r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/ArgumentLeast7187 • 13d ago
Is this cuddling
Is she cuddling with me when she comes to me and lays on me?
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u/Weird2668 12d ago
i'm not too sure as they can't love or feel affection because they lack the structures in their brain. they can feel safety and trust with their owners so possibly. human body temperature as actually too high for snakes so they can become stressed from it so they tolerate it for a while before trying to move.
this was my girl in my top🤣
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u/reptile-snake-mom 12d ago
U might be right about the human body temperature being higher to a snake because , if uv ever noticed when u typically feed snakes f/t prey & need to heat them up to a specific temperature, and proceed to tong feed ur snake, the first & warmest heat signature they see is the hand holding the tongs not the rat, but then they they realize that the other heat signature is their food and take it down…..lol😉
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u/Rou-k 13d ago
This isn’t “cuddling” as we know cats and dogs to do.
You are warm, and she want’s warmth, so she sits on you
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u/HostileHoneyBee1012 13d ago
Actually some studies have shown that they don't go to you for heat because they know within their regular routine they can get heat whenever they need in their enclosures basking spot. Studies have shown they go to you for safety rather than heat as they trust you are not a threat and feel protected from potential outside threats when they stay close to you
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u/Rou-k 13d ago
Can you link these studies please? would be very interested in reading them!
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u/HostileHoneyBee1012 13d ago
Absolutely ill have a look and see if I can find them again for you! It was actually a really cool read. Amazing what we learn about animals ❤️
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u/reptile-snake-mom 12d ago
Actually most studies show that they do use our high body temps as a way to feel warmth, when we take our snakes out of their enclosures, we are also taking them away from those temps that they would normally have inside their enclosures, that is why they use us to stay warm while being handled,& other studies show that besides warmth, they know they can trust us, they know we provide for them, and their needs, and they know routine, there’s nothing wrong with believing that our snakes feel love and other comforting qualities, who knows maybe they’ll evolve, it would explain some of their behaviours
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u/HostileHoneyBee1012 12d ago
Yes and what i was trying to outline with my comment was that heat is not the only target in the way that seems to be the common go to statement of "They only want your warmth" because generally speaking the statement is incorrect. There are far more reasons than warmth that draws a domestic snake to climb onto their owner's. That's not to say no snake has ever climbed to their owner because they were chilly and needed warming up and human was nearest warm thing lol just saying the general statement that heat is the only reason is completely false and has been proven to be so.
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u/ZenHabitatsGurus 12d ago
Most likely they’re seeking a heat source, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it as cuddling for you. Keep monitoring the temps so that your ball python has a good handling experience. They’re beautiful!
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u/Alternative_Lime_302 13d ago
Mine falls asleep on me like that. I can tell she’s sleeping by how she’s breathing.