Intelligence and eyesight

[redshepherd]

I believe a ball python can store memories and recognize different people, or at least different scents on different people.

Just an example is back when I had a black pastel female and before she was sold to me, the breeder brought her to a reptile show a couple months prior. Ever since she got back from the show, she hissed at the breeder whenever he opened her tub and otherwise acted angry at him... basically became temperamental due to the fact that he brought her to the show, for whatever reason.

He told me this about her, that she hisses, and shipped her to me. When she got to me, she did not hiss once at all for the entire time I had her! I had her for about 4 months. (Now she's sold to smoothscales on this forum) So I think we can safely assume that she recognizes different keepers, and who the person was that brought her to the stressful situation/reptile show.

On top of that, just from the fact that "more handling calms them down" (for most snakes), we can assume that they can at least store memories and feelings and remember what is safe or not.

I don't think they enjoy being stroked though... Feeling the need for physical affection is what leads to enjoy being stroked, and that seems to be mostly a mammal thing. But I believe they can learn that you're warm and that your handling won't hurt them, so they are content to stay put.

Regarding brain size = intelligence though, that's definitely not a factor... Just think, hummingbirds are so tiny, lighter than a penny, but incredibly incredibly intelligent. Same goes for small parrot species, like parrotlets. Their brains are around the size of a ball python's, but they are extremely emotional and intelligent animals that understand very human things like thankfulness, owing you something in return for what you've done for them, affection obviously, learning language, etc.