Do BP's pose ANY conceivable danger AT ALL to small children?

[Calider]

I need to know factually, 100% without a doubt, no biased opinions just actual facts... Can my BP POSSIBLY harm my boyfriend's kids in ANY way? They are 5 and 7 years old. Thanks so much.

[bcr229]

As long as you don't let the kids handle the snakes unsupervised, don't allow the kids to put the snakes around their necks, and always have the kids wash their hands after handling the snakes due to the (very slight) risk of salmonella, then no.

[ckuhn003]

I need to know factually, 100% without a doubt, no biased opinions just actual facts... Can my BP POSSIBLY harm my boyfriend's kids in ANY way? They are 5 and 7 years old. Thanks so much.

There's no way anyone can say '100% w/o a doubt' but you know your BPs better then us. I've had mine 4 months and he's never once struck me or shown any signs of aggression but I'm still a little unsure that I want my young kids holding him because I can't predict their behavior (sudden movements, dropping, etc...) and his reaction to that behavior.

I would teach them the rules of the road and start slow w/ monitored and short holdings and go from there. Good luck.

[LadyCalypso]

I agree with the person above me, you know your snake better then us. Like mine for ex, I would trust my girl Calypso with someone holding her (not sure about a kid) but thats because I know she has a nice temperament, but Petri I dont even trust her as she bit my pinky finger one day. There animals not robots so its hard to tell how there gunna act sometimes.

[zina10]

What do you conceive as "danger" ?

Death? or Injury? A bite?

Death is very remote. You would literally have a large Ball Python, drape it around the kids neck, and then get it to constrict the neck and squeeze hard and long enough. Very remote indeed, but no-one can tell you that would never happen.

If anything, a bite. But they wouldn't die from that. It might hurt a bit, depending how big the snake is, whether its a defending nip or a "feeding error" bite.

Then, like its been said, is the remote danger of salmonella. If the kids wash their hands after handling the snake or cleaning the enclosure (if they ever do that) that is also nothing to worry about.

I find rodents (even hamsters), cats, dogs, horses much more of an "issue" then Ball Pythons, when it comes to possibly injury to children.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Anything with teeth can be danger.......
Your level and mine might be two different ideas.

[zina10]

I know this hasn't been asked, but there is also this "spin".

Have you considered the danger TO your Ball Python by the 5 and 7 year old children of your boyfriend?

Actually, to me, that would be far more worrisome

Its really not that hard to lay down some ground rules. Teach the kids to respect the snake and leave it alone unless supervised.
If handled, wash hands before and after.

Then it literally becomes a non-issue.

[Craiga 01453]

I have had a handful of different pets throughout my lifetime, and as far as danger to children I think only my fish and corn snakes are less of a threat, and maybe my little turtle that I only had for a few months as a young kid.

Dogs, cats, rats, hamsters, ferrets, iguana are all more likely to actually cause any real injury to a young child.

Of course, I'm not going to 100% guarantee a BP will not strike or potentially constrict a young child. Of course, its possible. The likelihood of a BP causing any significant damage is VERY slim, however.

With proper adult supervision a minor bite would most likely be the biggest threat. An adult BP could potentially constrict enough to cause serious injury, but it would take some time and is probably as likely as hitting the lotto. If supervised, and the huge long shot occurred that a BP actually constricted with the intention of "killing it's prey" an adult would easily be able to intervene and prevent such an injury.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Yes of you are not carefully and do not supervise, I have a few 4000 grams females if they put a squeeze around your neck you will feel it and without a doubt it would have severe consequences for a child.

Common sense is you do not let a child put a snake around their neck, nor let them see you doing it regardless of the size of the animal.

Than there are the minor possible problem, bites etc.

[Kcl]

Even a Chihuahua or a small cat would have a much easier time of significantly injuring or killing a child than a bp would and would be more likely to do so. If put around a child's neck and sufficiently scared into constricting something that doesn't smell like prey and is too big for prey and somehow then maintaining it, an adult ball python may be able to kill a child, but it's not their natural reaction to anything and many wouldn't react that way at all. Any supervision would also easily correct the issue as would not letting the child allow the snake to loop around the neck in the first place. If held up to the face and irritated or scared into biting, the snake could hit the child's eye. Again, easily prevented with supervision. Also easily accomplished by a cat or small dog. A cat could also conceivably suffocate a child by laying on its face while the child is sleeping. None of these things are very likely, and the snake has the great bonus of being easy to lock away from the child when the child is unsupervised, which is preferable anyway since it's easy for children to hurt, kill, or lose the snake.