What's the best way to get over fear of snakes!

:snake: 4 life
cmon now there purty :P

I love people like you! Keep goin in baby steps and soon it will be like pickin up a cat or a dog. Good work!!!!!!!!!:gj::banana:

pistol whip him a couple times till he bites you then you can go gee that wasnt so bad...and the bonding can begin ^^ lol

I found getting into a tub full of snakes is the best way to over come the fear....GOOD LUCK!!! :D:D

Oh ya, take video and pics for us..

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Originally Posted by sw204me

I found getting into a tub full of snakes is the best way to over come the fear....GOOD LUCK!!! :D:D

Oh ya, take video and pics for us..

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rattlesnake roundup?

I prefer Black Mambas...

the largest venomous snake in Africa and the second largest venomous snake in the world. Only the King Cobra is larger. Adult black mambas have an average length of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) and a maximum length of 4.5 meters (14 ft). The black mamba is the fastest moving snake in the world, capable of moving up to 20 km/h(12.5 mph).


Perfect starter snake to break the ice with...:banana:

Cheryl,
How is it going? Please give us updates as you have some. We are all rooting for you!

sounds like you're doing fantastic! jsut keep petting him until you feel very comfortable doing that. and keep in mind that he's not going to bite you out of the blue. just little baby steps and don't rush to hold him. take your time and like i said before- you'll just be walking around the house with him. no worries and keep up the good work! let us know how it's going! i know you can get over this and it's very brave of you!

Sorry - my computer wasn't cooperating for a couple of days. Dakota and I are getting along fairly well! I still haven't made the big pick up, but the other night after he ate, he was slithering into a hide and I just let him slide through my fingers. He moved quickly - probably because he had just eaten - but it was kind of cool! I know he can't hear, but I love to talk to him and he will sometimes stick his head out of a hide seemingly listening. Tomorrow I have to clean out his home. He's really so cute!

I know I should have someone around who knows what they're doing when I take him out, but I don't know anyone who's experienced with snakes. Of all the people I know, I'm the only one with a snake - it's probably just my circle of friends!

damn your gonna make an awesome snake mommy lol.

More like a snake grandma!!!:)

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Originally Posted by cheryls

I know he can't hear, but I love to talk to him and he will sometimes stick his head out of a hide seemingly listening.

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They don't "hear" the way we do, but they do feel vibrations quite well - your footsteps as you approach, maybe your voice moving the air.

Congrats! You are doing great. Keep us posted!! I can't wait until the end of this thread when you give us a link to BP Pictures where you post a picture of yourself holding him. I believe in you! Just keep saying, "I think I can, I think I can...," because we all KNOW you can. :hug:

I was talking to my daughter last night, discussing Dakota - all of the things I've bought and recently ordered to try and help him be most comfortable - my efforts in forming a relationship with him and she said, "You know, Mom, when I get my own apartment, I'm taking Dakota with me and you'll have to get your own snake!" :rofl:

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Originally Posted by cheryls

I was talking to my daughter last night, discussing Dakota - all of the things I've bought and recently ordered to try and help him be most comfortable - my efforts in forming a relationship with him and she said, "You know, Mom, when I get my own apartment, I'm taking Dakota with me and you'll have to get your own snake!" :rofl:

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aww. drat, ill miss hearing stories of you and Dakota. (or maybe you could keep dakota and get her a new snake ^^) luckly all that progress is not lost and you can apply it to the next lovely little critter you place into the cage. just make sure your daughter knows how to care for dakota

look at it this way, you have a deadline to yourself on making the big pickup. commit yourself to conquering your fear before your daughter moves out :)

Oh...she's already out, but she's in a dorm. It will be a year before she gets an apartment! so...I'll have Dakota for that long, at least! He shed yesterday and it was perfect! I was very excited 'cuz it means I'm doing something right!!!

You have to love the feeling you get from a perfect shed, congrats!

Cheryls, I would like to thank you for this topic and I would like to thank the rest of you for your responses.

My daughter also left for college this year and then her cat died. My husband is a great guy, but I was lonely. Well, a little more than a week ago, my daughter brought home a 6-year-old, 4.5-foot ball python for my birthday. Her name is Eva, and she is beautiful. I was not the least bit afraid of her and held her every night and have been trying desperately to follow all of her care instructions, so I don't hurt her.

However, her feeding day was last Wednesday. My husband fed her (in her enclosure). He used a tool thing and as he was lowering the mouse (frozen/thawed), Eva "struck" at it, but she missed and hit a stick in her enclosure. (This was somewhat intimidating for me.) I think she hurt herself. We left her alone for a little bit and then my husband put the other mouse in there. She seemed totally disinterested at first, but then she ate it. She never did eat the first mouse.

Here is where the problem started. I wanted to find out what we did wrong, so I began searching the internet. There was so much inconsistent information.....she will become aggressive if she is fed inside her enclosure....she will become aggressive if she is fed outside her enclosure....ball pythons CAN and DO bite, etc. I became totally confused and frustrated. I left her alone for the required 48 hours after she ate the mouse.

Last night, my daughter came home and, of course, wanted to hold Eva. I started to reach in to get her, and I became officially afraid. This made my daughter afraid. So, there we were, standing over her enclosure looking at each other wanting to hold her, but too afraid to reach in and get her. I couldn't believe it. Just three days ago, I had no fear at all. Eventually, my husband took Eva out and put her on the bed between my daughter and me. Eva seemed a little different. She usually completely stretches out and tries to explore when she is not on our bodies. She did not ball up, but she was kind of just crawling over herself. At that point, I was not worried about her hurting me, I was worried that she wasn't okay, so I picked her up and held her. She was fine and within minutes was crawling all over me. Then my daughter took her and she was fine with her as well.

I feel like a terrible snake mom. I told my daughter that I don't feel qualified to take care of her anymore. My daughter looked at me and said....."You didn't know how to take care of me when you first got me either, but I turned out perfect." That made me feel so much better, and I thought it might make Cheryls feel better too. It also made me feel better to read this thread. Some other message boards I read were not nearly as kind or encouraging.

Again, thank you all. Sorry I was so wordy.

No need to be sorry at all! In fact, some BP's tend to be pretty clumsy, especally when it comes to things like climbing branches and falling off of them. I've had a few of my BP's miss a strike at a rat/mouse a few times before. You didn't do anything wrong, sometimes they just get a little too excited and misjudge where the mouse is. But it sounds like both of you are doing a good job! :gj:

Rosetta,
We were totally comfortable with our Ball Python when we first got him, too. However, after we fed him and saw how fast he can strike, I was a little nervous holding him. Once I knew what he was capable of, I was hesitant, too. But I got over it pretty quickly.

I wouldn't worry about it. I am sure you will get comfortable again, too. Then you will really enjoy handling your snake. It will become an addiction before you know it. That's why our two snakes are on altering feeding schedules - so there's always a snake to hold! ;)

Cheryl, how is the snake touching/handling going?

Dakota and I are getting along well. I haven't really handled him - in terms of picking him up. I'm such a chicken. :) But I've been petting him every night, except after eating! I got worried the last couple of nights though and avoided touching him because I have a wicked cold - can snakes get our illnesses? I didn't know, but figured better safe than sorry! So..tomorrow's cleaning day and we'll have to interact more than usual. Last time I just opened a box in his enclosure - took all his hides out and waited 'til he went into the box - then closed it up and cleaned everything out and put him back in. Tomorrow, I plan to try and pick him up and put him in the box.

By the way, we've always fed Dakota in his enclosure and he seems to know when it's about feeding time. Most often when I open the enclosure, he peeks out to see what I'm doing, but since there's no scent, he doesn't get excited. On feeding night, however, he knows it's coming!!! As soon as the mouse is in the room, he's out and about. Last night he took the mouse while hanging off his branch! It was pretty funny.

Rosetta, thanks so much for sharing that story with us. I got a little misty when I read your daughters response. Such a warm loving thing to say. Thanks again.

Well, I did it! I picked Dakota up twice! I put him in a box while I cleaned out his enclosure tonight. When I finished, I noticed that his head was peeking out of the top of the box. He was so cute! So, I opened the box, picked him up and put him back into his home to explore. He's so strong! That surprised me. Even his tail is strong and seems powerful. He was gentle and certainly able to keep from falling - I was worrying needlessly over that. Next, I'm gonna pick him up and hang out with him. Small, teensy steps - but it's very exciting! My thanks to all of you for helping me to understand how gentle these creatures really are and for helping me to understand a bit more about his motivations. I couldn't have gotten this far without all of you! ;)

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Originally Posted by cheryls

Well, I did it! I picked Dakota up twice!

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Congratulations! See how easy it is becoming? I predict that within two weeks you will be looking forward to your "cuddle" time with Dakota, when you can just hang out and enjoy! You'll both get back to the point where you don't want him to go back in!
:banana:

Then you can learn all you need to know over the next year about BP's. In a year, when you daughter takes Dakota to an apartment with her, you will be ready to be a rescue mom, and adopt a BP that needs a new home. I see them on Craig's List, etc. all the time!

Hi,

Well done!:gj:

I've been following the thread with baited breath waiting for news.:D


dr del

Good for you!!!! I knew you could do it. Please keep us posted. This has become my favorite thread. I'm so happy for you and Dakota.

Thank you for your replies. I no longer feel all alone trying to figure out how to take care of Eva.

Jenn....yes, my daughter is a great kid...and loves animals.

Cheryls....congratulations. I'm proud of you.

About Eva....the day after my previous post, her eyes turned blue, so we have not held her since then (maybe why she was acting a little strange??). Her eyes are clear now, so I hope the shedding goes well.

This is a great website.

I need some help. Eva shed. More than half of her came off in one piece, but the rest (her head and neck) still has little pieces stuck. She is crawling all over trying to get the rest off. Should I take her out and try to help her or just let her work at it by herself for awhile? If I should help, should I soak her or put her in a damp towel?

This is a great thread! And a terrific website. There's some great info on shedding and helping Eva along will be simple if you follow folks advice. One piece I read indicated that helping the snake to rub through a damp towel would help. But read on! There's lots of great methods of getting the job done.

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Originally Posted by Rosetta

I need some help. Eva shed. More than half of her came off in one piece, but the rest (her head and neck) still has little pieces stuck. She is crawling all over trying to get the rest off. Should I take her out and try to help her or just let her work at it by herself for awhile? If I should help, should I soak her or put her in a damp towel?

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Go to:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=43403
The tutorial is GREAT! You can let the snake work a little more on his/her own. Then use the tutorial. Also, the most important things to get off are the eyecaps (nostrils and heat pits, too).

We've only had our BP for two sheds, and he needed help both times. We hope that next time, he does it on his own.

Good luck! :)

that is so cool. good job!!!!:gj::gj::gj:

i'm so glad that you picked up dakota! you're making great progress! i'm so proud of you for getting over your fear and i'm sure you feel very good about yourself for doing so!

Yes, please let us know when you do it again! We are all addicted to this thread!!!!

And we are all proud of you! :hug:

As you have openly admitted to your fears, do you have any suggestions to other people that are also afraid of snakes? I am not myself but I have a few friends that when I mention I have snakes act as if their own skin is crawling. I will tell you it is not easy getting them to come over when they know you have snakes lol

Well...first, it takes a long time. This is not a quick overcoming of the fear! I think if I had someone here who was willing to handle Dakota and help me out, it would be much easier. But, I've had to learn to understand his moods via this website. I've tried to develop a routine of petting him nightly. I believe that he'll get used to me that way. But, tonight for example, when I pet him, he went into the "s" curve. Now I know from this website, that he might be pissed off. So, I picked him up gently and moved his head close to a hide. When he put his head into the hide, he seemed to relax.

But, it's been two months or more and I still can't bring myself to actually taking him out of his enclosure and holding him "for real". On the other hand, when I come home from work at night - I go into his room and talk to him. He always pokes his head out and although I know he can't hear me, I believe he knows my vibrations. I could be crazy, of course, but the more I believe I know Dakota, the more comfortable I feel.

And frankly - at the risk of being crucified on this website - I used to hope that Dakota would escape into the world, or not be in this house. Now, I'm obsessed with making sure he's healthy and, yes, I believe I love this creature. He's addicting in a strange sort of way.

I guess I'm one of those people who had to learn to love a snake. If not for this website, I'm not sure it would have happened!

:snake:Cheryl

One other thing - from my long winded self - I used to find snakes hideous. Now, I find them beautiful...their colors, size, and ability to survive are just amazing. I love to watch Dakota eat, shedding their skin, their ability to survive in a tank. It's an amazing feat of nature. I'm truly impressed.

I could never keep fish (they always died) but I'm becoming an expert at keeping a truly fabulous snake!:)

Cheryl, I love your mention of obsession. Amazing! All the rest of us (mostly) on this website are totally obsessed. But you started with fear and are growing into the addiction that keeping a BP can be! Congrats! I am sure that, somehow, between you and your daughter, there will be two snakes some day - one for each of you. :snake: :snake:

:gj:

:snake::snake:Two snakes! One never knows. :) So last night, I was talking with Dakota and handling him in my own way - and he pooped a huge one! Now that was a new sight for me! I can't believe how big it was!:D

Well, at least it didn't poop on ya!! :D LOL I am glad that you are making progress with Dakota!! And I think that even with you talking, being near, and petting/touching him it is helping him get used to you, so it is all baby steps!! :) I have full faith that you will get to the point where you will be able to just reach in, pick him up, and not think twice about being able to do it!! But from just reading one of your recent posts, you have already come a LONG way!! To go from not liking snakes (wanting Dakota to not be in your house), to becoming obsessed with him and even thinking that you may possibly love this snake.....that's really wonderful!! And sometimes it does take awhile to overcome your fears, I really wish that there was someone close to you that could help you out, but sometimes you just have to not think about it and just do it as well!! But like Melissa says, we are all proud of you!! ;) Just keep up with it!! You are doing awesome!! :gj::gj::gj:

Cheryl, why don't you do a thread called, "Who lives in/near Northford, CT and wants to meet for dinner?" Then you can meet other BP.netters in your area. That would be a nice local support group. And someone may be willing to hold Dakota for you while you pet him, etc. :D

Just a thought. Go with your husband or a friend (not alone) if you do something like that. To be safe.

Or try going to a local reptile show. After seeing thousands of snakes, Dakota will be easy!

Actually, I've started to pick him up. The last two nights we spent about 5-10 minutes together with me holding him. Once I pick him up, though, he just seems intent on getting away from me and that makes me a bit nervous. Last night I was quite proud of the fact that I had him out of the tank and he curled around my hand and wrist. I'm assuming that's pretty normal, right? Tonight though, when I went to pick him up, he hooked his tail on his log and would not give in, so I put him back and let him be - also, I didn't really know how to get his tail off the log.:) Do you think I should sit down with him? Put him on my lap or something? I'm not sure what the next steps are!

I do like the idea of meeting someone involved, although I'm trying to do that through word of mouth. I figure eventually I'll meet someone with snakes!

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Originally Posted by cheryls

Actually, I've started to pick him up. The last two nights we spent about 5-10 minutes together with me holding him. Once I pick him up, though, he just seems intent on getting away from me and that makes me a bit nervous. Last night I was quite proud of the fact that I had him out of the tank and he curled around my hand and wrist. I'm assuming that's pretty normal, right? Tonight though, when I went to pick him up, he hooked his tail on his log and would not give in, so I put him back and let him be - also, I didn't really know how to get his tail off the log.:) Do you think I should sit down with him? Put him on my lap or something? I'm not sure what the next steps are!

I do like the idea of meeting someone involved, although I'm trying to do that through word of mouth. I figure eventually I'll meet someone with snakes!

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that is normal for him to curl around you, just supporting itself. Sometimes I go to pick mine up and his tail is around something. I just gently undo his tail, they are harmless and it wont bother them. I wear mine around my neck, on my lap, around my wrist, I just make sure he is supported.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cheryls

Actually, I've started to pick him up. The last two nights we spent about 5-10 minutes together with me holding him. Once I pick him up, though, he just seems intent on getting away from me and that makes me a bit nervous. Last night I was quite proud of the fact that I had him out of the tank and he curled around my hand and wrist. I'm assuming that's pretty normal, right? Tonight though, when I went to pick him up, he hooked his tail on his log and would not give in, so I put him back and let him be - also, I didn't really know how to get his tail off the log.:) Do you think I should sit down with him? Put him on my lap or something? I'm not sure what the next steps are!

I do like the idea of meeting someone involved, although I'm trying to do that through word of mouth. I figure eventually I'll meet someone with snakes!

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That is so great, Cheryl!

Dakota might not be trying to get away from you per se, but curious about his surroundings and checking things out. Coiling around your arm and wrist are totally normal - and very cute! And, like Juicepilly said, you can gently unwrap his tail from anything he's holding onto in his tank. Mr. Snake does that, too, sometimes for security. They want to make sure they won't fall, etc. - pick him up with two hands so that he's well supported.

Usually, we sit down and hold Mr. Snake in our hands on top of our lap. That way, if he slithers out of our hands, he'll have a lap to go to first. We also wear him around out neck, cradle him like a baby, hold him to our chest, or pet him while he slithers across the bed or couch.

I'm sure you'll find a handling method/routine that works for both of you.

:gj:

Good for you Cheryl!!!! You are well on your way. Dakota sounds like a very healthy and well adjusted BP. And I'm quite sure he "likes" you! I held my BP Lucy ONLY in my hands and arms for the first few weeks. The most scary part for me was when she would move suddenly (usually my fault). Be careful not to make quick movements, or to move a hand or finger towards the head. They tend to jerk away which scares people. They will also jerk suddenly if they feel they are about to fall. I use to be afraid that Lucy would somehow feel how nervous I was, or smell MY fear (or my sweat) on my hands. Or that she would feel me tremble with fear. Now I look back on those times and I laugh at myself.

It was a big step for me to let her crawl on my lap. I think because this meant I would have to pick her up yet again. Of course now we spend lots of time just cuddling on the couch together. Lucy really likes me to hold my hands kind of like a tree with branches intertwined while she crawls around and through my fingers, sometimes just relaxing and hanging out. In the end it was Lucy who taught me how to handle a snake.

They are speaking to us all the time. We just need to learn how to listen.

Yes! I believe I'm learning how to listen - that's a great way of saying it. I wasn't able to play tonight due to my schedule, and tomorrow is feeding day, so we're looking to Saturday for our next "session". As a therapist, it does almost feel like some sort of therapy for me...and for him. Ok, so if he's trying to slither about, I just remain supportive of him and see how it goes. I'll give it a shot! Tonight, when I got home - it was kind of late - he was out on his branch. I almost was thinking that he was waiting, but I just had a couple of minutes before I had to go out again. :) He's so cute, though!

I at fist didn't really like snakes at all, mostly because i had no experience with them, but was always interested in them. When my girlfriend at the time first got a snake, from the moment i held it i was hooked. Its jsut something about them that intrigues me, to this day(3+ years later, i still look at her in awe).. Plus it still makes me laugh because if you look at their mouth it always looks like they are smiling! :)

best advice to me would be to attempt to block out all the fears or myths you may have in your head about snakes, and instead be open minded to totally trying something knew.

My mother always told me that she would never come over if i ever got a snake. and no a days she asks to hold her every time i see her lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrEwTiMe

I at fist didn't really like snakes at all, mostly because i had no experience with them, but was always interested in them. When my girlfriend at the time first got a snake, from the moment i held it i was hooked. Its jsut something about them that intrigues me, to this day(3+ years later, i still look at her in awe).. Plus it still makes me laugh because if you look at their mouth it always looks like they are smiling! :)

best advice to me would be to attempt to block out all the fears or myths you may have in your head about snakes, and instead be open minded to totally trying something knew.

My mother always told me that she would never come over if i ever got a snake. and no a days she asks to hold her every time i see her lol.

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What great stories! And I agree, it DOES look like they are smiling. I love it, too! :)

How did you mom make that leap to wanting to hold the snake?

Cheryl, I didn't know you were a therapist. Very cool!!! Have you noticed a connection between your relationship with Dakota and your job? I find it fascinating that animals are now being used in therapy and recovery treatment for humans in all sorts of different areas. We have only just begun to scratch the surface of this amazing ability of people and animals to heal each other.

Children and animals can, and frequently do, communicate through thought process alone. Primative humans were very in-tune to this ability as well. But somewhere along our journey to the top of the food chain most of us have lost sight of this amazing ability. There is a great book on the subject called "Beyond Words". This book has changed my life!!!

hmmm...I'm excited to be having this fun relationship with Dakota. I have to say that the 48 hour rule after feeding is tough on me! I don't want to wait to play. But, I understand the logic surrounding that. I have to wait until tomorrow night for playing with Dakota 'cuz he ate two mice last night!! I have to tell you that the one thing I'll be quite proud of, is my progression in relationship with Dakota while Lydia (his real Mom) returns for Thanksgiving. I won't, of course, display my new abilities to get along with Dakota too much, but I'll be quite happy that Dakota seems "happy" and well cared for. You folks have really been terrific...thank you sooooo much!!!:taz:

Hi All,

My modem/router (little box that makes the internet work) died, and I have been unable to use the internet. I don’t even really know you guys, but I gotta tell ya, I really missed you.

The bad news…..Eva’s shed did not go well.

The good news….My desire to do whatever I could to make her okay forced me to handle her every day and get over my intimidation. I still don’t like picking her up out of her enclosure, but I’m fine as soon as she’s out and I’m holding her. I love her, and she seems comfortable with me.

I thought I got all of Eva’s skin off by soaking her and drying her with a towel, but after reading about it more, I’m not sure about her head. When she first shed, I found a piece of skin with “eye holes,” so I assumed her eye caps had come off, but one eye does look a little different than the other one. How can I tell for sure? I haven’t had her long enough to know what “normal” looks like.

Also, I was told by the previous owner that Eva eats two adult mice per week (down from three, because she was getting too “fat”). I have fed her twice, and she has only eaten one mouse each time. The last time I fed her, the mouse was large, but not bigger around than her. She struck at it and squeezed it for awhile, then appeared to be trying to eat it, but then just ignored it. I took it out and gave her the other one (this one was smaller), and she ate it. I thawed another smaller one while she was eating, but when I tried to give it to her, she was not interested at all. Was the first mouse too big? I’m concerned that she is not eating enough.

Thanks for your help. I’ve only had Eva for three weeks, and I already can’t imagine not having her, but I always kind of feel like I’m not doing things right.

I often wonder if I'm feeding Dakota enough too. If you read up on this, you'll figure it out eventually. Dakota ate two mice this week and seemed quite happy about it. Up until now, I'd only fed him one. I wouldn't worry too much. The more you read, the more you realize that the snake will tell you. If Eva doesn't eat, just try again next week!