i say if you trust your snake and it trust you its fine. mine loves to and has no probloms. that is somthing i wouldnt want to do with a burm or retic though. the biggest i had around my neck was a 7 foot red tail. and that was probly a bad idea. but i trusted it. and it trusted me. but thats my opinion. and i had four guys with me. so it was all good. and besides it was huge. so it was the best way for me to hold it.