finis Neptune headphones for swimming - they use bone conduction and the music is clear and loud.

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Originally Posted by MontyAndMelissa

I will definitely let you know. I'm thinking about how to do it without stressing him out

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I have white and red lamps that alternate on 12 hour schedule, and am p. sure the snake knows and anticipates that at 7:00 pm the 'sun' will go down because he starts poking his head out of the head a few minutes before the lights change. 30 minutes later the UTH temp drops and he usually waits for that change before coming out of hide and getting active.

So maybe try using light/heat and their 'natural' day-night cycle to train. For instance;
Method: Every day when light changes from day to night, handle the snake for a few minutes (assuming your snake likes or tolerates being handled!).
After two weeks when the light changes, see if you can notice if the snake anticipates that he's going to be handled, and has been 'trained' to come to front of tub.

It's not much but gotta keep it simple, and without stressing the snake.

I guess another good example of their memory would be when moving them into a feeding tub and how most immediately go into food mode after a while of doing it.

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Originally Posted by The Golem

Ball pythons aren't deaf.

Vibrating Skulls Help Snakes Hear:
http://news.sciencemag.org/2011/12/v...lp-snakes-hear

Before I ever thought about owning a snake, I was using Finis Neptune headphones for swimming - they use bone conduction and the music is clear and loud.

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I agree, just from observing my snake's reaction to sounds.