I also believe that any snake has the potential to remember a traumatic event for a very long time, perhaps for life, same as the Parrots.

The meanest snake (boa) I have went through a traumatic experience early on with regurge and mites. Blames me and has never forgiven me. Also have another boa that regurged a rat once and will no longer eat rats, just mice.

It is a Stimulus Response thing. Non-intentional Operant Conditioning. Behavior modification on the subconscious level.

Something may have occurred before you owned the snake.

Just another theory.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer