Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is a corn snake able to identify his/her keeper?
here is why i ask this, a friend was over and wanted to hold naaza, naaza seemed agitated, kept moving like he was trying to get away.............
when i am handling naaza he seems content to coil up around my hand and just sit there, if i have my hand steady he will sit his head down like he is sleeping or just resting.

Well, I'm not qualified to answer the question in your header, but snakes definitely recognize and respond to differences in handling- for example kids tend to be much more frenetic and the snakes react by not settling down.

What level of recognition they have for individuals might be debated a lot- I think their excellent sense of smell/taste and repeated exposures to their main handler would lead them to be aware if that person is handling them or a stranger.

I try hard to not anthropomorphize my animals, understanding the animal's point of view is key to successful training and general care.

I think snakes really only respond to cues having to do with survival, ie environmental conditions (heat/cold), food cues, mating/competition cues, and fear of harm. Whether some snakes see handling as a welcome and stimulating change of pace, or all just see it as a stress, is much argued.

They definitely have very individual personalities!

well i asked that because i told a friend i think the snake can recognize me to some extent, my guess would be by smell, but only as a familiar scent...........she said i was crazy snakes not recognize any thing.
you answered the question very well, they recognize their surroundings and safe places.

I think that to some extent you are correct. As stated above, the smell and/or familiar way of handling seems to make some snakes more at ease with their primary handler. Duffy

Yes... You are, indeed, crazy. Only kidding, of course.

i have to be crazy to work where i work..........LOL
i work in a rest home with people who came from our state mental horpital................ so yes i am crazy............then they dont want to pay us correctly

I also work with folks with disabilities. Many of them from the mental health system. You don't HAVE to be crazy to work there...but it sure helps.

You're not crazy at all. Most of my snakes will try to climb back to me if I let someone else hold them. I agree that it's probably my smell that they are familiar with.