Snake tricks

[zina10]

I think it is all in the interpretation of the word "training" and "teaching".

Snakes have very primitive brains, mostly designed to follow their instincts. However, their learning capacity has not been studied, in part because it is difficult to figure out if they just follow their instincts in certain setups or if they actually "learned" and can apply that knowledge to different situations.

For example, if they seek out warmth, they might go to the warm body presented, and they might seek out the hottest part (head) instinctively.
But could you teach them that that warm body is behind door number 3? Or the red door ? And will they then go to the red door wherever it may be?

A lot of what they learn is "cause and effect". They smell food, they find it, they kill and eat it.
In a way it certainly IS "teaching" and "training" when you get them to eat FT food. Although they have been known to scavenge in the wild if the prey is still "warm".
You DO trick them. You get them into their "feeding mode" by scent. You trick them by warming up the food, you "wiggle" to make it appear live. So yes, because of what you did, that animal can learn to accept FT.
You manipulated their instincts. You condition their behavior.

But can you teach them to push the green button to make a rat appear ? I doubt it.

I have had all kinds of snakes, all kinds of Ball Pythons. Back in the day they were mostly wild caughts and captive bred. Some were rescues in rough shape that needed either oral meds or shots and all kinds of medical intervention. I got "close" to my snakes, I didn't breed, but I spent a lot of time with them. Observing, handling, having fun. I can say without a doubt that there is more to them that some might think. For example, I do believe that they can have all kinds of different personalities. Of course each species is different, but within a species, you can have different "temperaments". Most hatchlings or live born babies are defensive, for example. But even then..there are differences. Some are pissier, some are very shy. And some of those traits do carry over into adulthood. While you can make them ALL more comfortable, more trusting and they gain confidence with age and size, there are still differences. At least, that is my observation. So yes, there is "more" there then we know about, but I still think they are very primitive when it comes to actual intelligence. And I'm ok with that, I love them just the way they are.

I think its great when people have fun with their animals and are enthusiastic. That is FAR better then the many snakes that get neglected and end up passed around and eventually dead. If you want to try to teach them things, if you like to handle them, by all means.
And btw. certainly those snakes do feel "something" when rubbed the right way I know how this sounds, but think about it. Males rub their bodies alongside the female, they "spur" them. I suppose it has to feel good or they wouldn't be doing it. So who am I to say they can't enjoy a good rub ??
As a matter of fact I used to have a normal wc Ball Python that actually turned her body sideways when you stroked her alongside the body. For all appearances, she liked it. She didn't try to get away, in any case.

I guess the only danger of reading to much into their instinctual behaviors is when people become disappointed that their snake doesn't do those things. There are new people to this hobby all the time. Some of them have a far higher expectation of what that relationship with this snake is going to be like, then what it will actually be. Especially once they figure out that their "active" Ball Python may just be a stressed one. That their snake would be happier in place that you don't get to see them most of the time (hidden). That this snake is actually more of a "pet rock" IF KEPT PROPERLY.

But that is just my opinion