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by pynstar on January 27, 2005
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I had someone ask me if i thought my king snake knew who i was, like a dog or cat will reconise its owner. so i started thinking, my king never bit me or even tried to strike at me , but my brother in law it did. so i would say yes. what do you think.
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by LarryDFishel on January 27, 2005
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I get this question a lot. I'm not aware of any research that's tested the idea, but here's what I think.
I certainly think it's possible that snakes can tell people apart by smell and possibly by sight (maybe not a kingsnake), but I think most case where a snake acts differently with one person than with another has more to do with the way the handler moves. The owner of the snake is usually more used to handling in a way that is less threatening to the snake. In particular the owner tends to be more comfortably and not make jerky movements trying to make sure he doesn't get bit.
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by Phobos on January 27, 2005
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Larry has good points here but as he said there is no real scientific studies to fall back on; all's we have are casual observations from the field.
It has been reported and I have actually seen for myself snakes do know the difference between their keeper vs someone else. While visiting the Thai Red Cross "Snake Farm in Bangkok I saw keepers have King Cobras slither right up and let them pick them up. When I was asked to approach they went defensive, of course I stopped dead in my tracks till it saw that I was not threat. Then it resumed it's "puppy dog" behavior. I was also told that LTC Kings will shield their keepers from newly caught specimens if they attack. They do this by putting themselves in between the keeper & the new snake. This was also reported by Dr. S. Minton.
My animals absolutely know me. How I'm not sure, maybe scent or vibrations from how I move. It could be sight also, no real studies to my knowlegde have been done. I do know from the BOR Symposium there chemosensory organs are as good a forensics labs Gas chromatagraph. If they lay a tongue on you it's as good as a fingerprint. None of them are agressive with me except a neonate T. purpureomaculatus which goes out of the way to pick a fight with me. I think because I forcefeed her because she would rather fight than eat.
I travel for business and have my gal go in and check on them and make sure the environmental systems are working and they have water...etc.. She never works with them and this is the only time she visits. As soon as she walks in the door all's I can hear from outside is the big species hissing and some striking the glass. The smaller species head for the hide boxes. If I walk in and she follows me they are all quiet.
Just an observation I think animals that are on exhibit loose this trait.
Cheers!
Al
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by new2hots on January 27, 2005
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Al,
By some chance do you go into your room at the same time. I am in my room about the same time everyday, and their tempermant is the same. If I enter at a different time they seem to be uneasy. Just another variable to this equation to consider.
Garry
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by GREGLONGHURST on January 27, 2005
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I can't say that I have ever seen recogniton by any of my snakes, over a thirty-odd year period, but I am not surprised that others have observed it, especially in Ophiophagus, which is demonstrably the most intelligent of snakes. One thing I have observed: This behavior in lizards, specifically Cyclura cornuta. After a year or more absence from a park I had worked, I visited the park, & the Rhino Iguana in the pit I had maintained for four years ran over to the wall opposite me. She was never friendly, but she expected I'd feed her.
~~Greg~~
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by Phobos on January 27, 2005
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Hi Garry:
Yes, all these entries are during the snakes "Day time" but not at the same time every time. The snake room is generally off limits at night. I try really hard to not disturb their day-night cycle. I have entered at night when I had something that could not wait or I had an animal that would only feed at night. I would then only use my head torch for light and stay briefly. I do agree they are totally different beasts at night and all bets are off as far as aggression is concerned.
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by emtnurse on January 27, 2005
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I know reptiles are not compassionate like dogs and cats. I beleive they can determine the owner from a stranger by the scents that come into the snake room. I had a cousin come in from florida, and I showed her my pair of canebrakes. Well, when she came in the room, they got very defensive and settled down when she left. But I stayed in the room the whole time this was happening and they settled down. I know this may sound like a lie, but this story is true. I had a florida kingsnake that got loose one night while i was at work. I came home and found it in the closet lying beside a blanket. The snake saw me and actually came towards me, picked it up, and placed it back in its cage. So, it was kind of like it did reconize me. Just my experience. Bryan
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by ALA_herp31 on January 27, 2005
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I also think that Snakes can recognize their keepers after being with them for years. I had a Kingsnake for about 5 years that was very calm around me, but if anyone else would attempt to hold it, it would act aggressive towards them. I actually had a friend of mine that had a lot of experience handling Snakes come over and pick her up, as soon as he did she popped him on the hand. Other than that time, she never attempted to bite anyone, but she would musk, and shack her tail when someone new would pick her up. With me she always showed some recognition and would come to the front of the cage to see what I was doing. If anyone else entered the room she would hide under her little house. So, I think that Snakes can recognize their keepers, but I don’t think its affection per say, like a Dog or Cat would show.........Be safe ya’ll, happy herping Wally
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by pynstar on January 28, 2005
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wow those are great experiances. when i first recieved my king, the last owner saw me just sitting there holding it and to ld me that it was very aggressive, and that it was always striking at him, in the two years i had it it never tried to strike. i feel that on some level a reptile pet will know its owner and maybe the owner themselves may not notice since they work with the snake or lizard everyday, but others do. maybe this is not a science that humans can understand. who knows.
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