Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do they sense? Vibrations? My Honeybutter girl knows its me coming up the stairs and rises to the door of her cage. But not for other people. This is long before she gets a smell.

If so, does music or TV bother them? I know some people have snake cage/media consoles or enjoy "Banging and Screaming' music as my mother used to call it. Could it be stressing them? How many of us idioticly talk to their snakes?

They can hear, but a bit differently than other animals. They don't have an outer or middle ear, but do have an inner ear of sorts. As they pick up low frequency vibrations from the air or ground, the vibrations travel along the body, through the jawbone, and vibrate the air inside the inner ear recesses. In that way, they "hear", but not as clearly, and certainly not the higher pitched frequencies that other animals with a tympanic membrane or eardrum can pick up.

If you have a deeper voice or a heavy walk, certainly a snake can be conditioned to respond. Don't underestimate their sense of smell, either.

If I have that wrong, someone please fix it for me!

I think Laura's got the hearing part covered. I do believe loud music or consistant loud noises of any kind will stress out a snake. I also think though, that given time they may well adjust to it, at least to a point. After all, how many rock and rollers ya seen jumpin' around on stage wrapped up in a big burm or boa. And I think EVERYBODY talks to their snakes. JMHO.

Quiug

Oh yeah, I always talk to my snakes! It makes the interaction more fun--plus I like my snakes!

I feel a litle sorry for my herps when we watch movies. We have a pretty decent HDTV and surround sound system. So when we're watching Eagle Eye and bombs are going off, I know the herps are vibrating, LOL! I just try to compromise and not place them in front of the speakers...actually they are in another room.

Well, I must stop talking to mine in such a ridiculous high squeeky voice