ball python intelligence

Does anyone see an intelligence curve for ball pythons? Like amongst individual snakes?

I’m just wondering because I feel like my ball python is pretty smart. She learns new patterns very quickly, and (for instance), after watching me open the three latches on her new tank, within minutes she was going from one to the next, actually pushing on them in turn. It’s like she understands that they’re the key to her escape, even though she could never manipulate them from the inside. It was kind of spooky.

So it also makes me wonder, could ball pythons ever be bred for more than looks, i.e. for their personality or individual IQ? I remember something about an IQ test devised for cornsnakes, and the results were amazing, how they were much smarter than previously thought by us humans – there was just no way of measuring it before.

And how could we test the intelligence of our own snakes – other than setting up an obstacle course! (i guess those are better suited for the feeders…)

This is such an awesome thought.

If I knew that I could breed the personality traits of my normal female, I'd make bank every time and I wouldn't feel "bad' about sending my ten-year-old niece a ball python. ^_^

Seriously, though. I think that balls are extremely intelligent. I have a female who plays me every time, just like an infant. She knows that if she makes a fuss by the front of her tub, I'll take her out. When she's done for the night, I'll put her back and she'll go straight to her hide.

When she defecates, she presses her cute little face near the front of her tub so I'll come clean it and give her a bath. Child is absolutely spoiled.

Can anyone say....Supersnakes. I cannot even begin to comprehend the awesomeness

This is totally unbelievable ~ Cool ~ Never noticed that Ball Phyton are so intelligence. Emmm~ have to observer and study on this.

I don't know but if this is true, then I think mine are mentally handicapped

I have seen mine do some things make make me stop and think. I had a baby normal male the kept getting out of his tub I couldnt figure out how in the hell he was doing it. Then one night I saw him bending the side of the tub with his head and getting out at the top.

Smart little ass.

I think on some level they do learn and remember. Even to the point of long term. Other wise they would never tame down. At some point they have to "learn" that you aren't a predator and remember it.

i dont doubt they are good at memory recall.
yes they will systematically try to escape.

If fish can be classically conditioned to be fed when the light turns on..
And dogs can learn to salivate with the sound of a bell..

I think snakes have the power to associate, learn, and understand consequence or reward.

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Originally Posted by Smith285

I don't know but if this is true, then I think mine are mentally handicapped

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LOL ~ :rolleye2:

I know they are smarter than most people think. My girl is always amazing me. And how she has escaped twice with the lid locks on and books set on the lid, I may never know. I introduced her to a new friend, who used to have snakes, and she went right around his arm, and wouldn't leave him. where as I have family that is afraid of all snakes, and around them she gets nervous, like she just wants to slither away....Also she has never realy balled up for either myself or my husband, she is always streached out.

mine's not all that bright :D Cute but a little slow in the head.

'Course I never judge a snake's intelligence until they hit at least the 3 year mark, just like kids they need to grow up a bit before they show their true abilities.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

I think snakes have the power to associate, learn, and understand consequence or reward.

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All higher animals have these skills to some degree, otherwise evolution would've taken care of them and they'd be extinct by now :)

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Originally Posted by Markus Heinsohn

All higher animals have these skills to some degree, otherwise evolution would've taken care of them and they'd be extinct by now :)

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Good point.

my snake does pythagoreans therum to escape from the tank
http://www.samosguide.com/images/lis...an_theorem.gif

:rofl: just kidding, the snake never escapes.... but he is pretty good at algebra :D