How do you know when your BP trusts you?

[mehitabel74]

We've had Nigel since the beginning of November, and he's certainly relaxed a lot! The first few times I took him out of his tank, he hissed (and nearly scared me to death) and would NOT come out of his ball posture.

Now, I stroke his side gently when I intend to take him out, and he doesn't flinch or curl up, and seems content enough to explore my arms or, if I'm lying down, crawl around on me. He really wants to check out my face, but I'm not quite ready for that and I'm afraid I'd flinch and freak him out. I have started lifting him onto my shoulder, and he seems to really like my hair!

He does do the "bracelet" thing now, and seems reluctant to go back into his tank when we're done with handling time. I can also stroke him a little under his chin if I don't come at him from the front--say, if his head is resting on my finger, I can rub it back and forth and he doesn't seem to mind. He's still pretty head-shy otherwise, though.

I know snakes don't have emotions, but I do think he knows that I'm no threat to him. Are snakes sophisticated enough to really trust humans? Or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

[T&C Exotics]

This is purely speculation here. I think that a snake can build up a kind of trust with anything. They at first see us as a predator and then realize we are not and relax a but. At the same time judging by the size of their brain and comparing it to other animals with the same size brain they honestly should not have a memory of more than a few minutes... Maybe an hour at most.