When I got my first ball python I was surprised by how intelligent he was. The world at large seems to view them as dumb animals, but Alex, my pied, learned his surroundings in the first few days I had him. After that he had no problem finding his favorite hide spots right away. He notices when I change or clean something in his tank and he curiously explores the changes as soon as he can. (Always at night. He never leaves his hides during the day.) One time I had him out on the bed with a plastic bag full of old bedding while I scrubbed the empty tank with a cleaning cloth. I though he would slither over to my pillows to hide, but instead he went to the plastic bag and wrapped himself around it. I guess it smelled like home.

He's also learned how to navigate narrow ledges. I like to take him out and hold him in my recliner at night and sometimes he explores my laptop. The first time he tried to slither over the top of my screen he fell off, but he hasn't fallen since. He can slither along the edge of his tank and feeding tub with ease now. He still has trouble with his climbing vine though. It doesn't stay still while he's on it.

Anyone else have stories of your snakes being smart?