Snake Positive Reinforcement?

**Serpentaria** · 26-Jul-12, 08:05 PM

carterd, you'd be surprised what the snakes put up with especially since they are so lazy and indifferent. I've had my animals sleep in their own crap even **** in their water (when I've found them in the morning to clean out cages), frankly snakes just don't care, unless you have food for them or if its mating season. I'd have to say that if they are crapping when you are taking them out and holding them, they could be objecting to you. I have a couple of my animals who did the latter because they are doing what they do in the wild, defacating on their predator so they can get away. When this happened to me, it was a particular type of perfume I was using and so stopped using it and the animals changed their habit and they are fine now. I'm not rousing on you for this, but this is something you could think about also.

**JM1982** · 26-Jul-12, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by SpilotaFreak78

carterd, you'd be surprised what the snakes put up with especially since they are so lazy and indifferent. I've had my animals sleep in their own crap even **** in their water (when I've found them in the morning to clean out cages), frankly snakes just don't care, unless you have food for them or if its mating season. I'd have to say that if they are crapping when you are taking them out and holding them, they could be objecting to you. I have a couple of my animals who did the latter because they are doing what they do in the wild, defacating on their predator so they can get away. When this happened to me, it was a particular type of perfume I was using and so stopped using it and the animals changed their habit and they are fine now. I'm not rousing on you for this, but this is something you could think about also.

My Darwin tried defecating to stop being handled for a period when he was young.
I put up with it to show it wouldnt get him 'back to the tank'. (he would calm after a short time)

-He soon stopped and was a good handler after some time.

**sherlock** · 29-Jul-12, 12:46 PM

Emotions? I reckon they do have them. But it would be hard to display any emotion when you can’t alter your face except to yawn. My fellow definitely has likes and dislikes.
I do recall a news item where black headed python was stolen and the police recovered him, the snake was definitely agitated, (by being stolen), so the coppers left the poor snake in a dark room to recover. Full marks to the police here. But I would call that snakes behavior as angry.
In my own case my young black headed python, loves to explore, the living room is all safe except for the heater, so he does have the run of it while we watch over him. One time he got interested in the heater, I made a big show, saying “NO” loudly and pulling him away. Bit of a performance from me telling him off.
The interesting thing is he has so far avoided the heater from then on, but he roams about everywhere else.
Also when he is exploring and he sees something new, he definitely stops and studies it for about 10 to 15 seconds, obviously thinking about it.
So I reckon snakes are more intelligent than just eating, sleeping and shitting machines. How intelligent? I don’t know, but I reckon you could train them somehow. I’m interested in any results you get.

**thomasssss** · 29-Jul-12, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by sherlock

One time he got interested in the heater, I made a big show, saying “NO” loudly and pulling him away. Bit of a performance from me telling him off..

you do realise snakes cant hear a thing

**dickyknee** · 29-Jul-12, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by sherlock

Emotions? I reckon they do have them. But it would be hard to display any emotion when you can’t alter your face except to yawn. My fellow definitely has likes and dislikes.
I do recall a news item where black headed python was stolen and the police recovered him, the snake was definitely agitated, (by being stolen), so the coppers left the poor snake in a dark room to recover. Full marks to the police here. But I would call that snakes behavior as angry.
In my own case my young black headed python, loves to explore, the living room is all safe except for the heater, so he does have the run of it while we watch over him. One time he got interested in the heater, I made a big show, saying “NO” loudly and pulling him away. Bit of a performance from me telling him off.
The interesting thing is he has so far avoided the heater from then on, but he roams about everywhere else.
Also when he is exploring and he sees something new, he definitely stops and studies it for about 10 to 15 seconds, obviously thinking about it.
So I reckon snakes are more intelligent than just eating, sleeping and shitting machines. How intelligent? I don’t know, but I reckon you could train them somehow. I’m interested in any results you get.

You cant seriously think your yelling "NO" has taught your snake to not go near the heater ??

**JrFear** · 29-Jul-12, 02:18 PM

u can train monitors! =]

**elapid@** · 29-Jul-12, 02:55 PM

all my snakes are well trained lol

**stimigex** · 29-Jul-12, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by dickyknee

You cant seriously think your yelling "NO" has taught your snake to not go near the heater ??

Come on Dicky you know how these new age herpers are so much more in touch with their inner reptile than us old timers

**andynic07** · 29-Jul-12, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by thomasssss

you do realise snakes cant hear a thing

Could it be possible that instead of hearing the "NO" the snake felt the vibrations of the sound wave and didn't like it?

**thomasssss** · 29-Jul-12, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by andynic07

Could it be possible that instead of hearing the "NO" the snake felt the vibrations of the sound wave and didn't like it?

its possible dont really know enough about that side of snakes to say for certain but i definitely don't think that it taught her not to go near the heater , you have to tell a dog not to do something more than once before it learns in most cases and they can actually be trained , id say its just a coincidence that it hasn't gone back to the heater

**dickyknee** · 29-Jul-12, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by stimigex

Come on Dicky you know how these new age herpers are so much more in touch with their inner reptile than us old timers

Old ??

Yeah there does seem to be a whole new generation of crack pots .. I mean herpers who think that snakes are highly intelligent and able to think beyond eating , mating and pooping ...

**stimigex** · 29-Jul-12, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by dickyknee

Old ??

Figuratively speaking of course

**euphorion** · 29-Jul-12, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by carterd

You are incorrect Jamie. Read the post again....I said i wouldn't call it training.
Snakes prefer not to sleep on there waste, get your facts right.
If you keep a record of when they Feed, Defecate, Slough etc, you soon see there patterns and cycles.
Dose your inside Dog hang on to it's self, before it's let out to defecate? Yes, because of patterns set, not toilet training. If you don't want happens???
Well it's the same with my snakes, they don't Crap in their enclosures, I'm not making this up.
Remember you are still the student.

How are his facts wrong? Snakes don't give a hoot if they lay in their own waste.

And what on earth are you on about in regards to toilet training dogs? Of course it's toilet training. It's what bitches do with their puppies from the get go; TOILET TRAINING. Yes, they hold on because they know they are not supposed to soil their living space and so they toilet where they have been taught to toilet; outside! But further to that point, why are you using dogs as an example in a discussion that relates exclusively to training reptiles? Oh my goodness, I'm too frustrated by your grammar and spelling to follow this thought process any further.

But to answer OP, no. Enough said.

**Pythoninfinite** · 29-Jul-12, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by carterd

You are incorrect Jamie. Read the post again....I said i wouldn't call it training.
Snakes prefer not to sleep on there waste, get your facts right.
If you keep a record of when they Feed, Defecate, Slough etc, you soon see there patterns and cycles.
Dose your inside Dog hang on to it's self, before it's let out to defecate? Yes, because of patterns set, not toilet training. If you don't want happens???
Well it's the same with my snakes, they don't Crap in their enclosures, I'm not making this up.
Remember you are still the student.

Are you sure you spelled you name on APS correctly - maybe you meant "Carturd" lol!!!

Perhaps you are a new-age keeper, but can you tell me how many decades you've been keeping snakes for dude? And what background you have in reptile biology, beyond your "record keeping...?" I'm sure I can tell you quite a bit more about snakes than you can tell me...

Jamie

**sherlock** · 29-Jul-12, 11:26 PM

You cant seriously think your yelling "NO" has taught your snake to not go near the heater ?? stimigex
No I don't. But it was an interesting observation. But a true one, so far. No animal would be able to understand language, but they do understand something in front of them that comes with food sometimes might be an important thing to them. Don't you think?
Snakes didn't get to be one of the most successful carnivores on this planet by being stupid.