Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My mom took care of my snakes when I went to college this past spring. I came home and the only good thing she had to say about my two-year-old Borneos is that they're pretty. She said every time she opened the cages, they'd coil and huff and try to bite her...she promised she wasn't making it up, which is important because she tells lots of stories (once convinced my dad that it was illegal to buy/sell cheese on Tuesdays in Chicago). But...I've never had this problem with the Borneos. The male struck at me once, but that was a long time ago and I was misting his cage and he didn't like getting sprayed with water.

So is it possible the snakes don't get as defensive with me because they recognize me and feel safer with me than with my mom? I know goldfish can distinguish between different people, so maybe pythons too?
-----
Owen, who loves his snakes a lot.

I definitely think so. But I don't know how much of it is visual recognition. I think it's probably more scent and how the person handles the snake. My snakes are all very docile and sweet when I get them out. But when I lived with my folks my Mom thought they were neat and I would get them out for her sometimes. If I put one of the snakes in her hands they would immediately just go tense and sit there and not move. They never tried to bite her or anything, but I think she was just unfamiliar to them and she wasn't as comfortable holding them, which they pick up on and it makes them uneasy. Other people I know who have snakes have handled them and it's only taken the snake a few minutes to relax and act the same way they would with me, so I think a big part of it is the snakes picking up on a person being a little nervous. Though when I peek into my cages to check on everyone I do like to think I see a bit of recognition in their little snake eyes
-----
-chris-

Hey,
I see some keeper recognition with my black bloods than with the reds. I like to think so. One particular animal seems fond of the attention and greets me everytime, happily. Again, I like to think so. LOL!
-Angel
-----
In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

Ok...don't shoot me but I have to say...I don't think they do. People quite often like to think they see this king of behavior in their animals when in all reality they are just seeing what they want to see. I personally don't think snakes have anywhere NEAR the intelligence to recognize individual people by sight. I do agree with the smell theory though with some animals but I have yet to see it with bloods. The only snakes that I can say without any doubt that I have seen this kind of behavior in is in retics and I do believe it is a smell thing. This is an interesting topic though.