will music disturb my snake???

[titums]

I have my snake's boaphile cage against a wall in my living room right next to my entertainment center. The problem is, is the cage is about 2ft. from my stereo speaker, and I like to play my music pretty loud, so I was wondering if this would be a problem????


thanks
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[slaponte]

Depends on the selection. Heavy Metal does make them have runny stool, while James Taylor and Carly Simon puts them in the mood...

J/K. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[txgirl266]

i haven't found it to be such a problem, but i would keep the volume to an accepteble level
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[Princenez]

I would think it really depends on the type of music you listen to. If your music creates a lot of low frequency vibrations (bass) that would probably bother your snake more than other types of music that is less bass driven. Personally I would just see if it causes any change in the activity patterns or behavior of your snake, and if it is negatively affecting it then consider relocating it.


Jay
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[eddie]

I recall a study done by the National Inquirer about different music and how it affects animals a few years ago, where they had control groups, of rats, listening to heavy metal up to classical music.

The no music group remained the same, while the classical music group learned different mazes quicker, reproduced more and lived longer while the metal group got slower on the mazes, turned cannibal quickly, didn't reproduce much and generally died quicker.

What this has to do with snakes is beyond me, but I just wanted to put some useless info in an otherwise sane post....
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[Seany]

I'd love to read that! that's the strangest thing, yet most logical thing, I've heard in ages.
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[LdyDrgn]

Considering that snakes don't exactly 'hear' (they have no external ear, but have retained the internal) it would be understandeable that anything with heavy bass may disturb the snake. As Princenez pointed out, keep an eye on its behaviour. If it noticeably changes, relocate the snake or turn the bass down on the stereo to an acceptable level.

I remember years ago when I was still clubbing three times a week, one of the regulars brought his baby BCI in with him. I was honored to be babysitter while he danced. She didn't seem to be bothered by the music, she was very docile (and so very tiny!). Just something I remembered...and food for thought. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Kim]

Snakes cannot hear. They have no hearing structures. They can feel vibrations however. Your stereo volume may cause the cage to vibrate (which may elicit a feed response if you stick your hand in the cage) but chances are the snake will be accustomed to the vibrations if it is a continual thing (especially since it excludes a heat source that they can "read&quot.

Interesting Fact: A persistant legend is that cobra charmers "charm" thier snakes with music. The truth is that snakes can't hear at all, they are attracted to the movement of the instrument. They keep it in focus and move to its movement as if defending against any predator. In fact, it will follow the movement but will not strike because it cannot. Cobras used to roadside shows are force fed and thier fangs are broken off with a stick before a show. Sometimes charmers sew up the lips.

Kim
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[najaboy]

Actually Kim, snakes can hear airborne sounds. This has been known for some 35 years now, but the wive's tales about snakes being deaf to airborne sounds still persist.

Snakes don't have a tympanum, but they do have an equivalent structure. The quadrate bone of a snake vibrates in response to airbornes sounds. These vibrations are then transfered to cochlear cells, which then pass an electrical input to the brain.

Some useful references, borrowed from an article written by J. Carson are:

Wever, E.G., The Reptile Ear, Princeton University Press, 1978

Porter, K.R., Herpetology, Sanders Co., 1972

Hartline, P.H., and Campbell, H.W., "Auditory and Vibratory Responses in the Midbrains of Snakes, " Science, vol 163, 1221, (1969)


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[Heather]

najaboy is right.


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[talon]

don't get me wrong but this a respnse to vibration. hearing is also a response to vibration so we could argue about this all day! but the bottom line is that snakes are not capable of hearing /feeling the vibrations from higher frequency that mammals and other reptiles such as lizzards are capable of hearing [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[najaboy]

Yes Scott, but they can indeed hear. Animals that are congenitally deaf are devoid of cochlear signals. Also, Wever was able to demonstrate that the signals were in response to airborne sound, and not to surface vibrations.

While snakes have a more limited range of frequencies that they can hear, they definitely aren't deaf. Human voices and a good deal of music are actually within their range of perception.
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[talon]

I agree with you 100% in that case. its just hard to try to contradict a statement of snakes can't here (which many people believe) with some big scientific explanation. I'm graduating with a degree in biology this year and understand the vocabulary. I have found it much easier to persuade people to change their views by reinforcing (to an extent) what they believe. Hence how I stated snakes don't hear like people ,and i explain in such away a 10 year old can understand. Get me? I think it makes it easier to make a point [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] and thank you for sharing your point of view!
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[JC86]

The best test for this is to play your music loud, and then lay your hand flat against the side of the cage closest to the source of the sound. If you can feel any sort of vibration (it may be small) that is what your snake is 'hearing.' If the vibration is quite noticable, then I'd suggest turning themusic down.


Like people said, it's teh 'bass' that they'd hear, so keep the cage away from a sub woofer if you can.

~Scott
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[GreenEnvy]

my rabbit loves loud music, she'll sit right next to the speaker when its cranked up, the snake on the other hand, when her enclosure was in the same room she used to go hide whenever it was loud so i moved her.
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