Routine and preferences?

[jitami]

It was cleaning/feeding day here and as I moved things around in the tank it occurred to me that if the garters do have routines and preferences does it stress them when we re-arrange their tank? Perhaps what we see as exploring after a remodel is really them trying to figure out where the heck their favorite spots went to? I did leave the basking spot just about the same, but added some new stuff(egg carton, new hide) and took out the huge "swimming hole" and added a smaller water bowl for now. I dunno... just wondering.... hmmmm....

[ssssnakeluvr]

only routine I have seen is my 2 normal parietalis heading for the top of the 20 gal long I have them in whenever I am in the room!!! these little pigs would eat every day if I fed them!!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I would like to think that YES, there are routines and preferences. There is no proof of snakes "being able to count", however rather than call it counting time (days...), perhaps it would suffice to say they "feel" time. Nature and most all animals, plants, and even fungi follow natural rhythms (seasonal changes, etc).... maybe a sort of body clock is in order. If you or nature create a pattern, the animal will probably learn to adapt accordingly, (in nature of course it is a case of absolute survival). As for favorite spots... We all have 'em! I have to ponder whether security instilled from a safe well-known location may play as much part as temperature and supersede its importance at times. I would also consider the higher elevation a possible repeat choice simply because it offers a better vantage point.

Snake behavior should be hard to anthropomorphize when you really think about it. Humans are very dependent on the visual, auditory, and tactile senses. I can not begin to compare! Snakes are all tongue! Many do have excellent vision, but their sense of smell goes beyond! We also might take for granted that snakes are extremely tactile [Like wow man! They can be like down to earth from head to tail!]. Perhaps favorite locations are a result of a tactile memory (of a place that is safe and secure... once again despite heat). And we all know, that except for certain low frequency vibrations picked up by scales, lung, and/or vestigial inner ear bone (in some species), snakes are deaf.

I guess whether we can explain real behavior or not, the habit of placing human emotions upon our pets is sometimes irresistable... Snakes are deaf, yet I still talk to mine!

Only human,

Steve

[Garter_Gertie]

[quote=Steven@HumboldtHerps;63660... Snakes are deaf, yet I still talk to mine!

Only human,

Steve[/quote]

ROFLOL! Yup. I wonder... If I should learn ASL would I better communicate with my snakes? Actually for a deaf pea-sized brain animal, Winnie and I communicate pretty well. I'm convinced she knows my vibrations and smell since she 'comes alive' just minutes after I get to work. She also 'pays attention' to me over others. She definitely knows who I am.

[infernalis]

... Snakes are deaf, yet I still talk to mine!

Only human,

Steve

Thank god they are deaf, My Puget would be going mental from the kids singing Mr. Blue Sky at him all the time.

[Garter_Gertie]

Thank god they are deaf, My Puget would be going mental from the kids singing Mr. Blue Sky at him all the time.

I don't know... Maybe he'd tongue-sinc.

[anji1971]

Mine will only use a certain hide! Deejay has hers, and Chili has one of her own. I've never caught either one in the other's, even though Chili's is nearer the heat mat. Deejay just burrows into the substrate if she wants the heat.

And today they blew that theory all to hell. Both were in the others' hide!!!
So much for preferences.

[Garter_Gertie]

Kids! Never do what you want when you want. And right when you think you've got them figured, they throw you for a loop!

[drache]

I don't think snakes are deaf in the sense that we understand deafness
they just don't have external ear openings
their brains still process vibrations
I have this medical tuning fork I use to demonstrate to kids how snakes "hear"
it doesn't make any sound that's externally audible (like to human ears), but when you set it on your jaw bone when it vibrates, you can "hear" it

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh my gods, Rhea. I understand. How much does one of those tuning forks cost, do you know? And do you know how I go about getting one? That would add SO MUCH to our snake program! I'm so glad you mentioned that. FANTASTIC! I could just hug you to death! The kids and parents (and even me...) have blank looks on their faces because they can't get how one can "hear" from vibrations, especially in a jaw bone and not through an ear.

But hearing IS only about vibrations of air waves, isn't it?! I'm thinking their jaw bone is like our hammer/anvil/sturrip? That bone is needed to process the sound waves? Is that it?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!