who can say their reps love to be loved?

[kuester]

I was always told by people growing up that they didn't like reps cause they weren't cuddly, furry, cute, ect. but I feel all my reps love me and are comfortable with me(except my newest addition is still settling in,baby W. hognose) but I can take any of them out and they just chill or slowly move around my body. I love making eye contact I feel its a somewhat spiritual connection we have. I've never been bit by any of my reps(cresteds, gargoyle gecko, BTS, corn snake, Kenyan sand boa, W hognose) I've even laid on the couch with each of them and actually falling asleep watching a movie or for whatever reason and I wake up with them still on me. my corn I've had the longest, almost 10 years. he doesn't even bother to wrap me when I hold him just because he knows I wont drop him. I love building such a strong friendship with them of trust, understanding kindness and love :)

anyone else feel this way? or am I just crazy?

[EL Ziggy]

I was always told by people growing up that they didn't like reps cause they weren't cuddly, furry, cute, ect. but I feel all my reps love me and are comfortable with me(except my newest addition is still settling in,baby W. hognose) but I can take any of them out and they just chill or slowly move around my body. I love making eye contact I feel its a somewhat spiritual connection we have. I've never been bit by any of my reps(cresteds, gargoyle gecko, BTS, corn snake, Kenyan sand boa, W hognose) I've even laid on the couch with each of them and actually falling asleep watching a movie or for whatever reason and I wake up with them still on me. my corn I've had the longest, almost 10 years. he doesn't even bother to wrap me when I hold him just because he knows I wont drop him. I love building such a strong friendship with them of trust, understanding kindness and love :)

anyone else feel this way? or am I just crazy?
You're not crazy but I think you're mistaken. This subject comes up often. While I do agree that any sentient being can feel comfortable, safe, warm and cared for, I don't think our reptiles love us back. They may trust us to a degree to not eat or harm them but I don't believe they really care for us and I do believe they would rather be rid of us and free to roam. That doesn't mean we love them any less though :).

[kwhitlock]

You're not crazy but I think you're mistaken. This subject comes up often. While I do agree that any sentient being can feel comfortable, safe, warm and cared for, I don't think our reptiles love us back. They may trust us to a degree to not eat or harm them but I don't believe they really care for us and I do believe they would rather be rid of us and free to roam. That doesn't mean we love them any less though :).

Couldn't have said it better myself ziggy.

[sharthun]

Couldn't have said it better myself ziggy.

I agree. They do give me so much peace and relaxation.

[MDT]

I have much more regard for my snakes than they for me.

[FWK]

I have much more regard for my snakes than they for me.

haha +1 well said.

[kuester]

well obviously we loved them more but the fact i can sleep in the couch with mine has to mean they like me back

[Cmwells90]

Or it could just mean that they didn't notice you fell asleep so they continued to do whatever their doing, you just get lucky they don't "run" off during that time.

[EL Ziggy]

the fact i can sleep in the couch with mine has to mean they like me back

Not at all and I would be very careful falling asleep and leaving your snakes unattended. More often than not they'll turn up missing.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Yep, someone lost a snake that way recently, didn't they?

Most likely you were warm and they wanted to be warm at the time.

[Woody33259]

Animals do bond with people snakes included they know your sent and they know if you will harm them or not. People think snakes are so primitive they can’t bond I say bullsnake. how many people would say that a Nile crocodile is one of the most primitive animals on this planet How many would say they would go swimming and wrestle with one over 18 feet long go to you tube watch "Man swims with Crocodile" watch the long version to really appreciate it. Or the one (boy sleeps with a monster” I have 12 snakes and depending on their personality and how long i had them depends on the bond we have both of my red tails i raised from birth and they all know me and trust me their names Bonnie and Clyde and when I take them out they stay with me all the time. When I was raising them I handled them every day I was home. When i go into my snake room now they both come to the glass looking to get out usual i open the glass and within 20 minutes they are out and close if not on me. Would i say they love me no i don’t put human words or traits to my snakes. I understand them they relate to me in positive manner and we all get along great. I feel the success of your long term relationship with any reptile is knowing your snake’s attitude and personality and most of all do not put human emotions to your snake’s behavior there is a reason for every action your snake with you. Take the time to learn and while you are doing that thru repetition your pet will learn to trust you and allow you to bond with it. Last but I need to share this with all of you my boy Clyde has never bit me but if once the light goes out and he is out and about in is enclosure if I don’t turn the light on and I attempt to touch him he hits me with his mouth closed to let me know. If I want to handle him I must turn the light on and caress him with my snake pole then I see he relaxes and it’s normal from there. Now Bonnie when she eats I can reach in the catch and pick her up as soon as it is gone but I if I go near the catch in the restricting phase she will bite me for sure. Sorry so long just love snakes and I want people to have one more clue to keeping a snake and both the snake and person are happy

[MDT]

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/3qf45t_zps10c66558.jpg (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/mtucker66/media/3qf45t_zps10c66558.jpg.html)

[EL Ziggy]

Lol @ mdt.

[sharthun]

Lol @ mdt.

Awesome!!!:p

[EL Ziggy]

For anyone who thinks their snakes bond with them, leave their enclosures open and see if they choose to stay or head for the hills.

[Cmwells90]

The problem is, no one here is equiped to do a real study on this. We all have our opinions, and some of us have much more expierence. But these things alone do not truly answer this question. The reason we can make an assumption that snakes do not bond to us, is because in their normal life they wont bond to any other living being. Dogs and Cats will naturally create social bonds with others so they can assist eachother, this is why they fit perfectly into a human household, because they'll assign themselves to a social standard in the house. However no evidence has been provided that snakes share this trait. There are some cases of snakes "Be-friending" another animal, like the snake who shares a cage with a mouse in a Zoo (can't rememeber any of the details, sorry). However these alone are one offs, and not a true trait. While you may believe your snake is your best friend, and loves you the most, science and studies show that they are indifferent about you, to a point.

[Tsubaki]

The snake in the zoo, was not 'befriending'. New snake, tiny cage, glass front, people hovering in front of it the entire day... No proper hides anywhere, was only used to ever eating dead baby mice, then miraculously refuses to eat a live hamster. Count the mistakes? Only one of them is needed for a snake to not eat. With all these cases there was something off, usually it was the stupidity of man.

Love your snakes, i love my snakes.. I think they're marvelous, whats not to love?.. I do not for a second think they love me back, my experience and my common sense tells me otherwise. If they're well kept, and well fed.. They can possibly be docile and tolerant (Not all of them obviously), and even be accustomed to your smell and touch not being threatening. They could use you for your warmth, in a symbiont relationship. Off course there is a chance it won't slither away, why waste the energy? Try it with a hungry snake, or leave the tank open for prolonged periods of time.. Pretty sure it will bolt when it starts foraging, like any normal snake would when it gets hungry.

I know of so many real life examples of people, claiming to 'know' their snake loves them with it still going horribly wrong. Yes there are people that it hasn't happened too, just means they're lucky. (Or they're not admitting it)

[NewHerp293]

Yep, someone lost a snake that way recently, didn't they?

Most likely you were warm and they wanted to be warm at the time.

Yeah that happened...last time i ever make that mistake again. Thank goodness i was the warmest thing around. Let me be the lesson, cause the panic in losing something youve put hundreds of dollars into is not worth feeling "warm and cuddly" with your snake.

[Woody33259]

El-Ziggy
Do we bond with Dogs Cats open the door and leave them see if they are there when you come back. Some will and some wont but you still bond with them the only difference is snakes dont need to come back is they dont need us they still have the wild instinct to hunt and most of the time when they get out they just go to a warm spot in your house and hang out.
I odnt mean to argue you have your opinion I have mine and there are a thousand or so others that have a different opinion my poijnt is if you handle your snake and treat like a snake and respect its insstincts and work within those premeters your snake will aloow you handle it and clean its cage pick it up right after it feeds that is my defination f bondingwith my snake i did not say it loved me or needed me.

[Woody33259]

MDT has that guy ever owned a snake. I realize the way i feel about my snakes is not popular with many but bottomline we all own them and all lhave a great time I wish i had the time to video some of the amazing interactions I have had with them but i dont.

[Tsubaki]

Yes Woody, we do leave the door open. If you properly treat and train your cat/dog they will always come back, i can leave my door open and my dog won't even leave without permission. Not even when her best friend walks by, she respects my authority and rules. My cats (one of which still lives at my parents house) Were taught never to enter/leave through the front door, and stay in the backyard. They never leave, and come immediately when called (One of them died of old age in 2012, but you get my point). So no that is not the only difference, snakes can not be trained that way. They can be conditioned to tolerate certain things and behaviors, but you can simple never ask them to do anything for you. They don't 'care' / ' have the ability to care'.

Also, if you feel so strongly about it, what is 5 minutes to take a video? Who doesn't have a camera-phone these days. And i'm sure you already spend more time typing about it.

[MDT]

MDT has that guy ever owned a snake.

Who, me? Nope..never. I hope to one day tho when my parents let me.

[Mad Max]

My snake keeps all of his love bottled up inside his cold little heart and I respect that about him.

[marvelfreak]

MDT has that guy ever owned a snake. I realize the way i feel about my snakes is not popular with many but bottomline we all own them and all lhave a great time I wish i had the time to video some of the amazing interactions I have had with them but i dont.
So because he doesn't agree with you he must not own snakes?
I don't believe snake bond with there owners. So i guess the 26 snakes i own are imaginary? :shocked:

Who, me? Nope..never. I hope to one day tho when my parents let me.
Let me just say for not owning any snakes yet you have some of the nicest looking imaginary snakes i ever seen. lol ;)

[JinxtheBP]

For anyone who thinks their snakes bond with them, leave their enclosures open and see if they choose to stay or head for the hills.

My seven year old ball python will stay in his tank for all eternity unless I take him out. One time I forgot to replace the lid of his enclosure (overnight) :shocked: and he just stuck around. I panicked when I woke up and saw it, but I lifted up his hide and there he was. :crazy: He's the only one who doesn't have clips on his tank lid, because he just doesn't want to go anywhere. It's warm and familiar and food gets delivered to his face in there!

However...I certainly don't flatter myself that he stays put because he loves me. :O_o: He just loves f/t rats and a half-log hide with a UTH. LOL

[MDT]

Let me just say for not owning any snakes yet you have some of the nicest looking imaginary snakes i ever seen. lol ;)

Shhhhhhhhh........don't tell him. ;)

[marvelfreak]

Shhhhhhhhh........don't tell him. ;)
Oops sorry my bad. lol

[kuester]

thank you for all who agree with me. i think to some extent snakes can be trained. not all animals can be tamed but most can be trained. i trained my snake to model with me for photos i place him in a position twice then he'll stay and not move until i move him for the next pic, we've made some great images. some of you may not see or sense the bond because you and/or your rep may not create them. i've been sleeping with hungry and full reps(not just snake) every other day for the past 9 years, never had one take off the only time i lost a rep was when i wasnt home my little cousin opened the cage and put our kitten in the cage, my snake never has attacked or eaten a living being only F/T so instinctively he slithered away for safety but i found him quickly in my underwear drawer, thats got to say something about his comfortability with my scent. same with if someone holds him he'll try to go back to me. he prefers me and while some of you may not want to think about it or understand it i consider that a bond. also my bf lost our BTS outside after feeding him but i found him 2 weeks later in my garden while digging up my annual bulbs, he wasnt exactly happy but was glad to be found im sure, otherwise he would've frozen to death. my reps also come the glass when i enter the reptile room, when i place my hand in their cage its up to them if they want to come out or not and usually they all enjoy daily handling, its their choice to crawl, slither on to me and they all do it on their own terms, i consider that a bond, they enjoy me and being handled by me. while i know everyone has their own opinion theres no reason to be rude about anyones opinion.

[MDT]

not trying to be rude at all. just trying to be objective and not project my human emotions on an animal that has the brain the size of a pencil eraser and no anatomical brain structure for "love" or "like" or "hate".

my retics really perk up and watch my every move when i walk into my snake room. retics are naturally active, alert snakes. they are in constant "go" mode. their attentiveness is not because they are glad to see me. they are perceiving movement, and in their reptilian minds, they likely want to make sure that food is not coming their way.

my snakes do not come when i call their name (oh wait...no ears), they do not fetch the newspaper for me, they don't recognize me by sight.

again, i assure you, i'm not trying to be rude. just practical. my cat, on the other hand really digs me.