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stretch · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2003, 10:19 PM

I was just wondering if a snake has such a short memory span how does it remember who you are if you go like 2 days without taking him out. Does it go on instinct? Or what? Just a thought that came to my head hopefully you well educated snake experts can help me out. Thanks. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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SteveP · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2003, 11:18 PM

I don't think it's memory, in the sense that we (humans) think of it...more of an engrained response over time. When we obtain a new snake there's a certain initial 'introductory phase' after which the snake gradually associates us with positive and non-threatening behavior. We pick them up, but we don't eat them...we take them out of one enclosure, put them in another and there is food...all kinds of good stuff happens when we're around (note: read Ed-r's post about the 'boa diaries'!). Therefore we become a 'safe place' for them. Ever hand your snake your to a friend and after a moment it seems to want to come back to you? You are safe, your friend is unknown territory and potentially threatening. Most all animals rely on familiarity and routine to guide them as to whether things may be potentially threatening or safe. At least thats kinda my take on it. I'm sure others may have better info. about this than me. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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stretch · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2003, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the response. But if its only short term memory how do they remember that we are the good guys. If there memory is so short they won't be able to remember their routine. I understand how you explained it but how does their short term memory affect them. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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JuliusSqueezer · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2003, 02:52 AM

People tend to personify their pets. Noone can really truely understand what any animal thinks or feels. Snakes have very primative brains. We can't expect them to reason things out or think about things the way we do. They use their brains the way they do...mostly though it seems to fuel instictive responses. Most everything they do behaviourly seems to stem from instinct or imprinting...almost zero short term actual memory. Try these experements to better understand.

Hand a boa a dead rat on tongs. Instinctivly he grabs it and coils and may hold it for 30 minutes to "kill" it...as he uncoils to eat it....take it away (if you dare) then hand it back to him. He will coil it again just like before. Now sometimes snakes fed prekilled food will stop constricting all together after a period of time....this is likely due to eventual imprinting. (long term memory but more actually a behaviour formed from repetition over time)

notice when you pick up your snake out of the cage that it will scamper to get away in most cases. but when you go to put him back...he will scamper to remain in your hands. Why? all they know is now. Now they are happy and don't wish to be picked up because they don't know if they will be happy where they are going. Change is scarey. Once up....ok he's happy again woohoo. that wasn't so bad. NOOOOO don't put me down!!! I may not like it there!!! Why? it was ok there 5 minutes ago. NO short term memory. Again with much handling and over a period of time, some snakes may not even try to avoid being picked up....Imprinting.
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stretch · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2003, 03:21 AM

Thanks Julius Squeezer now I understand perfectly. The intelligence on this site is amazing. I don't think there has been a question that I haven't gotten a answer to. I like that the more I ask and you answer the more knowledge I acquire to better care for my herps and maybe help someone else down the line. Thanks again [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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stretch · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2003, 03:22 AM

Thanks to you too stevep. Its just julius broke it down in a more understandable way. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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jpaulson · #7 (**permalink**) 07-04-2003, 04:14 AM

Although I could be wrong here, is there also not a relationship between scent? A snake will learn it's keepers scent, and with time, will also associate a particular smell with a particular response. If you have a snake that is nippy, one of the techniques used to calm them down is to throw an old, recently worn shirt in the cage with them. They will then, hopefully, learn that that smell is OK, and when that smell goes to pick him up, it is OK as well.

I could be wrong here, but just wanted to add that.

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JuliusSqueezer · #8 (**permalink**) 07-04-2003, 12:14 PM

maybe smell, maybe not. Snakes don't seem to respond to odor in the same way we do. They have an extra sense that we can't even imagine but we have a slight understanding of how it works. They flick their tongue and catch odor particles from the air and deposit them to the roof of the mouth where they are taken to the jacobson organ and processed or identified. What they do with this info that doesn't relate directly to food or sex, only the snake knows. And they ain't talking. They also have the standard nostrils like other animals and ourselves but how well they can smell with them the way we understand smell is unknown. I've never put a dirty shirt in a snake's cage and I have never had a problem with familiarizing a snake with me handling it. I think some of these habits we have to "tame" these animals are really more for convincing ourselves and then coincidence kicks in. Sure the snake got calmed down with a shirt in the cage but maybe he was about to calm down anyway. "shrug" It certainly doesn't seem to hurt anything so if you think thats what's working, keep doing it.
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