Why Are Snakes Considered Dumb?

[bsd13]

Snakes can definitely learn. I talked about this idea in some long lost thread a very long time ago. But I'll repeat. When I got my snake and began to feed her, I created a routine. I would take all hides, water, thermometer, etc. out of the tank, leaving the hide she was in for last (no biting!) After a few weeks, I noticed that as soon as I took that hide away, she would "glance around" and suddenly fall into a very obvious hunting attitude, if you will. I am 100% positive that she was able to notice the cause and effect of the furniture being removed. When the tank was empty, a rat entered. She learned that empty meant food. This has worked well for the both of us so far, seeing as I've had her for 2 1/2 years and no bites (knock on wood)!

Snakes can definitely learn, and I believe that if an organism can adapt in that manner, they really shouldn't be considered dumb. And one last point- how many times do we find that we have little Houdinis on our hands?

Interesting but I don't know that this is as much learning or training as it is conditioning...?

And there is a difference. All animals can be conditioned to react to stimulus, but not many can be trained. For example one of my kingsnake's will come to me if I tap on the floor. Have I trained him, or does he associate the tapping with the three times I fed him on the floor instead of his tank and now he's been conditioned? I'm betting on conditioning and not training.