Do our snakes recognize us?

[firemandan26]

For sure! I hold mine and he's all over the place. But, if I give him to someone else or set him down he just curls up into the ball. From the other posts on here, and my personal experience, i would say absolutely!

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

Most of my snakes seem to prefer me handling them to anyone else...Julien (my Dumeril) will get really agitated and try to get back to me...Jayne (my Cinnamon Ball) gets snotty and agressive (moreso than usual anyways) until he's handed back to me...Biscotti (my normal Ball) literally wads herself into a tight ball until handed back.

Then again, Macchiato (my male Mojave Ball), Temperance (my Retic) and especially Elliot (my Pastel Ball) all seem to like everyone and seem equally at home in the hands of a total stranger as in my hands, so...I think it depends on the snake.

Honestly, I doubt it's that they recognise US AS PEOPLE, but that we are a familiar perch. They like the familiar. All my snakes that have a problem with everyone but me? Also tend to not be very outgoing or tend to be a little shy. Jayne is so snotty I don't let anyone else hold him any more since he WILL bite...I'm trying to work with Julien to get him more calm with no effect...and Biscotti is just a bit timid by nature.

The others tend to be outgoing (Elliot and Temperance are so eager to be held they'll climb your arm when you open their tubs) or really mellow (Macchiato REDEFINES the term mellow!!!)...so it may be that they have a higher tolerance for stress or change.

Of course, there's also Bowline, my Pueblan Milk Snake. She's an equal opportunity critter...she just hates EVERYONE.

[Clementine_3]

I think they do recognize "their people". My son's BRB hates me and will try to bite me every time I take her out but has never once even thought about striking him. She knows! If he takes her out and hands her to me she is OK with that. Silly snake.
His corn snake could care less who picks him up, he's just a dufus.
My IJ's are a bit wary of others and will try to get to me if someone else is holding them, but they don't really care after a bit, it's just for the first minute or so.
I think they know their owners are 'safe' and strangers may not be. Instinct keeps them alive after all.

[Up2Late]

I never thought about this until now. I am a generally the only one who handles Claymore as his is still an infant but Cleo who is older seems to show favorites when she is out and moving around. I have noticed that she seems to move about on my girlfriend but not so much with me.

[Alexandra V]

I believe they recognize us. My baby boy is a bit shy when I try to get him out of the aquarium, but once he's out he'll explore over my hands and try to get up my sleeves, etc. But he hates my mother, and for no reason! He just knows that she's not me, and he doesn't trust her. He's met two of my friends as well, and they've held him, but he curls up into a ball when they hold him and tries desperately to get back to my hands.

[BrianaK]

I think so. My pastel is totally relaxed when I hold him, usually just stretches out with his head on my chest. Anyone else holds him, he doesn't stop moving around.

[MrSnake21]

I gotta reply to this I definitely agree they do..I would have my my boa Lucy out w me All day.. The moment I put her back in she is staring right at me in the front of the cage.

Once she she's I'm not opening the door she will move away from the front and chill out by the dish

[calmolly1]

Interesting...because I just had an experience with ours that verifies this. While Steve was letting Prec explore how to hang off the end of the bed, I moved into her live if vision with my bright pj bottoms and she initially coiled back in surprise. As soon as she stuck her tongue out and then I spoke she reached out to my leg in relief. You had to be there, but Steve said as soon as I spoke she relaxed in his hand.


Molly & Steve
0.1 normal BP 'Precioucess'
0.1 BCI 'Luna'

[MrSnake21]

Interesting...because I just had an experience with ours that verifies this. While Steve was letting Prec explore how to hang off the end of the bed, I moved into her live if vision with my bright pj bottoms and she initially coiled back in surprise. As soon as she stuck her tongue out and then I spoke she reached out to my leg in relief. You had to be there, but Steve said as soon as I spoke she relaxed in his hand.


Molly & Steve
0.1 normal BP 'Precioucess'
0.1 BCI 'Luna'

I do believe they know these owners by scent or w.e... I will wake up every morning before work and she will be right up in front waiting for me to hold her for a little..accidently I fall asleep when she is out and she will curl up on my chest and when I wake up she will lick me

[The Golem]

Yes they do know us. BPs' heat sensors are tied into their optic nerve; they can see our heat signatures and as predators I'm sure they are able to quickly learn and recognize very slight differences.
What we might look like to a BP:



I've had him draped around my neck while talking and he squeezed a bit to feel the vocal chords moving, so I think he recognizes the sound of my voice (or else he was trying to figure out if he could kill and eat me LOL).