I wasn't going to post again here but then I thought I should, just attempt to clear the air as seeing that I was partly responsible for the thread closing.
Firstly, I do apologise to anyone who I may of insulted, it is never my intention to insult people, but I am aware that quite often what/how I write comes across as insulting to some.
Also, for those who don't know me, my background is with wild herps first and hobby or captive herps second. I've held high position in local wildlife rescue and care organisation, and only just retired from that due to work commitments. The amount of sick /injured snakes lizards etc that have come through my own facilities and been released as healthy animals speaks for itself, all of this was financed by myself with no reimbursement at all. I have worked with arguably the best herp vet in Australia for years (in the capacity of having him to fall back on, when I am out of my depth). I have even given you some help too Peter, though you never acknowledged it.
I don't write this here to big note, just to let some know where I come from in regards to experience.
When I wrote "humans like to be liked, even seemingly" what I meant is this. Doing countless relocations you get to meet many people. Trying to put this into an understandable quantity, I use the word insanity. At the shallow end we have people like me who take things on face value and simply love their animals, providing excellant husbandry etc. At the deep end we have people who find solace in animals, quite often to the detriment of the animals themselves. These people are the sort who don't quite fit into mainstream society and often can't look after themselves let alone an animal or two hundred. They find solace in animals because they lack the fundamental human need for being accepted/liked. Cat lady is an example.She has a filthy house, lives alone with 20 cats. Do you see ?
There are many levels to this "insanity". I once had a bloke who can only be described as a serial wild animal collector. he would take reptiles from the wild, then call me up to get them and release them. Most were ok and released pronto, others ....well they needed some work. Humans like to be liked...it is human nature and universal law.
Back to the topic, this is a purely philosophical question. Those of us that lean to the esoterical viewpoint of life will think one way, those of us who have a more practical viewpoint will lean the other. If interaction means dealing with your snakes husbandry and well being, then yes interaction is good, ie a snake kept in a box can't clean itself can it? So human interaction is definatly required.
Why do people believe that their snakes like them?
Are these beliefs founded only in pythons, or would these people be up for testing these beliefs with vens?
Why is it, that when a female snake broods her clutch to hatch day she then leaves and never looks back, yet we are supposed to believe
that our snakes are capable of liking us?
I am of the opinion that the interaction by free handling part, is good for the human psyche. The snake couldn't care less, though it does get some 'enrichment'.
The reason why older and experienced keepers lean towards the no handling realm is because they understand that one way or the other it makes no difference to the health of the animals, only good husbandry keeps a snake healthy. Many believe and I am one, that free handling stresses snakes (though in short doses, of no consequence), and keep handling to a minimum when breeding. It is common knowledge between people who rehabilitate injured and sick snakes that free handling them definatly causes stress and therefore handling is always kept to an absolute minimum. Even looking in on them is preferably done in a way that the animal doesn't know its being looked at.
Why is this?
I am not saying don't free handle your snakes. Try telling this to a first time snake owner... there is no way. I was the same and I can understand why people like to free handle their pet snakes, because I was just like that. They are just to different an animal to anything. They are secretive, not like cats and dogs. They are rarely seen in the wild and people who get a new snake as a pet feel somewhat different to other people because they have this animal that strikes fear into normal people. It edgy and its exciting, the world of snake keeping is a mystery.
After time and experience, especially if you work with wild animals, you realise that a snake is just another animal that fills a niche in the ecosystem. Keeping one or two pet snakes that are very placid only gives a view into a very limited part of snake life.
Once again, I apologise for my part in getting this thread closed and hope this helps, if anyone wants to carry this on then flick me a pm. Just be aware that I don't suffer fools.
cheers
)
