The old debate... Affection??

[NikkiePastel]

Hey guys !

I'm new here and I hope to find people who are into their balls as I am ! I have an 09' Pastel male around 2 1/2 feet long and I love him to death..

I really want some oppinions about affection.
I have heard the whole "snakes deal with us", "they can't" and so on but I really believe otherwise and I hope I'm not alone on this.

Zeus (my pastel) is a real lover boy. He will simply be relaxing soaking up my body heat and out of nowhere he will climb up my body and "nuzzle" my face or bump his head into my face until I begin to stroke from head to tail, then he will curl up on my chest while I stroke him. As soon as I stop he will start with the "nuzzle" or bumping again till I begin to stroke him.

I know many say it's because of body heat but he was already soaking up my heat while laying along my side or where he was laying.

has anyone seen signs of affection from their snakes before? Or anything like what I'm calling affection?

I know I'm not crazy with what I'm seeing in Zeus.
I'm just wondering if anyone else believes they can show love?!?

thanks guys !

nikkie

[ed4281]

I don't really think that they feel emotion in the same way that we do, however I do have some snakes that really enjoy being held and always try to come out when I enter the room. They are pretty basic creatures but I do think sometimes we underestimate them.

[JLC]

Here's an old thread that is still pretty popular and frequently pops back up on the active list:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...snake-loves-me

You can read TONS of opinions on this matter right away. I'm sure folks will chime in here as well, as it is a topic of endless debate.

My personal opinion on the matter: I think it is the height of hubris for humans to INSIST that any creature can or can't feel any particular emotion. We simply can't know. But my BELIEF is that snakes are extremely basic, simple creatures that don't experience emotion in any definition we would use. I do believe they can feel comfortable, secure, insecure, hungry, frightened...but really little-to-nothing beyond that.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I wounder if its more of an inquisitive curiosity that gets some of the reactions that we classify as emotions? My wife's king (Nibbles) watches us when we are home and comes up when we are opening her cage. I think I have even caught her watching "Sons of Anarchy" with us?

[angllady2]

These are my thoughts on the matter:
Yes it is hard to hear that your snake doesn't love you or even want to be held by you. It really kind of de-flates your ego. But you know what? I love mine anyway. I have fifteen pet snakes right now, and each and every one has it's own personality. I hold mine for 10 or 15 minutes at a time once or twice a week.
They don't mind the attention from me, and I can indulge my fantasy that they love me.

Sure, cats and dogs and ferrets, and even rats show more affection, but that doesn't bother me. I actually have all these things as pets, and I still wouldn't give up my snakes. They are very calming and soothing to me, and they are good for my high blood pressure as well, so you could say they are a medical necessity for me.

Gale

[JLC]

.... and they are good for my high blood pressure as well, so you could say they are a medical necessity for me.

Gale

Hehe...try getting your health care provider to cover the cost of buying and keeping them! Or claim them on your income taxes as medical expenses.

[NikkiePastel]

That's too funny. I swear I have caught Zeus watching tv at times as well ! It doesn't bother me that snakes don't feel emotion, I have just been seeing a mushy sweet side to Zeus I have never seen in any other snake I have owned..

I was more or less just wondering if anyone else has seen this nuzzling and head butting with their Balls as well?! And if not them showing "love" then what is it?

[angllady2]

Judy, I'm still working on that, paperwork you know.

Nikkie, several of mine like to watch TV or spend time with me playing the computer.

Most of mine even give me kisses, which makes my fantasy even easier to indulge in.

Gale

[kitedemon]

I believe that snakes are base creatures and everything falls into something to eat, something that is a threat, or procreation. I don't believe my snakes believe they can eat me, nor do they think of procreation either (I hope ) When I first bring a new one home it is likely they see me as a predator that will eat them. This is the interesting part that somewhere along they way they over come the fear that I will eat them. That I want to say trust for lack od a better term, is what is being discussed here. There is a point where my snakes no longer see me as a threat but as something else. I wish I had a word for what that is but I don't really.

[dembonez]

oye vay haha here comes the war!!!