Smelling a snake?

[rabernet]

In the apartment complex where I live, we have a few Brazilian neighbors with young boys (who our dog absolutely ADORES playing with). The boys are pre-teen and young teens who've enjoyed seeing my snakes.

So, yesterday I took out J-Lo so that they could see a baby - they're very gentle with the snakes. One of the boy's dad came over and held her and the first thing he did was smell her. I said "no, they don't smell!" and the boy had to translate. His dad asked how big they get and so I took J-Lo in and brought out Annie, one of my larger two.

The same boy said "I want to show my mom". I warned him not to startle her her with the snake. So, she came out (she knows I have snakes, has taken pictures of her son holding one) and at first went "wooooo!" and backed up a step, but he encouraged her to hold out her arm and draped Annie over it. SHE leaned over and smelled Annie. Again I said "no smell!"

I just thought it was funny that both parents smelled the snakes. Don't know if it's a cultural thing, or if their son has been asking for one of his own and they want to know if it's smelly or not! LOL I was actually quite impressed that both parents were interested in the snakes and not frightened of them.

It's nice exposing the boys to the snakes at an age where they are more curious than afraid and will likely take positive experiences of snakes into their adulthood based on their experiences with my snakes. And the parents are not freaked out. All these kids seem to have a great respect for animals, no matter what kind.

[joepythons]

Hmmmm, i have not ever had anyone smell my snakes before,so this makes me wonder also.I have had people think they are slimy lol.Its also great you are educating the kids

[Shelby]

When I used to work at the reptile zoo, a number of the hispanic people would smell the snake.. I used to wonder the same thing. lol

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ball sniffers?

someone had to ... had to.

-adam

[iceman25]

In my experience, people who think that snakes are slimy and stinky always sniff them when one is put in their hands.

[cassandra]

I've smelled my snakes...but...I guess I was just checking.

They smell like shaved aspen to me (helps they live on it). In fact, I was walking past the reptile shop downtown, got a whiff of aspen from the open front door and thought "mmm...snakes".

[jglass38]

Ball sniffers?

someone had to ... had to.

-adam

I would have if you didn't!

[Ginevive]

I asked my boyfriend (he rents apartments to a lot of Hispanic people) and he said maybe it is religious, ritualistic, or perhaps superstitious? I know that unlike a lot of other nationalities, Hispanics seem more in touch with their cultural background. (Not saying that other nat'nalities aren't, but this is my personal observation.)

[wolfy-hound]

I told people in a chat room that my dogs licked the snakes if I had them out near them, and they said "I wonder what they taste like?" so of course... I said "I don't know, hang on." While everyone squeeled, I licked the snake and reported back that to me, she had no taste whatsoever, was like licking plastic.
Odd? Gee..
Wolfy

[Ginevive]

Yeah, they really have no scent; maybe at the least, they would smell like their substrate, if it were something like cypress.