Snake memory

[MontyAndMelissa]

I have a question that I'm pulling from a different thread (in case others won't see it).

Do snakes have the ability to remember?

Example: Can a snake remember abuse, and there for associate the abuse with people?

Can a snake differentiate between door A, with a safe, cozy hide behind it (free of scents), and door B, without? (I don't use food for this example because the snake would obviously be able to tell the difference).

If they can, indeed remember, how long does this memory last? ("A goldfish has a 3 second memory span", etc.)

I would love to see the input on this subject because now I am seriously interested.

[albinos_rule]

Of course they can. I tell mine to make sure and pay my bills every month, and just like clockwork they make sure the bills are paid without being reminded, and that is just one example of the amazing things my snakes remember

[MontyAndMelissa]

Okay, smartass. It was a serious question. Why wouldn't they be able to remember. They aren't complete morons.

[kaitala]

Goldfish can be conditioned beyond the mythical 3 second memory. Watch them come ro the surface in a pond for feeding.

Im sure they remember. How much is the question

[DVirginiana]

As I mentioned in the other thread, I think they can form what you'd probably call associations more than memories There's not a whole lot of official literature that I've seen on memory in reptiles.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Goldfish can be conditioned beyond the mythical 3 second memory. Watch them come ro the surface in a pond for feeding.

Im sure they remember. How much is the question

They say goldfish have the memory of approximately 3 months, not 3 minutes. I was just quoting the saying. I'm just really curious to know. I mean, monty knows that if I give him a mouse today, and I didn't give him one yesterday, he gets another tomorrow.

[MontyAndMelissa]

I think it'd definitely be an interesting one to test. A good experiment, wish I'd thought of it in middle school.

[Lizardlicks]

Yup, best answer here. Gold fish in studies were shown to retain the memories of how to perform tricks for a food reward up to 3 MONTHS after they were taught the trick. I don't recall there being any specific similar studies being done for snakes, but I would assume they would be capable of at least that, if not more. Now the question of what transforms a short term memory into a long term one is a bit trickier. Obviously, repetition with the same outcome (preform action, get same result each time, preferably in the for of some sort of stimuli) can form long term memories, but what about short term trauma, like you described (abuse, rat bite)? The answer there is, we just don't know, and I doubt we have a basis for speculation at this point.

[DVirginiana]

I feel like a huge part of the lack of studies on snakes is probably because they're deaf and solitary. So they can't communicate with sounds and they don't really have much desire to communicate at all. I mean, how do you reward an animal that just wants to be left alone? lol

I had a goldfish that would follow your hand and do little tricks for food once

[kaitala]

People believe the 3 min thing.

I look at it like this, i present the food in front of them. So when i reach in to pick them up, i come from behind the head. bitey in front, no bitey in back. Its not like we can hope they'll solve differential equations.

It would be cool to see what they can learn. If you design an experiment that tub kept bps could be subjects, I'll be happy to participate!