I used to be terrified of snakes. My 7 year old daughter chose a corn snake as a pet. (Too many Croc Hunter episodes I guess. LOL!) I didn't want to pass on my phobia to her so I agreed. The first day my husband brought home the yellow rat snake and corn snake I nearly fainted. I even cried the first few times I actually held a snake. Just the movement scared the holy heck out of me. Irrational, but that is what a phobia is all about. It was a month later, while in the pet shop a day after my birthday that I saw a ball python and fell in love with it. The color was just so beautiful. I held the Sobe and carried him around the store and left with Sobe. My hubby had to help with the holding and the feeding at first. I had a hard phobia to overcome and even when Sobe would yawn it felt like my heart would stop. I've gotten more comfortable over time and my BP has helped me overcome a life-long fear of snakes. I love him and think he is so beautiful and I see all snakes in a different light now. Even when I was out back a couple of months ago and saw a coral snake I realized that he was beautiful and could handle my fear. I was just wondering if there was anyone else that is a snake owner now that used to fear them?