Many varieties of snakes like the ball python and hognose have become massively popular pets within recent decades. With their rising popularity, however, comes a wave of newcomers that may not totally know what they’re getting into. Specifically, a rookie to the snake world may have a variety of misconceptions and questions about how snakes experience emotions and behave. Specifically, if they can love. Protecting your family from snakes
To help clear up any confusion on the subject, here is a quick explanation on how snakes were built to behave, and how that translates to their domestic lives with humans.
How Snakes Behave in the Wild
While wild and captive snakes can be – at times – unfairly stereotyped as being aggressive, the truth is fairly nuanced. In the wild, conflicts often expend a lot of unnecessary energy, especially for smaller animals such as most snakes (especially ones that are typically kept as pets). This means that most snakes would much rather prefer to hide in a burrow or tree than attack an animal that doesn’t pose a threat to it.
Adjusting to Captivity
Because of this non-conflictory nature, many small to medium (non-venomous) snakes make for fairly calm, tolerant pets. Now, this is not to say that you should attempt to tame a wild animal or make it your pet. However, well-bred and socialized snakes can and do make wonderful, safe additions to many homes. There are many types of snake that will enjoy spending hours just hanging on your shoulders.
This developed trust and contentment does take some work. However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn about snake behavior and body language, you will have a unique companion by your side for decades. To help maximize the chance that your pet has a great behavior profile, seek out snakes for sale from reputable, ethical breeders.
Can Snakes… Love?
Now, for the truth behind our initial question. Can these serpentine friends truly love their owners? Well, that depends on how you define “love” in the first place. If you are expecting an animal that will be ecstatic to see you come home, cuddle up to you, play, or show signs of missing you, then no. Snakes do not show the external signs of love and affection that we typically see from other pets, and there is no evidence to suggest that they experience these emotions – at least in how humans perceive them. However, as previously stated, if you take the time to learn about your snake, it will pay you back with a unique, incomparable relationship.
For many, the lack of expressed or implied emotion is an advantage of owning snakes. They won’t experience separation anxiety, you don’t have to worry about fulfilling their emotional needs, and you can travel with little issue.
Final Thoughts on if Snakes can Love Their Owners
If you’re a newcomer looking for snakes for sale, it’s important that your expectations are leveled. While nurturing and caring for a snake is a rewarding, wonderful experience, it certainly is different from raising nearly every other pet. The worst thing you can do for your snake is expect it to be something it’s not, and treating it as such.
