Most extreme reaction I have EVER gotten...

[HypoPita]

Wow dude. That kind of sucks! That is like the reaction I dread the most.

Hopefully she will learn to love them!

If all else fails you and me can just gang up on her and force her to like them.



I think she likes me, so I'm sure that helps in getting her to like them more

For those that don't realize, I'm talking nextdoor as in she lives in the apartment next to me.

[Reptile King]

Three years ago I went inside a "Reptile Zoo" to view the owner's pets. He had everything from Kenyan sand boas, crocodiles, cobras, and green mambas and everything in between. None of the animals were for sale as they were his pets! Because I have two bearded dragons I naturally had an interest in reptiles. I went in December and his store was slow........my wife and I were the only occupants with the exception of the owner and his staff.

I mentioned to the owner that I owned bearded dragons and did not want anything to do with snakes as I was very scared of them. While looking at a baby ball python he begin educating me on the ball python. He mentioned to me that the ball python in the snake world is the same as the bearded dragon in the lizard world.........now he had my attention.

After talking to me about the ball python for 10 minutes or so he reached inside and picked up the baby ball python and asked me if I would like to hold one. I looked at the little fella and consented thinking that he prolly would not eat me and I could tell all my buddies that I held a snake! While holding the little guy the owner began describing every move the snake was making and what it was "thinking". My fear of snakes plummeted after talking with the owner. While devoting all of my attention on this little ball python I was holding the owner, without me noticing, picked up an adult and placed him on my arms with the smaller snake!

After leaving the store I was HOOKED! The next 2 1/2 years I began doing research on them and read article after article. A friend of mine who owned one convinced me to buy one at a reptile show. I was shocked to find out that they only cost $20-$35 for a normal. Four months later I got my second normal for $20. I would like to have more but I have enough mouths to feed! I now understand how addicting they can be.

I am just thankful that that owner took the time to talk to me about the ball pythons...........or am I? Wow I have spent some money having these little guys.......but it is all worth it!

[HypoPita]

Haha, great story! Baby snakes are deff the way to a fearful heart. Sadly, my smallest snake (sadly for this purpose, none other, hahah) is 1100 grams. My largest weighing in at 1900 empty.

I'm breeding lelu, so I don't want to be picking her up unnecessarily. She is the largest; Chester, the second largest is headshy and in shed; and cleo is a scardiecat and I don't like taking her out that much because she is a problem feeder.

I used to have a baby spider ball python here, but, well, that is gone now, along with my ex. There is no good starting point anymore for the fearful, haha. I guess I just need to buy more snakes, huh?

[CritterVet]

Tell her to keep kitty inside if she is so concerned.

[frankykeno]

If her cat is outside roaming it's at a lot more risk from cars, feral cats, dogs, wild critters than it is from your securely enclosed in your own home ball python.

Having said that people have phobias, way more than just fear and not at all rationally based. I will happily, with help, wrangle our almost 9 foot boa constrictor but I have a deep seated gawd awful fear of stupid june bugs. Yep june bugs! How dumb is that but they literally make my skin crawl, I'm convinced they all want to buzz into my long hair and I feel like throwing up if one is outside buzzing around my porch light. I can't even stay outside if one is there. That's a phobia, way more than simple fear and pretty much something I'm unlikely to get over. Rationally I know june bugs do NOT have it in for me and can do me no harm but instinctually I dread them.

If your neighbour has a phobia about snakes, do what you can but understand she can't really control it. Educating her may help but not always. Do what you can, be understanding, informative but also kind. Not everyone has to like snakes just because we do.

[BPelizabeth]

Being 43 and living in the ultimate suburbia with a bunch of soccer moms.....I have ppl ALL the time that are freaked out. I am not sure if they are freaked out more by the snakes or the fact that one of their "peers" is into them.

It is actually quite funny to see their faces when they find out. With that being said...I have been able to talk them down from their fears. Now will they be buying one in the near future....I highly doubt it.....but they have acutally touched them. Which is a huge step. One of my friends that is the most scared has touched one of them and is convinced it is good relaxation theraphy. (I will make a snake owner of her yet)

Its funny when they are so scared but yet they are like...Ok...I want to see them...lol

I also work at the school pt and talk to the kids and teach the kids about balls...I have had a few parents come up to me with "do you really have pythons"? I just use that as my chance to tell them how amazing these snakes are.

Just spreadin the python love

[frankykeno]

Too funny because I also get that same reaction. Apparently to some folks I just don't "look" like what they think a snakekeeper looks like (whatever that is?).

[Karbon]

I have a friend like that. He sees a snake and litterally freaks out and runs away from it.

It's totally irrational, he;'s got no basis for the fear, never been bitten or had a bad experience with a snake. I asked him once hy he was so scared of them and he replied: "It's the way they move and the way they look."

Sometimes I put a picture of an anaconda on his computer desktop just to mess with him. It's hilarious

[Danounet]

Lol.

I have a friend like that. He sees a snake and litterally freaks out and runs away from it.

It's totally irrational, he;'s got no basis for the fear, never been bitten or had a bad experience with a snake. I asked him once hy he was so scared of them and he replied: "It's the way they move and the way they look."

Sometimes I put a picture of an anaconda on his computer desktop just to mess with him. It's hilarious

My sister in law is terrified of snakes, but no where near a phobia. When she sees her children touching and spending time with the snakes and I, she gets chills down her spine, But she doesnt go against it, It's just funny to see her staring at us far away lol.

[Jenn]

You are not very likely to "educate" these people. I've said it a thousand times before... If you never tell anyone you keep snakes your life will be so much easier.