Does my Ball Python love me?

[Svorge]

I know they say they don't have that part in their brain, but I'm staring to reconsider that. My Ball Python stays in his hide all day, and I'll come in my room and he'l come out and stand up on the glass, and keep doing it until I take him out. After I hold him he wont go back in and just stays on my arm.
It seems normal. Right?
Here is where it gets weird. I'll set him on my floor, and I'll leave my room.
HE FOLLOWS ME. I'll walk as far as possible from my room and HE WILL FOLLOW ME and slither around my feet and act crazy until I pick him up, then he sits calmly in my hand and just has a look on his face as if he's happy with himself. And he wont let me put him down. I'll sit on my bed, and let him explore my room. Next thing I know he's in my bed slithering to my hand to be held. Please explain this? I also think he gets jealous, I'll hold my bearded dragon and put him up. And then my snake wont let me pick him up and its almost as if hes upset with me. He wont bite but hell just curl up in his hide. It isn't cause he smells the bearded dragon, because I rub my hands down until there is no scent of bearded dragon. Plus, its just when he sees me with him. If I go in another room and do it so he cant see he is fine. But if he sees me holding my bearded dragon and not him he gets moody. Someone please explain this.. :/

I know it all sounds crazy I'm just so confused right now. I don't know why he acts like this. I'll make a video of him following me.

[sho220]

No. Your snake doesn't love you. I'd also be careful letting him go somewhere like your bed. You ever try getting the smell of snake pee/poo out of something made of fabric? One smelly dump and you'll be in the market for a new mattress.

[redshepherd]

I guess a good way to put it would be that ball pythons seek warmth/heat, just as they do the heat pad. They do learn that we are warm and comfortable things that won't hurt them, especially when outside the enclosure.

Can't comment on the bearded dragon, but unless "rubbing your hands down" means washing your hands with soap and water, going back to your usual business until you smell the same again, the scent of either your beardie OR the unfamiliar scent of the soap is still there.

[marya1962]

I've went through this with both my snakes. I don't think a snake is capable of love as we are. They are capable of being intelligent enough to figure out you are the one that provides them food and takes care of them. And they are able to figure out, consequently, that if they don't want to be in their cage, you are the one who takes them out. So, they figure if you go, they go too, and maybe get to to do something life-enriching. My snake will follow me by scent and slither around my feet until I pick her up. She's capable of knowing it's me that tube-fed her so she wants nothing to do with me because right now I mean unpleasant experiences for her. So she'll go to my son now to be held in my place. And she knows if she does windshield wiper on her cage door, she'll get to come out. But if she ever has a bad scale day, she wouldn't hesitate to bite me. She is quite capable of killing me intentionally or by accident. It's this latter that informs me she's smart to pick up a few tricks that are convenient for her, but she is still governed by instinct. People, on the other hand, are able to over-rule instinct. That's what makes us capable of love. We are able to put someone else ahead of our needs even if it might be detrimental for us in some way. A snake, on the other hand, cannot and will not do that because it's governed by instinct, not self-will. Hope this is philosophical enough for you. It pays to keep in mind your snake is capable of being dangerous and must therefore be handled with that thought in mind. Always have a contingency plan thought out in advance. This is not to say your snake ever will hurt you but that accidents happen all the time. Let that fact make you thoughtful and appreciative of what is between you and your snake.

[Billy29]

I wouldn't be surprised if their was more goi g on in their little pea brains than we realize. They have a different makeup and thought process than humans but in some aspects that have proved they are intelligent.

My one ball python seems to be content hanging out with me and sometimes he would rather be with me than his enclosure. I don't totally buy the I'm a warm big tree because his enclosure is nice and warm with nice places to hide.

I can't say he loves me because I never seen anything indicating it but I do think he enjoys being out with me.


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[Tsanford]

Trying kissing your snake a bunch on the face and maybe you'll get a kiss back

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[massgrave]

Any snake does not contain the part of their brain for emotions. They do not feel love.

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[Billy29]

I don't feel love either most of the time


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[DVirginiana]

My snake loves rodents. Whenever she sees one, all she wants to do is hug it. Or course, this usually goes a lot like the plot of Of Mice and Men.


Long story short, no, your snake doesn't love you. It recognizes you and trusts that you won't hurt it, but that's about as deep as that bond will ever get. In species more prone to exploring than BPs, that trust may even extend into mild curiosity about you and wanting to crawl on you to explore and not just for warmth, but that's about it.

[Billy29]

My ball python is just as inquisitive as most boas including the one I had. I guess I lucked out.


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