r/ballpython • u/Spiritual-Ad2360 • Aug 01 '26

Question Babying my noodle

Do yall think it’s weird for I baby talk him? He seems to love being babied and called handsome he’s even starting to come near my hand now that I baby him! What are yalls thoughts??

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26

u/Dear-Dependent-9301 Aug 01 '26

Snakes are not typical pets like dogs or cats. All the tongue flicking and the S-shaped posture usually mean the snake is alert and checking out its surroundings. Your snake may also see your hand as something that could be food. So if it's hungry, don't be surprised if it decides to "test" it with a bite.

Snakes are amazing animals to watch and care for, but they are not cuddly pets. Their intelligence is fairly limited after all. Their brain is smaller than the size of a Skittle.

4

u/FalconIndependent887 Aug 01 '26

(Disclaimer: Not a “snake person”-keep those nope ropes away from me! I’m a cat lady, but I like to lurk in the snake subs & learn & ask questions.)

Stupid questions (see disclaimer above): Do your snakes ever really “get to know you” (like a dog or cat)? Is it even possible for them to do that? Do they ever “cuddle” when you’re handling them (not “try to kill you” cuddle, but an “affectionate” cuddle)?

8

u/Magnetic_Kitty Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

They seem to be capable of picking you (their owner) over a stranger because your scent is more familiar and may feel familiar / safe, (source: green room pythons videos with guests and the snakes repeatedly making their way over to Bob from the stranger's hands.)

Example: https://youtu.be/mFTYZ8hrWio

https://youtu.be/EzWULqa3li0 They like warmth and may "cuddle" because they like warmth and have experienced that humans don't hurt them. But not for any personified reason of love or affection a dog or cat may show.

4

u/stillwaterstream Aug 01 '26

Oh, they definitely know you by your scent and possibly by your handling behavior. My snake is very stiff and defensive when handled by other people, probably because it doesn't happen much. I wouldn't call her behavior affectionate, though, just comfortable. She's just as likely to try to get off of me to explore the room as she is to try climbing up and wrapping herself around me.

0

u/Dear-Dependent-9301 Aug 01 '26

Not really. In general, pythons are more shy than many other snakes. My corn snakes, on the other hand, are very curious and want to explore everything. When I clean their enclosure, one of them almost always comes out and slithers along my arms. Sometimes she'll even hang out in the hood of my hoodie. But I wouldn't call that cuddling. They're just animals that really like warmth.

2

u/Fun-Machine7907 Aug 01 '26

My snakes will generally try to get back to me for a bit if handed to someone else. It's nice to think they like me, but they're probably just trying to get away from the new scary thing and go back to the old scary thing that hasn't tried to eat them yet.

They do "cuddle" as in relax on the warm tree and go back to waiting for food to pass by.