I don't think my rosy boas could care less who took care of them, fed them, handled them. They do not show any kind of emotional response. But having said that, I think they deserve a little more credit than is often given. They seem to attempt to solve (very basic) problems, and seem to show some signs of some form of curiosity. When I first got my rosies there was a small flaw that allowed them to escape their cage. They both quickly learned where this flaw was, and would go straight to it. Once it was fixed, they gave up for a time, but recently seem to be testing it out again.
Years ago when I had a ball python he showed some signs of "something more" going on behind his eyes. He always seemed to know when it was really time to eat, whether or not he was hungry at any other time. Once when I made the mistake of sticking my hand in his cage during feeding time, he bit me. He very quickly let go and hid himself in his hide as if he were ashamed of what he had done. I can't say he actually was ashamed, I may be attributing something that wasn't there, but it really did seem like something more was going on. He never bit me before or after that.
I think in general the keepers have more fondness for the snakes, than the snakes have for the keeper. I won't completely dismiss a possibility of something more though.
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