Do snakes get "bored"?

[Gregg Madden]

Bottom line,
Snakes are not social animals... They evolved to be solitary animals... They do not need, crave, or want to be handled... The only thing they need from us in captivity is a clean environment and to be fed and watered... If you look at it from a physical and scientific stand point, they lack the brain lay out and function to feel emotion and want...

They do not love, or even like their owners... They do not even protect their own offspring... They are instinctive animals without reasoning or social skills... My vote was obviously NO, they will not get "bored" if not handled... What handling can do for them is offer them movement they do not get when they are sitting in a cage...

From keeping many venomous species I can tell you that handling is kept to the very minimum... Some species I keep and have kept rarely get moved, never mind "handled" and they live long content lives...

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Bottom line,
Snakes are not social animals... They evolved to be solitary animals... They do not need, crave, or want to be handled... The only thing they need from us in captivity is a clean environment and to be fed and watered... If you look at it from a physical and scientific stand point, they lack the brain lay out and function to feel emotion and want...

Exactly. They're living, programmed robots.

 

[snakeguy101]

Exactly. They're living, programmed robots.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

You disagree? Explain.


Main Entry: ro·bot
Pronunciation: \ˈrō-ˌbät, -bət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Czech, from robota compulsory labor; akin to Old High German arabeit trouble, Latin orbus orphaned — more at orphan
Date: 1923
1 a : a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (as walking or talking) of a human being; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of capacity for human emotions is often emphasized b : an efficient insensitive person who functions automatically
2 : a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks
3 : a mechanism guided by automatic controls

 

[snakeguy101]

Okay. They are not robots because they cannot be turned off and cannot be predicted accurately. I agree that they are simple and instinctive but to say that they are robots is a little out there, sorry man.

Again, I don't think that snakes need to be held or entertained but I do think they need to be stimulated to keep them mentally healthy.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Of all the reptile groups I've studied these guys are the closest ones to being "programmed" to act a certain way. Eat, Sleep, Poop, repeat.... These are simple commands that have been hot wired in their tiny brains for millions of generations. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Like Gregg said they lack the brain lay out and function to feel emotion. Sounds like a robot to me.

 

[Gregg Madden]

Again, I don't think that snakes need to be held or entertained but I do think they need to be stimulated to keep them mentally healthy.

Most of the stimuli the get naturally can be from stressful situations... I am not sure what mental health in a snake can involve but one would think that not running or defending against predators would be great for ones mental health...

I am certain that striking at and feeding on prey and getting the chance to breed in some collections is plenty of stimuli for snakes in captivity...

If anyone feels differently, then go play fetch with your snake in the yard... LOL

 

[snakeguy101]

yes but to say that they don't feel emotion is not the same as saying that they can't be under stimulated. After working both at big breeding facilities and a museum and zoo I can say that the snakes in the breeding bins were always more aggressive and less active compared to the ones at the zoo that were given enrichment. I am not saying that you can't keep a snake in a rack style set up its whole life or that you have to have a naturalistic set up to keep it healthy. I am just saying that I have noticed a difference in the behavior of the snakes so there must be SOMETHING that is going on in their minds despite how simple they are.

 

[snakeguy101]

If anyone feels differently, then go play fetch with your snake in the yard... LOL

I have an iguana that plays fetch.... don't judge me...

 

[Gregg Madden]

I have an iguana that plays fetch.... don't judge me...

Actually, my snakes play fetch... I throw a rodent in their cage and they go get it but they never bring it back to me, sadly.... LOL

Anyway, regular interaction with your reptiles is not a bad thing at all but it is really not needed... My gaboons are quite happy doing nothing at all in the same spot for weeks on end even though they are provided with large cages...