Snake cognitive ability and affection.

[kiiarah]

That is fascinating with the possums and having to avoid sss sounds. Seems like all animals have remarkably unique and diverse things that set them off. I have instinctively avoided shadows falling over Shesha just because I guess it seemed to me from the start that it would make him feel threatened. I think you are right about the avoidance of negative experiencing being the goal, which is why I was so devasted to read that I would have to practically "attack" him to fix his eye. At least, I figured if I were in his shoes I would feel attacked. I was so relieved when he tolerated it, and even seemed to feel better afterward, that I thanked him out loud for not hating me about ten times over the course of the rest of handling time lol.

What do you think about the advice that snakes can tell if you are uncomfortable around them or nervous about handling and will be more defensive as a result. I mean, I go out of my way to never handle him when I am overly stressed out or angry, anything he could pick up on as negative. I also feel that when I am calm and happy he seems to pick up on that and is calmer as a result. I have seen lots of BHB videos where the guys who were nervous about messing with a certain snake would get bit, but the guy who was confident about it could walk right up and pick them up no problem. There sure seems to be something to it, but it makes you wonder how they can sense that? Perhaps they are detecting muscle tone or heart rhythms. It has just always amazed me that they can read people so well.

I agree on the Eco-Earth. Living in AZ we are constantly battling humidity issues, so I needed the boost from it badly enough that I was willing to tolerate the mess. I still give him a paper plate turned upside down to swallow the rat on, problem is he isn't a tiny hatchling anymore and can't seem to keep his meal on the plate these days. I never mind helping him though, and being gummed by a ball python is probably the cutest/coolest feeling ever. I do wish I could just put him in a feeding tub and be done with the substrate problem, but I think the risks outweigh the benefits there. Even beyond the added stress for him I worry that it could throw him into refusals since it is not what he is used to and there is nothing nicer than a snake taking regular meals.

EDIT: I had to add that there are some odd positive reinforcements I have found for Shesha with handling. For instance, he loves to watch the goldfish in the fish tank. At Christmas he was fascinated by the lights on the tree, or at least that seemed to be what he was fixated on. I started noticing him leaning for it on the way back to his tank at night, so we started making a pit stop after handling so he could nose about and investigate the lights and ornaments. There are a few things at least that he seems to really enjoy when he is out for a slither.