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How much does my snake "know" me?

L

Lellobeetle

New member
I don't want to anthropomorphize my boy, George (a.k.a Curious George), but I'm wondering how much he "knows" me in a learned association or acceptance type of way. He's pretty laid back and he doesn't flinch or react badly to my hand. I try to move deliberately but not quick, and he and I seem to get on great. How much is this learned behavior do you think or just an animal with limited understanding just being, well, limited? :shrugs:
 
Just my opinion, but I think they learn to recognize a) a human smell, and b) an individual human's smell, and over time they learn that we aren't here to eat them. They also respond to warmth which attracts them to us once they're not scared. I handle my corns much more often than the rest of the family, and if another family member is handling them they seem to stretch out to come back to me.
 
I believe snakes recognize their owner as a safe place. I've seen it over and over again, when an owner hands the snake off to someone, and it just stretches out trying to get back to its person.

Weird story- I was watching Big Brother Australia, and for one challenge, one girl had to have a big black-headed python around her neck, and the other had to answer snake-related questions. The girl was terrified of the snake, but kept it around her neck. So the snake handlers, the "ninjas," were dressed in solid black, even their heads covered. The snake kept determinedly reaching for one of the handlers, and wouldn't stop. The girl kept saying, "Look- the snake just wants to get back to the ninja!"
 
I don't think they really "love" us the way a cat or dog will, but they definitely learn to recognize us. Some people say they can't, but to that I say: if a snake couldn't learn to associate a particular sensory combination (mostly smell) with a particular experience (in this case, the safety of being gently handled), then how would they survive in the wild?

So yeah, I think they recognize us, although it will never mean as much to them as it would to an animal with a higher-level brain.
 
I have one boy who LOVES my hair. When I feed I check them over then while I am spot cleaning and changing water he coils up in my hair every time, he looks like a tiara. He is the only one who does it, and he doesn't even try to do this with other people holding him.

So I agree, I think they do know the people who care for them the most and trust some people more than others.
 
Nanci said:
I believe snakes recognize their owner as a safe place. I've seen it over and over again, when an owner hands the snake off to someone, and it just stretches out trying to get back to its person.

Weird story- I was watching Big Brother Australia, and for one challenge, one girl had to have a big black-headed python around her neck, and the other had to answer snake-related questions. The girl was terrified of the snake, but kept it around her neck. So the snake handlers, the "ninjas," were dressed in solid black, even their heads covered. The snake kept determinedly reaching for one of the handlers, and wouldn't stop. The girl kept saying, "Look- the snake just wants to get back to the ninja!"
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Very interesting. I agree, I think they know who they can and can't trust.
 
smigon said:
I have one boy who LOVES my hair. When I feed I check them over then while I am spot cleaning and changing water he coils up in my hair every time, he looks like a tiara. He is the only one who does it, and he doesn't even try to do this with other people holding him.

So I agree, I think they do know the people who care for them the most and trust some people more than others.
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this is funny - Princess loves my hair, but ONLY when I'm using a certain hair product. the other product I sometimes use, she does not care for.

she does, however, always love my glasses. I like to let her kiss me on the nose by holding her out in front of me, and if I'm wearing glasses when I do that she comes and slithers over to hang on the frames... for ten seconds, then it's time to roam some more.
 
smigon said:
I have one boy who LOVES my hair. When I feed I check them over then while I am spot cleaning and changing water he coils up in my hair every time, he looks like a tiara. He is the only one who does it, and he doesn't even try to do this with other people holding him.

So I agree, I think they do know the people who care for them the most and trust some people more than others.
Click to expand...

My boy Sidney used to love my hair loose round my neck he would weave himself in and out of it. A couple of months ago I had my hair cut really short and now he won't stay round my neck... But loves women with loose dark hair!!! So yeah I think snakes learn and recognise!
 
They definitely know familiar scents, including people. I don't think there is an emotional recognition , just a recognition.
 
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