cantcomplain
New member
Since I battle with depression, I assume my snake must, too, since he lives in an aquarium.
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Do snakes get depressed?
- Thread starter cantcomplain
- Start date
DaemoNox
Abyssus abyssum invocat
There is a very big difference in how snakes feel and how people feel. No I dont feel that snakes get depressed like people do, nor are the saddened by living in a cage. Most of the time snakes dont know of any other way to live being born in captivity. In the wild these animals need to be able to adapt very quickly to changes, or else they wont survive. If any animal out in the wild gets depressed it is certian that they wont survive because of it, and the only animals that really do are pack animals that count on their relationship with others. I would not worry about the snake getting depressed, in the right hands there is no reason for it to feel anything but comfort.
marty.warwick
Original & Best
Plissken said:
I agree, before I read Plissken's post, I too was thinking about how snakes can be stressed from such conditions and therefore aren't happy (Again, not happy like humans, but in their own little snake-world-happy) which is an emotion. Not that you would ever do this, but it's kinda like saying, treat them how you like and let them be stressed, because they have tiny brains and apparently therefore completely emotionless, and won't care.
MegF.
That's for sale???
I think we're still placing human emotions on an animal that has no brain centers for such. They are geared for survival. If they are stressed because the environment is inadequate, they won't eat, regurge, etc. But that's not depression, that's stress. If they are eating, breeding and staying healthy, I think it is a good sign that they feel no stress. Our brains are far more complex than a reptiles.
marty.warwick
Original & Best
Eeeexactly, Like I said, they must have some kindof emotional system, but of course not at all as complex as ours.kimbyra said:
Back to the point.. I really doubt they can be depressed, definately not to the point of suicide or anything. Humans are the only lifeforms who realize from an early age that they are going to die later on. A snake wouldn't even know what 'death' was.. I think I'm going a bit too much into it but hey, its a somewhat interesting subject.
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
I agree that snakes don't get "depressed in the way we understand it.
However, they can react to changes in their circumstances that leads me to think they experience stress as a result.
Think about how can they behave when they're in blue. Tetchy, less tolerant of being handled, less active, go off their food... All classic signs of stress in a Corn. Specific features of being in pre-shed lead them to behave in a more withdrawn fashion. That doesn't mean they're depressed though - in the wild it would just be sensible to stay out of sight if you're eyesight is affected and you're less able to sense predators. So although it's a stressful condition, it is natural to them and the stressed behaviour is also natural.
I've observed similar changes in behaviour when I move mine into a different viv. Any major change in their environment can cause these kinds of behavioural change. But again, that's natural. If a Corn finds itself somewhere new, it would be very cautious until it had worked out where the hides were, where the water is, whether it's a safe place etc.
A Corn's main priorities in the wild are safety from predators, the correct temperature range, a water supply and a food supply - plus finding a potential mate during the breeding season. The only reason for a Corn to move any distance in the wild would be to obtain those things. As long as you can provide the first four in a viv or aquarium, then there's no reason to suppose that the snake is anything other than unstressed ("contented" if you really want to look at it like that).
I view the provision of a mate as non-essential - even in the wild, they wouldn't be guaranteed to find a Corn to mate with.
However, they can react to changes in their circumstances that leads me to think they experience stress as a result.
Think about how can they behave when they're in blue. Tetchy, less tolerant of being handled, less active, go off their food... All classic signs of stress in a Corn. Specific features of being in pre-shed lead them to behave in a more withdrawn fashion. That doesn't mean they're depressed though - in the wild it would just be sensible to stay out of sight if you're eyesight is affected and you're less able to sense predators. So although it's a stressful condition, it is natural to them and the stressed behaviour is also natural.
I've observed similar changes in behaviour when I move mine into a different viv. Any major change in their environment can cause these kinds of behavioural change. But again, that's natural. If a Corn finds itself somewhere new, it would be very cautious until it had worked out where the hides were, where the water is, whether it's a safe place etc.
A Corn's main priorities in the wild are safety from predators, the correct temperature range, a water supply and a food supply - plus finding a potential mate during the breeding season. The only reason for a Corn to move any distance in the wild would be to obtain those things. As long as you can provide the first four in a viv or aquarium, then there's no reason to suppose that the snake is anything other than unstressed ("contented" if you really want to look at it like that).
I view the provision of a mate as non-essential - even in the wild, they wouldn't be guaranteed to find a Corn to mate with.
ghosthousecorns
Well-known member
OK I agree that snakes can't get 'depressed' the way humans do, that is anthropomorphism (assigning human emotions or qualities to other animals) but in captivity it's hard to miss those little differences in their temperaments. Like some are so calm and mellow when handled, then others seem like they can't wait to go back in their vivs... And there are differences between the hatchlings that thrive and those that just do not seem to have a will to live and end up having to be euthanized because they will not eat.
Pea brains or not, there is still something that makes some corns SEEM happier to a human's point of view than others - simply because they are more adapted to their captivity situation. However I think my more mellow corns would not survive long in the wild, they don't exhibit much 'fight or flight' response and would probably just sit there until a big hawk scooped them up.
Pea brains or not, there is still something that makes some corns SEEM happier to a human's point of view than others - simply because they are more adapted to their captivity situation. However I think my more mellow corns would not survive long in the wild, they don't exhibit much 'fight or flight' response and would probably just sit there until a big hawk scooped them up.
dawnrenee2000
Contributing Member
marty.warwick said:Humans are the only lifeforms who realize from an early age that they are going to die later on.
Hmm..thats a profoundly true statement and something I have never thought about. Thanks for the "aha" moment today.
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Big Pimpin
Bees also know they're going to die