little fear

i dont know why but i have this fear i guess of my snake biting me. i hold him and everything but when his head comes next to my hand i lower him back, al my friends handle him with no problem....any tips on how to get over it?

I know many snake owners conquer their fear by intentionally getting bit; that way they can see it's nothing to be concerned about.

Otherwise it'll just take time and getting used to him. I know when I got my first ball python I was pretty nervous about handling her. Be patient and be confident in handling and you will become accustomed to him.

And simply know that, though the chances of you getting bit by a ball python is unlikely, it may happen, and if it does it is no big deal.

Get bit & get it over with, then again he may never strike at you :)

You can use a leather glove when handling him until you get more familiar, confident and comfortable with reading his body language, movements, and mannerisms.

The thing about getting bit by a BP is this; yes, it may sting a little, and yes, it may bleed a little. But, the experience is not nearly as traumatic as our fear and anxiety leads us to believe. Here are a few common situations that hurt far worse than a BP bite:

-piercings
-tattoos
-getting scratched or bit by a dog or cat
-getting stung by a wasp or bee
-sunburn
-shots from the doctor

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

Here are a few common situations that hurt far worse than a BP bite:

-getting scratched or bit by a dog or cat

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Oh yes! We have a golden retriever, and, though she is the sweetest dog in the world and the love of my life, she was a VERY mouthy puppy. At any given time my hands and arms would be covered in very deep, very painful gashes. We would warn friends who came to visit her that she gets much too excited and will bite and yet they were still eager to meet the cute little puppy. Yet even after I assure people that my snakes will NOT bite, most people want nothing to do with them. It is a completely irrational fear. I'd rather get bit by my 5ft boa than by a dog any day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crazy4Herps

I'd rather get bit by my 5ft boa than by a dog any day.

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Or a rat.

Or a Parrot!!!! Specifically a cockatoo! :O

thanks a lot guys, ill just see what happens when i old him later

No problem! I personally started out a little nervous myself, but I decided..what the heck. I have raised dogs and cats and been bitten and scratched by those..I've gotten shots at the doctor before.. So what if I get bitten! So I got confidence and am a lot braver than I used to be. And I think that confidence is partially why I haven't been bit even after 3 years! :O


Although I wouldn't rely on that much longer, my little boa has been eyeing my finger lately :rolleyes:

i just handled him for a good 10 min and so far so good....

and i have a question...im getting a female ball python tomorrow and i was reading online that you can house them together. would this be good or bad?