What are the strangest bp myths you have heard?

Today I was thinking about this lady I was talking to. We were talking about my ball python, and she had all sorts of questions such as, "Can it eat you?" and, "Is if venomous?". I, of course, dispelled those myths with patience 😂.
So what are the craziest bp myths/questions that you've heard?

I have heard this one.." that snake will size you up to see if you are a meal!" :rolleyes:
They don't understand that even the largest anaconda on the planet would have a difficult time eating a 200 pound adult man... but a 6 pound ball python! :rofl: If he tried to eat me, I would laugh and eat him! Heck, he couldn't even kill a cat! A cat is much more dangerous animal, they kill far more animals, far more frequently, yet people own tons of these malevolent felines and think they are cute.

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Originally Posted by carldordelman

I have heard this one.." that snake will size you up to see if you are a meal!" :rolleyes:
They don't understand that even the largest anaconda on the planet would have a difficult time eating a 200 pound adult man... but a 6 pound ball python! :rofl: If he tried to eat me, I would laugh and eat him! Heck, he couldn't even kill a cat! A cat is much more dangerous animal, they kill far more animals, far more frequently, yet people own tons of these malevolent felines and think they are cute.

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Haha, that's true! Ive been bitten by more dogs than I have snakes lol (I've been bitten by a dog once, and I've never been bitten by a snake)

The most frequent thing I hear is that they're slimy. I like debunking that for people. I like how shocked they get over how smooth a snake really is [emoji846]


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It's not a crazy myth... but I hate the comment "But won't he bite you????" NO, nononono! He won't bite me unless I provoke him! He's not a savage beast looking for blood... DOGS cause more deaths and injuries per year than snakes.... "Won't he bite you???"... ugh...

Now of course I handle those situations better. I'm patient, and I use facts and I try to reassure them that I will be fine. While snakes CAN bite, it doesn't mean they WILL.

The craziest one?? It has to be "that thing is going to wrap around your neck and kill you" *sigh*. I've also heard my fair share of "But isn't he venomous?". It seems like I have a lot of educating to do, but I've done good so far. A lot of people who were scared now really wanna see Dewey himself! I think as snake keepers it is our responsibility to educate the public about our hobby- and that most of you do a great job.

oh yeah, the "slimy scales" thing is ridiculous as snake scales are so dry, smooth and clean! I've also heard the "strangle your neck" comment. The largest ball pythons in the world are maybe 7-8 pounds max, they couldn't strangle my wrist! Even a reticulated python would not try to strangle my neck! HE MIGHT BITE ME IF I ATTACKED HIM, but it would never try to contrict an animal as large as I am. And I would never provoke one anyway.

Man I've heard some good ones. I was once warned that they can spread "poison" with their tongue, so I shouldn't touch their tongue or anything their tongue touches. Who knew 😂😂😂

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Originally Posted by thebrowntroutdude

Man I've heard some good ones. I was once warned that they can spread "poison" with their tongue, so I shouldn't touch their tongue or anything their tongue touches. Who knew 😂😂😂

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BAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm sorry for laughing but that is just pure ignorance and fear.

I think it is ridiculous that people will own a 100 pound dog with huge canines and think its cool, but are terrified that a 6 pound snake might bite! I'd MUCH rather get bit by my snakes (which has NEVER happened), than get bit by a dog! yet dogs are socially accepted, serpents are "evil". :tears:

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Originally Posted by carldordelman

I think it is ridiculous that people will own a 100 pound dog with huge canines and think its cool, but are terrified that a 6 pound snake might bite! I'd MUCH rather get bit by my snakes (which has NEVER happened), than get bit by a dog! yet dogs are socially accepted, serpents are "evil". :tears:

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Well you have to remember that serpents, to people who are more religious, have often been associated/continue to BE associated with satan/the devil. That stigma has probably transferred into interactions they may have with real snakes/snake keepers. (NO offense to those who practice religion. I do too.)

Probably just my dad asking for the 5th time, "But they kinda have a triangular head... Are you sure he's not venomous?" after I've owned ball pythons for MONTHS already. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Probably just my dad asking for the 5th time, "But they kinda have a triangular head... Are you sure he's not venomous?" after I've owned ball pythons for MONTHS already. :rolleyes:

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lollll. People seem to think all snakes are venomous... its kinda sad.

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

BAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm sorry for laughing but that is just pure ignorance and fear.

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Yep😂 exactly. I'm not sure what people are thinking. I blame wikapedia 😂

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Originally Posted by thebrowntroutdude

Yep😂 exactly. I'm not sure what people are thinking. I blame wikapedia 😂

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I'll second that! lol :P:D

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Probably just my dad asking for the 5th time, "But they kinda have a triangular head... Are you sure he's not venomous?" after I've owned ball pythons for MONTHS already. :rolleyes:

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LOL 😂 My whole family has just come to accept Fírnen for the derpy/lovable noodle he is. It's amazing how ignorant people are about snakes until they actually live with one!

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Originally Posted by carldordelman

I think it is ridiculous that people will own a 100 pound dog with huge canines and think its cool, but are terrified that a 6 pound snake might bite! I'd MUCH rather get bit by my snakes (which has NEVER happened), than get bit by a dog! yet dogs are socially accepted, serpents are "evil". :tears:

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I know! Dogs as a species have many more cases of lethal aggression than ball pythons and other commonly kept snakes. Yet even my friends are afraid to touch Fírnen because "he looked like he was going to bite" ��

Edit: I'm not even sure that there are any cases of lethal ball python aggression lol

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Originally Posted by Joci

I know! Dogs as a species have many more cases of lethal aggression than ball pythons and other commonly kept snakes. Yet even my friends are afraid to touch Fírnen because "he looked like he was going to bite" ��

Edit: I'm not even sure that there are any cases of lethal ball python aggression lol

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I can easily argue a dog looks like he's/she's gonna bite. I was aggressively approached by two Rottweiler's (I love the breed though, no hate)... almost had to call 911 being smaller and alone outside on the street. I got them to go home, but still, I did NOTHING to them-I didn't even approach them they came to me- and they showed every sign of dog aggression you can see in a short period of time. Snakes, however, I've found only really strike for a reason, most of the time an obvious one.

I live in West Tennessee and the amount of people here that are simply terrified of snakes is astounding. I can sort of understand given the large number of venomous snakes but still. People I have had over are just terrified of my little baby like he will suddenly jump out the glass and kill them with one touch.

I of course have heard and have even asked on this forum about if others have heard it - that ball pythons are incapable of "peeing" liquid.

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Originally Posted by SDA

I live in West Tennessee and the amount of people here that are simply terrified of snakes is astounding. I can sort of understand given the large number of venomous snakes but still. People I have had over are just terrified of my little baby like he will suddenly jump out the glass and kill them with one touch.

I of course have heard and have even asked on this forum about if others have heard it - that ball pythons are incapable of "peeing" liquid.

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Family member of mine was unsure if snakes even went to the bathroom in the first place. Like where would the waste go then??

People can be so ridiculous with snakes, it's so dumb! A lady at work once asked me what animals I had and when I answer a dog, a cat, and a snake she proceeded to go on a rant about how the snake will eat my other pets.. I just waited for her to finish and told her how that was impossible given his size and how my other animals are MUCH more likely to kill the snake then the other way around. She just looked at me like I was crazy.

I have literal scars from cat scratches or from my dog jumping on me but I have never been hurt at all by my snake. Doesn't make any sense XD

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Not really a myth but my favorite thing said to me being;

"I still wouldn't trust it. I've seen enough movies! Haven't you seen Anaconda/Snakes on a Plane!?"

I've heard this said to me TWICE and both times those two movies are always quoted why? They're terrible! Lol

I'm just gonna kinda piggy-back the dog thing here. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, but I love snakes more :P

Anyway, I went to my bank a few months back and much to my surprise walked in to see a woman with her pit bull inside the bank. At first I thought nothing of it, but as I waited in line my mind wandered a bit. Since I knew the woman, I knew her dog was NOT a service animal. So WHY was her dog allowed inside the bank?? I couldn't help but imagine the looks I would get if I walked in with one of my snakes, and wondered how long it would take for them to kick the snake and I out telling me never to bring that dangerous, scary animal in the bank again.

Now let's compare the dangers of a 500 gram BP vs a 70-80 lb pit bull in a semi-crowded bank...

- one can cross a room within a second or two, the other would slither across the floor and take a solid minute plus to cross the room. I can outrun a BP...
- one's jaws can latch on to any part of my body, break bones and tear muscle, the other's bite is less painful than a papercut, I'll take the BP bite if given the choice
- one is curious by nature and will approach people willingly and attack when spooked, the other is basically afraid of it's own shadow and would try to escape and hide when spooked.
- neither is letting go if it attacks and latches, but one can be pried off easily by a small child

...but the dog is allowed in a bank, my snakes, I doubt it...

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Originally Posted by carldordelman

I have heard this one.." that snake will size you up to see if you are a meal!" :rolleyes:
They don't understand that even the largest anaconda on the planet would have a difficult time eating a 200 pound adult man... but a 6 pound ball python! :rofl: If he tried to eat me, I would laugh and eat him! Heck, he couldn't even kill a cat! A cat is much more dangerous animal, they kill far more animals, far more frequently, yet people own tons of these malevolent felines and think they are cute.

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:D Picked up my ball last Sunday I got the same thing LMAO from someone at work.

"Sizing you up for a meal" is definitely something I've heard before. The snake will supposedly get out at night and slither up in bed stretched out next to you to see if you are small enough for it to eat. Ridiculous! A snake could never do that in the wild, and even if it could, humans are gigantic compared to them! I've also been warned (by non-snake-people) about getting other pets now that I have a snake, because the snake is obviously just a monster who attacks, kills, and eats anything in its sight lol.

I'm also pretty sure Christianity (and similar religions) are the only ones who portray snakes as evil. Serpents are depicted as godly in other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, and some tribes in Africa will still hold a funeral if a ball python is accidentally killed in their village.

I am Catholic and have a snake. Ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by SDA

I live in West Tennessee and the amount of people here that are simply terrified of snakes is astounding. I can sort of understand given the large number of venomous snakes but still. People I have had over are just terrified of my little baby like he will suddenly jump out the glass and kill them with one touch.

I of course have heard and have even asked on this forum about if others have heard it - that ball pythons are incapable of "peeing" liquid.

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Middle TN here :P

I laugh everytime.someone says 'why is he wrapped around your wrist like that, isn't he going to cut your circulation off??!!!' or a girl asked me 'so did you have him defanged yet'. I've never laughed harder.

I just heard an even more ridiculous story. Some very large snake (unsure what breed it was) apparently stopped eating for a very long time. When it was taken to the vet, the owner was told to put the snake down immediately. It was supposedly making room to eat the owner!

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Originally Posted by elleon

I just heard an even more ridiculous story. Some very large snake (unsure what breed it was) apparently stopped eating for a very long time. When it was taken to the vet, the owner was told to put the snake down immediately. It was supposedly making room to eat the owner!

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http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/measured.asp

truly a classic...

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/measured.asp

truly a classic...

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https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...88/286/9db.gif

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Originally Posted by elleon

I'm also pretty sure Christianity (and similar religions) are the only ones who portray snakes as evil. Serpents are depicted as godly in other religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, and some tribes in Africa will still hold a funeral if a ball python is accidentally killed in their village.

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Actually as a Christian, I know that the Bible uses several different animals in metaphors to represent Satan, including lions as well as snakes. It never says that snakes are evil.

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Originally Posted by Joci

Actually as a Christian, I know that the Bible uses several different animals in metaphors to represent Satan, including lions as well as snakes. It never says that snakes are evil.

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I mean no disrespect. I apologize for the over-generalization.

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Originally Posted by Joci

Actually as a Christian, I know that the Bible uses several different animals in metaphors to represent Satan, including lions as well as snakes. It never says that snakes are evil.

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But it still portrays snakes as Satan, and isn't Satan supposed to be evil, according to Christians? So, yes, it does 'say' that snakes are evil.
And just because 'several different animals' are used to represent Satan, doesn't mean that's its any less harmful to snakes as a species.
Do you ever hear people say 'Lions should be killed because they are sinful and disgusting creatures'?. If anything lions are seen as majestic and beautiful animals that are meant to be respected, so bringing them up makes no sense.

One myth I heard was that these were easy and fairly cheap pets to care for :rage:

Between trying to get all the temps right (hot side, cold side, ambient, humidity) and food preparation....it makes caring for my two young children easy.

Plus I felt liked I've spent a ton of money on heating devices (UTHs, TStat) and now I'm jacking up the temps to heat a room just for my snek ;) Granted I probably purchased some things that I didn't need but I guess you learn these things....

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Originally Posted by carldordelman

I think it is ridiculous that people will own a 100 pound dog with huge canines and think its cool, but are terrified that a 6 pound snake might bite! I'd MUCH rather get bit by my snakes (which has NEVER happened), than get bit by a dog! yet dogs are socially accepted, serpents are "evil". :tears:

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same here, except i've been bitten plenty of times by snakes. I'd take a snake bite over a dog bite any day. The strangest thing iv'e ever head about bps, or snakes in general, is that they let the devil come into your house. (thanks grandma).

Thanks you for clearing that up about the religions. I never actually knew that, all I knew is that snakes are used to portray Satan. Thanks again!

And it's kind of ridiculous what people come up with. Sometimes I thinks they're pulling it out of their rears, if you know what I mean. I love my dog with all my heart but there is no way anyone can argue that my ball python can hurt me more than him lolololol.

I particularly enjoy this chain because it, to me, is like a lighthearted rant chain. Hahaha, ill be sure to let you guys know the next interesting myth I hear.

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

Thanks you for clearing that up about the religions. I never actually knew that, all I knew is that snakes are used to portray Satan. Thanks again!

And it's kind of ridiculous what people come up with. Sometimes I thinks they're pulling it out of their rears, if you know what I mean. I love my dog with all my heart but there is no way anyone can argue that my ball python can hurt me more than him lolololol.

I particularly enjoy this chain because it, to me, is like a lighthearted rant chain. Hahaha, ill be sure to let you guys know the next interesting myth I hear.

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Haha, I was hoping that it would be a lighthearted rant! 😂

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Originally Posted by PythonBabes

But it still portrays snakes as Satan, and isn't Satan supposed to be evil, according to Christians? So, yes, it does 'say' that snakes are evil.
And just because 'several different animals' are used to represent Satan, doesn't mean that's its any less harmful to snakes as a species.
Do you ever hear people say 'Lions should be killed because they are sinful and disgusting creatures'?. If anything lions are seen as majestic and beautiful animals that are meant to be respected, so bringing them up makes no sense.

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My point was simply that if people don't like snakes because they are used to represent Satan, then shouldn't they hate lions as well? :)

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Originally Posted by elleon

I mean no disrespect. I apologize for the over-generalization.

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I understand, no need for an apology:)

"Can't they get out and kill you in your sleep?" Credit= coworker. The eyeroll I gave them I think sufficiently explained the stupidity of their comment lol

What is with people and the whole "in your sleep" thing lol. I always find that people think for some odd reason my snake has more of a desire to kill me while I'm sleeping. And I also don't understand why people seem to think that snakes can just "get out" whenever they want. Haha, I mean, they can if you don't take precaution, but if I have a locking door and a locking lid how the hell is my snake gonna open that?? "hold on just lemme take out my arms and hands for a sec"~ no snake ever

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

What is with people and the whole "in your sleep" thing lol. I always find that people think for some odd reason my snake has more of a desire to kill me while I'm sleeping. And I also don't understand why people seem to think that snakes can just "get out" whenever they want. Haha, I mean, they can if you don't take precaution, but if I have a locking door and a locking lid how the hell is my snake gonna open that?? "hold on just lemme take out my arms and hands for a sec"~ no snake ever

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Lol 😂

What many people think: *highly dangerous 18 foot long snake easily slips out of tank and eats owner in sleep*

Reality: *Baby snake gently noses screen* a few minutes later *Baby snake goes back to hide*

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Originally Posted by Joci

Lol 😂

What many people think: *highly dangerous 18 foot long snake easily slips out of tank and eats owner in sleep*

Reality: *Baby snake gently noses screen* a few minutes later *Baby snake goes back to hide*

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Expectation: *Large 18 foot highly dangerous ball python coils tightly around neck and suffocates owner during handling*

Reality: Ball python- "NUH. I want warmz." *plops around neck like a necklace*

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

*plops around neck like a necklace*

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Better be careful, it'll choke you to death :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by KayLynn

Better be careful, it'll choke you to death :rolleyes:

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h..hElp...I c-ca...can't b-breatheeeee *reaches out dramatically and falls onto the floor* lolllll

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

h..hElp...I c-ca...can't b-breatheeeee *reaches out dramatically and falls onto the floor* lolllll

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Lol *confused noodle flicks tongue* 😂

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Originally Posted by dylan815

same here, except i've been bitten plenty of times by snakes. I'd take a snake bite over a dog bite any day. The strangest thing iv'e ever head about bps, or snakes in general, is that they let the devil come into your house. (thanks grandma).

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Well then the devil lives with all of us? Who knew the devil could split himself so many ways lol:rofl:

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

"hold on just lemme take out my arms and hands for a sec"~ no snake ever

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i literally just lol'd. This is so damn funny!

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Originally Posted by Joci

Lol *confused noodle flicks tongue* [emoji23]

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Be careful it'll get its tongue poison on you!!!!


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Originally Posted by Newbie39

I am Catholic and have a snake. Ridiculous.

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Haha, then I suppose I'd be a bit of a contradiction;)

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

One myth I heard was that these were easy and fairly cheap pets to care for :rage

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Yep! Biggest lie in the industry is that BPs are easy first pets to care for. I'd say colubrids are by far much better for beginners. ( Go pituophis!)BPs require more specific needs and are much less Hardy. With colubrids there is more room for error.

I don't think it counts as a myth, mainly "misinformation" but a local wildlife center did a presentation at my high school (where I teach) and I got to sit in on it. She brought some native animals but also a BP. I had to stifle laughter when she told the class that BPs get up to 7-8' regularly. She was holding an adult, looked male, about 4' long lol. That was pretty bad IMO.

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Originally Posted by artgecko

I don't think it counts as a myth, mainly "misinformation" but a local wildlife center did a presentation at my high school (where I teach) and I got to sit in on it. She brought some native animals but also a BP. I had to stifle laughter when she told the class that BPs get up to 7-8' regularly. She was holding an adult, looked male, about 4' long lol. That was pretty bad IMO.

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This honesty annoys me so much, how could anyone who works at a wildlife center be so misinformed about one of the animals they are presenting on?? Like seriously, just ask anyone who has done a five minute google search and they'll tell you that bps usually only grow 2'-6' long lol.