I think my snake loves me

[NorthernRegius]

Does it matter?
If so why?

They are what they are & we love them. Some snakes exhibit actions that may or may not be affection.

My Madu Retic sometimes acts like it's her time of the month even though she does not menstruate. I still love 'em all unconditionally. I like to fuss over & care for things & that includes all animals in my care.

So in the end it doesn't matter a rat's hinny if they love me back or not.

[JohnAvilla]

Personally, I don't know what snakes feel or think. No one does. To state that snakes don't feel is to assume knowledge of something you can't possibly know. I am pretty sure though that one of my adult females HATES me

[JohnAvilla]

Humans don't have instincts. Look up the definition of instinct. We have many behaviors and drives that very closely resemble animal instincts, but when looking at the criteria of instincts, nothing humans do, in the entire species on the planet, can be labeled as an instinct.

As a student of psychology I believe that what we call "instincts" are more complex than we understand. We say that humans don't have them because we understand ourselves better than animals. The more research that is done however, the closer animal behavior seems to human behavior. Bonobos for instance have been witnessed caring for injured animals and testing has shown that many animals undergo the same chemical reactions in the brain that humans do when exposed to emotional triggers. Also, there is evidence that tickling/tickle defense is instinctual. The automatic motions of children being tickled are now thought to be a basic, hardwired form of grappling.

[Tempest]

My snakes (excluding my Redtail male) dont mind my handling them... but they express no affection...(my Redtail male has a big mouth and is territorial... always tries to snap at me when I open his cage)

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Does it matter?
If so why?

They are what they are & we love them. Some snakes exhibit actions that may or may not be affection.

My Madu Retic sometimes acts like it's her time of the month even though she does not menstruate. I still love 'em all unconditionally. I like to fuss over & care for things & that includes all animals in my care.

So in the end it doesn't matter a rat's hinny if they love me back or not.

I am absolutely loving this reply & i must wholeheartedly agree!

[SvicksTC]

Well i know snakes cannot love or whatever, but how about the fact a pattern begins to develop with feeding and handling and aclamation? Do they understand that?

Like i feel like my ball knows when i put him in his feed tub he knows what he is getting he knows what i am about to do...

[Chocolate Muffin's]

Mine totally does. I love her more than a dog or cat because with Snakes, trust is such a much bigger issue. Once you have their trust, its such a wonderful feeling and they are so much more friendly and curious and loving IMHO.

BTW - I just got a new BP today, 4530grams!!!!! And beautiful and wonderful!!! I just had to share!

[achilles4]

I think snakes to some degree have thoughts. I have a female ball python that I have had for almost four years and I think she recognizes who I am. there are other snakes I have that I havent had for too long and they dont seem like they feel anything except sensitivity to their head and pit areas.

[singingtothewheat]

I disagree that pythons can't feel emotions. They obviously feel fear. That is a primal emotion however. Can they love. Nope. Can they feel a lack of fear and therefore display some comfort with us. Yes, they can

[ilovemyballs]

i dont get it... i thought this was a place for people who "loved snakes". Maybe i just take it too far, i consider my snake an equal, and love it as i would love my child (granted im only 15, and have no children), but would never drop the fact that i am the boss, and make the rules. Either way, i KNOW my snake loves me, I walk in the room, he notices me, and tries to escape his cage (pushing the locked top of his cage) to greet me. Whenever he does somthing he looks to me as if to say, "look daddy i ate a mouse!" or "Look daddy, I pooped on you! Are you proud of me???". Its like he loves getting my attention... Also he will let me scratch the underside of his neck, and head. WHAT BP WILL LET YOU DO THAT??? Any way, call me crazy but i know my bp loves me...