"Snakes are scary because they bite you!"

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

...Isn't there some genuine truth to that sort of thing? Not so much that they smell fear but there seems to be this overriding phenomenon across many types of animals that they can sense if a person is scared of them. And that animal will potentially act accordingly because fear means unpredictability and they're readying themselves for the worst. Whereas if a well-adjusted animal is around someone who's calm and confident with animals, they know it's safe to be relaxed in turn.

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It depends what animals you're talking about. Fear itself has no odor for creatures to smell- if only it was that simple, eh? ;) There are pheromones, of course, but those are directed only to our own species.

Dogs & horses are social creatures & very intuitive- they actually read our faces, our voices, & our body language.

But snakes can't hear much, they don't see well, & they're not all that logical- but they do read our touch. Watch when snakes get together & mate...they read each others touch (along with scent, of course). We don't smell like snakes (I'm assuming, lol) so all they really sense from us is how we touch them. Have you ever had a snake shove you away? Or twitch after your touch. It's all about signaling. Now when a snake already KNOWS us, they recognize our scent too, so that familiarity puts them at ease. Just like us, they fear the "unknown"- it might be a predator, so it's with relief that they get our scent & touch.

The more you go out of your way to reassure a snake, even those that you cannot handle (like the hots I used to live with*), it all helps them to calm down, & when they're calm, they're eating & staying healthier. Too much stress is as bad for animals as it is for us, as far as our immune systems. Re-homing is stressful for them, always remember that- so when you get a new snake, do everything you can to help them relax & settle in with minimal fear. So their bodies can fight off anything they might have been exposed to along the way.

*To give you an example: when I kept rattlesnakes & they'd rattle at something in the room that disturbed them (like one of my dogs running by) I deliberately went to their enclosure & gave them my scent by blowing air across my hand thru the screen top so they recognized me, and rather than them being "mad at me" for scaring them, instead I very quickly noticed that they became calmer; that's when I realized that they fear the unknown, & are reassured by our familiarity. It got to where I was seldom rattled at, except by one or two "outliers" that were very high-strung, but it worked for most of them. Always try to find ways to communicate with animals- it often pays off more than you might think. ;)

Anytime someone says "they can bite you" I respond with "anything with a mouth can bite" lol btw puppy teeth are very sharp[emoji38] I'd rather get nipped by a snake than a puppy for sure lol

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Originally Posted by Alexiel03

Anytime someone says "they can bite you" I respond with "anything with a mouth can bite" lol btw puppy teeth are very sharp[emoji38] I'd rather get nipped by a snake than a puppy for sure lol

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If it's any indication, my index finger only just today healed enough to take off a band aid from a tooth wound so deep it took nearly a week to close fully.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

If it's any indication, my index finger only just today healed enough to take off a band aid from a tooth wound so deep it took nearly a week to close fully.

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Depending on what kind (size esp.) of snakes you keep- you for sure need to slow down & pay attention to their body language, & do your best to prevent such bites. We always remind people not to jerk their hand away, but I know that's pretty hard advice to follow- reflexively we do it anyway, most of us. I'm guessing that's why yours was so deep?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Depending on what kind (size esp.) of snakes you keep- you for sure need to slow down & pay attention to their body language, & do your best to prevent such bites. We always remind people not to jerk their hand away, but I know that's pretty hard advice to follow- reflexively we do it anyway, most of us. I'm guessing that's why yours was so deep?

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Forgot to clarify, the bite was from the puppy. :rofl:

Zebes has yet to ever bite me, and I've gotten very attuned to reading his behavior to the point where I can tell if he's stressed about something so I'm learning well there. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Forgot to clarify, the bite was from the puppy. :rofl:

Zebes has yet to ever bite me, and I've gotten very attuned to reading his behavior to the point where I can tell if he's stressed about something so I'm learning well there. :gj:

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:P LOL. It wasn't clear & I didn't remember what you're keeping- a large constrictor's teeth can definitely shred you. Puppies just have to learn & out-grow that biting hands are a :colbert:

I do think paying attention with snakes is ALWAYS worthwhile- most bites are preventable, & who needs it?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:P LOL. It wasn't clear & I didn't remember what you're keeping- a large constrictor's teeth can definitely shred you. Puppies just have to learn & out-grow that biting hands are a :colbert:

I do think paying attention with snakes is ALWAYS worthwhile- most bites are preventable, & who needs it?

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For info's sake, all I have in terms of reptiles is a 5 month-old BP. And that's likely how it'll be for a good while due to a big aquarium-related project I'm in the middle of taking up precedence.