Pal-O-Mine
New member
I LOVE both my amels. Draco has so much personality. Wishbone shows promise of the same thing if handled right.
Last night I went to handle Wishbone and she was actually out and about, not hiding. I moved really slowly, unsnapping the lid and removing the tank's top. I was actually able to pick her up without her booking, in a panic, for her hide. She saw me coming and knew I was going to pick her up and was okay with it. I take that as a very good sign that one day she will be as great to handle as Draco.
From time to time, Draco gets to cruising his tank in full view of everyone in the room. If I unsnap the lid while he's doing this, he slithers right on out. I say 'Awww look. He wants to be held." when really he's just investigating new places where there MIGHT be mice. ( Or ladies! ) He's so tame I can reach into his tank while he's sleeping, lift up his hide and pet him like a cat and he just flicks his tongue at me. I say, "See? He likes me." when really I am just the person he has acclimated himself to. I coo and baby talk him when I know he is unable to hear my words. I do this because if I did anything else, keeping snakes would be like sorting files. Too vanilla to include in my life.
Draco, like many snakes, has been designed by us, before he even left the shell, to be acclimated to human presence. We are just part of the furniture of their lives. Warm, movable, interesting furniture that sometimes makes food magically appear but furniture nonetheless. We're what they're used to.
They definitely have a personality, some more so than others. They definitely have as much intelligence as their lives need, which means more than we give them credit for but not human intelligence. If snakes weren't at least a little smart, I don't think this forum would exist!
Devon
P.S. Although I question my snakes' intelligence when they grab their mouse in the middle and then try to swallow it that way! And they sure don't want any help!
Last night I went to handle Wishbone and she was actually out and about, not hiding. I moved really slowly, unsnapping the lid and removing the tank's top. I was actually able to pick her up without her booking, in a panic, for her hide. She saw me coming and knew I was going to pick her up and was okay with it. I take that as a very good sign that one day she will be as great to handle as Draco.
From time to time, Draco gets to cruising his tank in full view of everyone in the room. If I unsnap the lid while he's doing this, he slithers right on out. I say 'Awww look. He wants to be held." when really he's just investigating new places where there MIGHT be mice. ( Or ladies! ) He's so tame I can reach into his tank while he's sleeping, lift up his hide and pet him like a cat and he just flicks his tongue at me. I say, "See? He likes me." when really I am just the person he has acclimated himself to. I coo and baby talk him when I know he is unable to hear my words. I do this because if I did anything else, keeping snakes would be like sorting files. Too vanilla to include in my life.
Draco, like many snakes, has been designed by us, before he even left the shell, to be acclimated to human presence. We are just part of the furniture of their lives. Warm, movable, interesting furniture that sometimes makes food magically appear but furniture nonetheless. We're what they're used to.
They definitely have a personality, some more so than others. They definitely have as much intelligence as their lives need, which means more than we give them credit for but not human intelligence. If snakes weren't at least a little smart, I don't think this forum would exist!
Devon
P.S. Although I question my snakes' intelligence when they grab their mouse in the middle and then try to swallow it that way! And they sure don't want any help!