What do you make of snake-phobic people?

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Originally Posted by Swingline0.0.1

I know this is an odd place for spider questions, but since you have so many... can you play with your tarantulas? I've always thought they LOOK cool, but I'd be a little hesitant about the whole fang thing. ;)

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I'll PM that answer to you so the thread doesn't get off track.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonsRule

In a way I respect people that are afraid of snakes and in a way I don't. I understand people that had experiences with snakes that weren't good, but hate people that are afraid of snakes "just cause, they're ugly!" OK, you can not like snakes but you shouldn't hate them.
I always say I'd love to see one of those people be put on a planet with no snakes... they'd get eaten by rats, mice and other nasty stuff. :)

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I respect people who have "respect" for snakes. I have little to no respect for people who are "afraid" of snakes.
A person can be "afraid" of snakes because of a bad experience or lack of knowledge about them and still "respect" them, IE, steer clear of them. People who are "afraid" of snakes because someone taught them that snakes are bad and who have no respect for them, IE, will go out of their way to kill one, those are the kinds of people I'd like to beat over the head with the same shovel they just beat the snake with.

ok...I've read through this thread and I have to tell you that I'm one of those people. I'm actually on the website to learn because my daughter left for college last month and I'm in charge of her snake! It's cute and I feed it and I'm trying to regulate temps, etc. But I'm struggling because I should probably clean out it's home and I'm afraid to go near the snake - I do think it will strike at me. He always looks annoyed to me! Even cleaning it's water thing makes me nervous and he comes right out of his hide every time I stick my hand in the his home...so don't hate all of us! Some of us are trying!!!

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Originally Posted by cheryls

ok...I've read through this thread and I have to tell you that I'm one of those people. I'm actually on the website to learn because my daughter left for college last month and I'm in charge of her snake! It's cute and I feed it and I'm trying to regulate temps, etc. But I'm struggling because I should probably clean out it's home and I'm afraid to go near the snake - I do think it will strike at me. He always looks annoyed to me! Even cleaning it's water thing makes me nervous and he comes right out of his hide every time I stick my hand in the his home...so don't hate all of us! Some of us are trying!!!

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You would *not* be one whom we'd (well, I at least) would dislike because you *are* trying. ;)
You should have seen me when we got our first tarantula! :O :bolt:
If you don't want to pick the snake up, you can always use a snake hook and put it in a separate container while you clean. ;)
Kudos to you for giving it a good effort for the sake of your daughter as well as the snake.

Is a snake hook something you can buy in a pet store? I don't recall ever seeing one - but I haven't really looked. My daughter keeps telling me that he's greeting me when he comes out of his hide as I change his water - that he's just naturally curious and has to check it out - I think he's being territorial and warning me to get out of there! I suppose we just have to get used to each other! :)

I haven't ever seen them at pet stores, but then again I haven't really looked for them either. I don't have any hooks because I don't use them but I would think you could find them at either a reptile shop or, if not, you can find them on line.

Your daughter's most likely absolutely right. One of my snakes will do the same thing whereas the other (my bull snake) will rattle his tail and hiss every time his lid is removed but as soon as I pick him up, he mellows out (usually, unless he's having a bad hair day, then the hissing and "I'm a rattle snake in disguise" thing continues for a few minutes). :D

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Originally Posted by cheryls

Is a snake hook something you can buy in a pet store? I don't recall ever seeing one - but I haven't really looked. My daughter keeps telling me that he's greeting me when he comes out of his hide as I change his water - that he's just naturally curious and has to check it out - I think he's being territorial and warning me to get out of there! I suppose we just have to get used to each other! :)

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Not really, you can buy on on ebay though, or use a golf stick.

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Originally Posted by cheryls

ok...I've read through this thread and I have to tell you that I'm one of those people. I'm actually on the website to learn because my daughter left for college last month and I'm in charge of her snake! It's cute and I feed it and I'm trying to regulate temps, etc. But I'm struggling because I should probably clean out it's home and I'm afraid to go near the snake - I do think it will strike at me. He always looks annoyed to me! Even cleaning it's water thing makes me nervous and he comes right out of his hide every time I stick my hand in the his home...so don't hate all of us! Some of us are trying!!!

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Good for you! And good luck. It may just be that her snake is used to handling and thinks it's "play time" so he comes out of his hide. Maybe you can ask your daughter more about the snake's habits to help you get a feel for when he is in a good mood vs. a bad one.

I think one important turning point is realizing that if he does strike at you, it really isn't going to hurt that much. A nip from a puppy or kitten hurts a lot more. Of course it depends on the size of the snake, but the fine needle-like teeth will cause a bit of bleeding, but the pain itself is generally very minor. If you wouldn't hesitate to play with a kitten with its little needle-sharp claws, there's no reason to be afraid of being bitten by a small snake.

I realize there is little logic in a phobia, but habituation helps. Try to think of him more as a shy little animal than something to fear--that is what he is. He won't bite you unless he is very frightened (and you will know, because he will coil up tightly to protect himself and look very tense), or he mistakes you for food (their eyesight isn't very good). As long as you don't smell like a mouse, and he isn't used to hitting the first thing that enters his cage, the risk is pretty low. The tongue-flicking will be his way of determining what you are, by scent. So if he comes out of his hide flicking his tongue, he's only trying to see what you are. Since humans are too big to swallow, you're in no real danger. ;) One possible way to move him will be to remove the dish and hides, and place an open box in the cage. He will most likely move into the box to hide, and you can then pick it up and close the lid so you can clean.

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Originally Posted by Shadowspider

I respect people who have "respect" for snakes. I have little to no respect for people who are "afraid" of snakes.
A person can be "afraid" of snakes because of a bad experience or lack of knowledge about them and still "respect" them, IE, steer clear of them. People who are "afraid" of snakes because someone taught them that snakes are bad and who have no respect for them, IE, will go out of their way to kill one, those are the kinds of people I'd like to beat over the head with the same shovel they just beat the snake with.

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I respect people's fear of snakes, though I don't share the feelings. But I agree with you on the killing thing. It drives me insane to think people would go out of their way to kill something just b/c they are afraid.

Before we even had a pet snake, I used to try to spread the word, especially to neighbors in the semi-rural area where we live, that more snakes meant fewer rodents. We have always loved having black snakes living around our house and in the nearby woods. We just wish they would come in and guard our pantry and attic from those little mousey chompers!