I think my snake loves me

[Solarsoldier001]

I think my snakes understand I feed them and give them fresh water. Some just stare at me and wait for me to come with food for them. Hmmm or maybe they are seeking affection lol


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[Bluebonnet Herp]

I don't think I interpreted the question like the rest of you. I would never believe a snake would ever love me, however, I'm quite sure they are capable of simple emotions such as fear and pleasure. I have also recognized keeper recognition in some individuals. That said, it's worth noting they are vertebrates and have the mind of a vertebrate, as opposed to invertebrates such a tarantulas, who are truly void of emotion. (Even then, there is noted 'intelligence' contributed towards cockroaches.)

[Kimber]

This seems to be a topic of interest on sooo many reptile forums lol. We take our "babies" out for their play time together, and contrary to things that I've read, they're extremely social with one another! There is also something that my husband & I have witnessed on more than one occasion that completely took us by surprise. When we brought little Ryu home, he had been severely neglected so he was very close to starvation and extremely dehydrated and our big female would curl herself around his entire body & lay her head across him as if protecting him. Maybe I'm reading into this and she was completely unaware of what she was doing but I like to think she was aware

Also, studies show that King Cobras are significantly more intelligent than what was previously thought, even showing recognition between their caregivers & strangers. So, if they are smart enough to know people, they might actually be smart enough to feel for those people? I like to believe that ours just LOVE us! I guess whether or not that is true, we sure do love them!! Oh & there is some interesting information on this link

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0208071717.htm

"Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves"

[Kimber]

Here is a little more cool information I found from www.snaketalk.com

"Recent studies and observations now indicate that in spite of the fact snakes have no external ears, they do have inner ear mechanisms and can "hear" airborne sound. According to Dave and Tracy Barker in their book, BALL PYTHONS, The History, Natural History, Care, and Breeding, (citing several studies) in addition to somatic hearing, snakes are able to detect airborne sound via their inner ears. Another accepted fact was that snakes have no emotional states and all activity is a simple autonomic response to external stimuli. A quote that I used for many years (until very recently) is, "Snakes have all the intelligence of a Styrofoam cup." I had been taught and had always believed through my own observations that snakes (and other herpetofauna) could not recognize an individual human being, but were so accustomed to human contact that they felt no threat and no defensive response was indicated. Dave and Tracy's observations with Ball pythons over the years indicate that Ball pythons can in fact recognize individuals (you should read their book to get all the details). Extrapolating from these observations leads me to believe that this ability to recognize individuals may extend to other species as well, and if recognition is possible could I have been wrong all these years regarding a snakes potential for emotional responses? That would perhaps be stretching logic to the limits of reason. I am not ready to start telling my audience that my snakes love me, and I am not encouraging anyone to throw away all their old books. Much of what we have always accepted as fact is in fact, fact. My main point here is that we must never close our mind to new possibilities; never stop learning."

[Kimber]

WOW Beautifully said!! My favorite part?...."sophomoric glee people are extracting from their feelings of supposed superiority to others"!!

[Kimber]

Food. They can identify anything warm. They can't just see you and say "hey, its my owner!!!"

I think people just like to make snakes into people and mammals. They can't get over that they basically have no feelings.

Recent studies have shown that King Cobras can, in fact, distinguish between their caregivers and total strangers!! So if they can, why couldn't other species?

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and for those of you that want to question this, seriously, define love and then tell me if snakes fit the catagories. first and fore most would be do they defend their young AFTER they lay eggs, if they are the egg laying type. crocs/alligators do i believe, but do they also feel the need to seek comfort with other members of their species? being companion, offspring, or pack member? alright then.

I know of some women that wouldn't fit into those catergories! Lmao

[Mike41793]

Recent studies have shown that King Cobras can, in fact, distinguish between their caregivers and total strangers!! So if they can, why couldn't other species?

Cobras are smarter. I dont believe bps are smart enough to. Other species of boidae may be though. Alot of ppl who have retics say theyre pretty smart. Same with what ive heard about boas. Like there actually might be something going on in there. Hots are considered the most developed snakes, as far as evolution, so i wouldnt be surprised if they were the smartest as well.

[Kimber]

do what now??
i do not believe for a minute that feeling secure or emboldened or safe are a definiton of love. i have never won a debate and gone "wow, i feel empowered LOVE YES" or some other .. thing that has caused emboldenment in my own personal self. yes love is very over used- but those words, they have no relation to the word love, they can be put into a sentence with the word love- but as far as someone using the word 'secure' as a synonym for love. nope.


Dictionary dot com:
and i hope im not diminishing it..?
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
6. a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.
7. sexual intercourse; copulation.
8. (initial capital letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.
10. strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
–verb (used with object) 15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object) 21. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
—Verb phrase22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
—Idioms23. for love, a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.

24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one's work.
27. make love, a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.

28. no love lost, dislike; animosity: There was no love lost between the two brothers.


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[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE lufu, c. OFris luve, OHG luba, Goth lubō; (v.) ME lov(i)en, OE lufian; c. OFris luvia, OHG lubōn to love, L lubēre (later libēre) to be pleasing; akin to lief]


—Synonyms 1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.
—Antonyms 1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.

now, if you feel that some how we are taking bits of 'love' and forgetting others i am for one a bit offended. i have several types of love- for my boyfriend who i intend to spend the rest of my life with and endow a great deal of my heart and emotion- the love for my family, friends, pets and things that i enjoy to do at leasure- i am sorry, i do not feel in any shape form or fashion that anything a snake will feel or 'think' comes anywhere near any of those i have just described.

one might say that #10 could support your ideas BUT lets look at it a bit closer.
My Snake LOVES his tree limb.
reasons:
-stake out for prey
-protection from predators
-temperature/climate

you could say that that, is, indeed love but i have sever doubts, why? because the snake did not decide on that tree branch. through experience, location, or bodily needs did that snake pick that tree branch. only does it continue to go to the branch is because it -knows- it can get the food better and have a higher predatory success rate OR that it feels for the time being THAT is the location of safety when it is just as likely to hide anywhere else and FINALLY its BODY is telling it it needs that temperature, that humidity that basking spot RIGHT NOW for its on life's purposes. later its body will tell it to go higher or lower. snakes imo are like an organic machine, living breathing and deserving of the care and effort we bestow upon them, but a machine none the less.
eat. sleep. poop. shed. mate. reproduce. survive.

Let me first say, I'm only of average intellect, and would never want to insult ANYONE else's intelligence because they have a different opinion than mine. But I totally understand the use of the word "safe" & "secure" in correlation with the word "love", and while not exclusively synonomous, are relative. For example, if I didn't feel safe & secure with my husband, I wouldn't love him. And I'm not sure how much my children would love me if they didn't feel secure & safe with me lol. Also, a strong point could be made for #18 "to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight". Without a doubt, we know that plants are incapable of any feeling given that they lack a central nervous system, but here it is, used in this example.

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Cobras are smarter. I dont believe bps are smart enough to. Other species of boidae may be though. Alot of ppl who have retics say theyre pretty smart. Same with what ive heard about boas. Like there actually might be something going on in there. Hots are considered the most developed snakes, as far as evolution, so i wouldnt be surprised if they were the smartest as well.

I'm not sure that they are either actually lol but I am open to any new possibility. A bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly but he can with no explanation

[Kimber]

That's a good point, and for that matter, what's the cause of the major "stress" that balls suffer if they have no feelings. Being moved from one home to another or loud, raucous noises shouldn't affect them at all. Isn't "stress" an emotion caused by other emotions compiling & not an instinct?

[Kimber]

O.k look it i am not here to get into a peeing match with anyone.My female was 12 years old,my male is 10 years old,If you seperate them and then introduce them,they will breed,i have allways housed Ball Pythons together with out any negative out come,the eggs that were in her were infertile i have never seen any mating going on with either one of them,some snakes do in fact still produce eggs with out a male around,well mine happened to do just that with out mating.I have been into reptiles for 22 years +.I would like to think that i know what i am doing.And yes,Ball Pythons and Red Tails are very social with each other.Now i am not saying all snakes can be social with each other,but i know for a fact that at least mine are.Scientist dont know everything,it is experience that counts.Books do not tell all.I do not know where all of you are getting your information from,but you need to recap and do some more research.Just an opinion.Not bashing.

I totally agree with everything you've said!! My balls, while not housed together, are all pulled from their enclosures at a certain time for "play" & there's no way to keep them seperated They've shown no aggression towards each other from any of the encounters, nor do they get "stressed", go off feed, etc. So while they may not be social in terms of other animal standards, they certainly like to cuddle together! I am so sorry that you lost one of your babies, I know how attached one can get to these creatures