Temper tantrums??

[Steelflighty]

So, as much as I loath the idea of it happening, I've been neglecting my python. Not in any health damaging ways - he is regularly fed and watered and has his tank cleaned - but I rarely handle him. I used to hold him a lot, and being a teenager, he's been forgotten. It annoys me, but I'm trying to make up for it. Anyway, last night I thought it a good idea to bring him out and let him stretch and explore my bed/blankets (ps his tank is 40 gallons). All was well, although he was doing this thing where he lifted his head up apart cobra like and then slithered real fast for a few feet. Eerie looking, but I chalked it up to him just bein happy to have all the room. Fast forward to today. I bring him out, onto my bed, first 10 mins is fine. He's exploring, going into a pile of clothes, under my pillow, etc. then he kinda turned his attention to me, and would slither onto my legs and up my arm. If I went to pick him up though, he'd kinda flex his muscles and jerk his whole body into a coil like he was scared. At this point, I'm like ok 15 minutes is enough you're going away. I gently place him down into his tank, and when I slid the screen shut, bam, it was like he got so pissed. He wrapped himself around his water bowl, lifted it up off the ground, and got water everywhere. Then he slid up along the glass, almost to the screen, and lurched his body forward, hitting his face on the glass at the end of the tank. It's like he's frantic and outraged to go back to his tank. I left to take a shower and when I was done, he was calmly curled up in his hide. The only way I can describe the whole situation is as a temper tantrum. Have any of you seen or heard of this before?

[DVirginiana]

I wouldn't call not handling one neglect. IMO they tolerate being handled but are fine without. Just expect an animal that hasn't been handled to be a bit more skittish when you get them out (or not, some animals are super chill)

Sounds like he may have seen a reflection in the glass that either scared him or looked like food.

[Reed12321]

He may be hungry


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[Sauzo]

I swear some snakes like to be handled. Call me crazy but my red tail boa will tear her cage apart sometimes until I open the front door. Then she immediately darts out onto my arm and climbs up to my shoulder. Then I either carry her around as I do stuff around the house or I plop down on the couch and let her crawl around. Sometimes she will just sit on me and relax. Then sometimes when I try and put her back in, she will not put her head in the cage. She darts up on top of the cage or turns around and crawls back up my arm. Other times she will gladly go back into her cage and then she is calm and all relaxed. My BP is still kind of new so I haven't really been able to nail down her personality yet but I swear, a lot of people think snakes are just feelingless eating machines but like I said, I think some actually do like interaction. Now don't get me confused with comparing this to a dog or cat because its not like that but I do think snakes do recognize and get used to their owners and some do like to come out and sit or crawl around on their owner. Also my boa is weird and likes to have her head and body stroked as when she has just her head out of the hide and I open the front door and rub her head, she will sometimes crawl out of the hide and stretch out the length of the cage while I stroke her. She seems to actually like it. Other times she is just pissy and doesn't want to be touched and will just go into her hide if I pet her

[DVirginiana]

A couple of my garters will start climbing the side of their tank trying to get to me the second I walk in the room (they don't do this for anyone else). Most of my snakes don't seem to care what I do until I bring mice in. I think they definitely remember their keepers and may even be curious about us if they're adjusted well to their surroundings, but I doubt they have the mental capacity to think about us when we're not around.
I think my turtle can because we'll walk in and find her on her hind legs watching the door. Even the friendliest snakes seem to forget we exist when we're not in the room though.

[gameonpython]

Well when I was looking at snakes, I chose Marshall specifically because he was so friendly and interactive. I've noticed if I put him on someone else he will try to get back to me, it's very cute. I agree that they do recognize their owners


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