Originally Posted by
Bah Humbug
I can understand rodents better than spiders and snakes. At least rodents can feel affection - a "pet" tarantula cannot. It's not a pet, it's a captive.
I wouldn't be surprised if some reptiles are as smart, or smarter, than some rodents; in particular, some species of monitor are very clever. I had one for a time, a Savannah. S/he wasn't particularly bright, but did like attention/petting.