Why do you keep snakes?

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Originally Posted by Dehlol

... There was something about that snake. I could get him out, and he would interact and move with me, not just sit on the floor and look around. He wanted to explore, he wanted to climb, but the thing that absolutely won me over was I could look into his eyes- and tell he was looking back. I don't feel that with most snakes out there in captivity, this animal even with the smell of food around knew who I was, and that I wasn't dinner, he knew when I was getting water in his dish, and waited for me to bring it back and set it down so he could take a fresh drink. He reminded me a great deal of the intelligence of a varanid... That single animal, that I got with the whole purpose of rescuing/getting to a breeder ended up causing me to fall in love with owning retics. I even this year produced them. I've produced plenty of clutches of eggs over the course of my reptile keeping carrier, but none ever had me staying up all night, with pure joy, looking in the cage watching every last egg be laid, and feeling so amazingly proud...

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I can relate to this very much, but we don't need reptiles (Varanids, snakes, etc) for this. In fact, some would argue that we can receive this more frequently & intensely from other species, dogs, humans, cats, etc... so what gives? Just wondering :taz:

You keep pet humans?

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

... unlike a dog or even a cat, they don't necessarily want to please you or even want your company. You can't train a snake...

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Does everybody agree with this?

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Originally Posted by MarkS

You keep pet humans?

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No, but years ago had a girlfriend that kept me as a pet :rofl:

Anyway the question was Why do you keep snakes, not Why do you keep pets... .. .

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Originally Posted by JoeNapoli

Does everybody agree with this?

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No. Snakes won't fetch a ball for you or get your slippers but they can be trained to respond in a certain way to various stimuli.

Why I keep snakes was covered in my previous post. 'because it makes me happy' I also have a dog and a cat and a bird. Because they also make me happy.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

No. Snakes won't fetch a ball for you or get your slippers but they can be trained to respond in a certain way to various stimuli.

Why I keep snakes was covered in my previous post. 'because it makes me happy' I also have a dog and a cat and a bird. Because they also make me happy.

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That's more of what I meant: you can't train a snake to "sit", "stay" or "fetch" the way you would a dog. They don't learn commands. But my Ball Python had a problem eating if substrate got on her food, so I would lay out paper towels over a portion of the tank, move her onto them and then give her the mouse. Eventually, I could lay out the paper towels, walk away to get the mouse, and when I came back she was out sitting on the paper towels. She put together that "paper towels"="I receive food", so she would go to them when she saw them. I guess in a way she was "trained" to do that, but I couldn't point at the paper towels, say "go" and she would listen. xD

I keep them because they are awesome, cute, and not stinky!!! Worst downside, is my new addition my BP eats live...


*~*~*~ Love always bring difficulties, that is true, but the good side of it is that it gives energy ~*~*~*
-Vincent Van Gogh-

I fell in love with snakes as soon as I held one. Now that was only a little over a year ago. A ball python is the ultimate pet for me (not saying I don't absolutely love other snakes). They are misunderstood by many people and I seem to always like the misunderstood. I think snakes are just beautiful and axing creatures. Snakes also have a great maintenance schedule for our lifestyle. They demand very little attention so we can go camping etc. for a few days without worry. They also accept quite a bit of attention as well which I have to say they do get a lot. They just look so aggressive and are super gentle (more of a ball python example but many snakes fit this as well). I also really enjoy learning about these amazing animals. Breeding some ball pythons is an experience that my wife, daughter and I are doing as a family project. If we enjoy it we may do it again next year and make it a family hobby. (No interest in making it a business).

Simply put keeping snakes brings me happiness. It happens to be the best pet for me because of my allergies and how little time I have at certain times in the year. They just fit our family perfectly. I just want to give them the best life I can in return.

Enjoyed reading the responses to this.

I've always loved animals, ever since I was a child. Snakes were no exception.

I find their symmetry appealing. They are utterly perfect in design. Sleek and graceful and elegant.

And in a way they are very alien. Keeping them is so unlike keeping mammals. Holding them gives you a glimpse of a creature that is completely different from you. They are remote and primitive and strangely complex in their simplicity.

I find it soothing to hold a snake, to watch it weave through my fingers or feel it wrap snugly around my wrist. I love feeling the feathery tickle of their tongue when they are examining me, and watching them navigate me as though I were a tree or an inanimate object.

It's humbling and thrilling to be able to hold such mysterious animals, to interact with them and care for them and come to understand them.

Also they remind me of dinosaurs, and I've always LOVED dinosaurs. :oops: