Affectionate Snakes! :)

[MorbidWolfess]

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?

[Archimedes]

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.

[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.

[Mephibosheth1]

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)

[Archimedes]

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.

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.

[strykerX]

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

[MorbidWolfess]

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.

[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 ). I am affectionate towards each of them though as I love each dearly and can tell that they do have their own personalities.

[towelie4365]

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.

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

[iPanda]

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 ). I am affectionate towards each of them though as I love each dearly and can tell that they do have their own personalities.

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