Newb with some questions!

[LittleHil]

Hi everyone!

I have been fascinated with reptiles for as long as I can remember. After years of waiting, I finally got my first ball python! I've researched all the caresheets and whatnot, but I still have a couple questions that I couldn't find the answers to...

1. Can human diseases be transferred to snakes? For example, if I have a rough head cold, am I risking making my bp sick by handling her? I know rodents and birds are sensitive to human illness, that's why I ask.

2. Are snakes sensitive to smoke? My room mate is a smoker, and I get a little paranoid when she smokes in my room where the snake is. Am I justified, or is there nothing to worry about?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Subzero]

Human disease... no, not that I know of. Unless you have something off the wall you'll be fine

Smoking... yeah i've heard some things about it. May leed to resparatory infection to your snake (one of the most common snake sickness) Get your roomate to smoke outside on the porch or balcony. If not for your snake for you or lots of other reasons. They even say you computer is affected by long term exposure

[JLC]

Just want to second what Subzero has said.


Your snake won't catch your cold or any other common illness that I know of. So no worries on that score.

I think you'd be well within your rights to ask your roommate to not smoke in your room. I would defnitely be concerned about the health of the snake. While they technically have two lungs...only one is truly functional. (As I understand it) I would not want to risk that one lung with a known hazard like cigarette smoke.

But...we may have members here who are long-time smokers and keepers who can tell us if their snakes have been affected by 2nd hand smoke. That's something I'd be very interested in knowing.

[Spaniard]

Well I'm going to have to say that if 2nd hand smoke is no good for humans I would think the same were true for reptiles. There's no denying that cigarettes are purely poison wrapped in paper IMO, I actually stopped burning incents in my basement because I felt it could possibly effect my snakes. All smoke has carcinogens and stick to any surface they have available, don't know if anyone would have a concrete yes its harmful or no its not because I would imagine symtoms would be close to an RI and easily mistaken for such. One of those situation where you do what you think is right. I personally would limit my snakes exposure to smoke.

[gibbrishclown]

What about other kinds of smoke?

[Phreak]

I can see this going into QR for drug reference soon

[gibbrishclown]

What's QR? And I didn't necessarily mean for the drug reference... what about incense? I believe it's dangerous for birds... ***Content edited for drug references***

[Spaniard]

What about other kinds of smoke?

IMO I would avoid all kinds of smoke. ***Content edited for drug references***

[Holy Balls]

I will say. Any kind of smoke in any living things lungs is not good. Isn't this abvious?

[JLC]

In order to allow the good questions and answers to remain for public view...all drug references have been cleaned out of this thread. Please keep it that way.

There MAY be a legitmate discussion about the effects of marijuana smoke on snakes and pets in general...so someone can learn valuable information to use to argue against the exposure of animals to such practices. However, that is a discussion best kept in its own thread, and probably best kept in QR. (Which is the Quarantine Forum and can be accessed by anyone wishing to, just send me a PM and I'll turn your access on.)

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our Forums a Family Friendly place!