Colubrids vs Boids - Intelligence

[mikoh4792]

Let me just start off by saying I understand it's hard to define what intelligence is, and that each category has their own "most intelligent" snake(retics, indigos, king cobra...etc) but in general, under which category do you seem to find the "smartest" snakes?

[Bluebonnet Herp]

I can't offer any input of my own, but I'm going to keep an eye on this thread. This sounds like an interesting subject.

[NH93]

I can only really speak for myself when I say, out of my two snakes - one corn and one ball - my corn has done much more seemingly intelligent things than my ball in the relatively short time I've had the both; about 5 months. These things include the corn putting just her stomach on her UTH following a feeding, pushing substrate in a hide with 2 openings to the one closest to the lightsource (blocking out light coming in), etc. So far I've only seen my ball python manipulate his hides, and push them around (although I don't know how intelligent this is)



Interesting post!

[jason_ladouceur]

Like you said intelligence in snakes is hard to measure. Retics are by far the most "intelligent" boid I have ever worked with. They just seem to have a sense of things that others don't. They even seem to recognize there primary keeper and react differently to them then they do others. Most colubrids and elapids are more inquisitive then boids. I'm not sure if this is a sign of intelligence exactly or just a product of a different style of hunting then ambush hunters. I have noticed over the years though that most hots do seem to have a higher sense of self and tend to "learn" and attempt to exploit their keepers habits faster then your average boid or colubrid. There are of course exceptions to that on both sides of course though.

[cecilbturtle]

I know this isn't a snake but I kept a common snapping turtle years ago from the egg. I handled this turtle way more often than I have any other. When he reached about 4 inches he started to push his face into my hand when I'd pick him up. The first time he did this I didn't see it, only felt it. I thought it was his foot. When I looked down I was sure he was going to bite me. Instead he simply relaxed and went limp. He did this almost everytime I picked him up. If someone else picked him up he'd push his face into their hand and then struggle to be set free.

I highly doubt he recognized me although I'd like to really think he did. I really believe he learned he was safe based on how I handled him versus how others reacted to his "face bumps". I don't think this was a sign of intelligence but rather conditioning.

[ViperSRT3g]

I'm also very interested in this thread. From experience, I haven't really had all that much time to sense any form of intelligence from my snake. As much as I'd love to have a smart snake, he seems to have the intelligence of a toddler. Exploring things, getting stuck in small spaces and such, but never doing anything inherently "smart" as far as I can tell. Sure he moves his hide around a bit on the hot side, as well as using his body to block out any light entering his hide. But nothing I'd consider intelligent.

[thinkbig317]

Like you said intelligence in snakes is hard to measure. Retics are by far the most "intelligent" boid I have ever worked with. They just seem to have a sense of things that others don't. They even seem to recognize there primary keeper and react differently to them then they do others. Most colubrids and elapids are more inquisitive then boids. I'm not sure if this is a sign of intelligence exactly or just a product of a different style of hunting then ambush hunters. I have noticed over the years though that most hots do seem to have a higher sense of self and tend to "learn" and attempt to exploit their keepers habits faster then your average boid or colubrid. There are of course exceptions to that on both sides of course though.

Retics are boids?

Agreed on the interesting thread part though! Great question......

[DSpythons]

I personally think boas are "more intelligent" then all the colubrids and pythons I've worked with. I feel like boas tame quicker and learn a persons presence quicker. Boas tend to be not as shy and warm up quicker to people and I feel like they learn/tolerate different enviorments and situations better while my ball pythons and colubrids tend to freak out. This just goes for my collection and others I've seen but I feel like boas are more pet-like in my eyes due to their individual personalities.

I've never held or interacted with retics, burms, rock pythons, andacondas, and the bigger constrictors so I have no idea about their traits.

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[mikoh4792]

I personally think boas are "more intelligent" then all the colubrids and pythons I've worked with. I feel like boas tame quicker and learn a persons presence quicker. Boas tend to be not as shy and warm up quicker to people and I feel like they learn/tolerate different enviorments and situations better while my ball pythons and colubrids tend to freak out. This just goes for my collection and others I've seen but I feel like boas are more pet-like in my eyes due to their individual personalities.

I've never held or interacted with retics, burms, rock pythons, andacondas, and the bigger constrictors so I have no idea about their traits.

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Have you ever interacted with a carpet python?

[DSpythons]

Have you ever interacted with a carpet python?

I haven't. Im just comparing ball pythons, kings, milks, corns, dumerils, and red tails since I've owned them all. All the boas just seem more intelligent in my eyes just because of their personalities.

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