HELP! I think my bp is angry but im not sure.

[JLC]

wispurs: If you really want to get over a fear of snakes, then I'll be very happy to help you with that, as best I can from a distance, anyhow. If you don't want to get over it...then that's fine, too. Simply resolve to yourself that you don't EVER have to hold a snake again if you don't want to. There's nothing wrong with that. I've had snakes in the house for about 7-8 years now...and my husband has never touched a single one...ever. He's content with that, and I respect his feelings about it.

exotica: If your friend is that scared of the snake, then it seems likely that she'll never touch it again, and therefore will not have a chance to "be careless" with it. Rather than try to force her to see the world entirely from your point of view...try to simply accept that she doesn't really get the whole snake-thing. Consider the snake to be your pet, and respect her feelings to want nothing to do with it anymore. Does her panic attack make sense? Not to me, really, and I can see it doesn't make much sense to you, either. But that doesn't matter, because it was obviously real to her and she is the one who must deal with it the feelings it generated.

[angllady2]

You know, as much as I hoped things would work out for you two and your snake, at this point I do NOT think you have what it takes to be a responsible snake owner.

If things like this youtube video are going to escalate into a full blown panic attack and possibly result in injury to the snake through foolishness, it's time for you two to admit you cannot take proper care of this snake and find someone who can.

To have a reaction that strong for no real reason whatsoever shows me you are not as comfortable with the snake as you would have everyone believe, and it's not fair to the snake to be punished for your instability.

Sure, people will tell you all snakes can bite. Even a human baby will bite if you stick your finger in their mouth, but that isn't the point. A lot of people are nervous about being bitten, but they don't have a panic attack over nothing because of it. What would have happened if she flung the snake in her terror? Do you realize she could have broken it's back? What if a neighbor overheard her screaming and DID call 911? What would have happened to that innocent snake with her screaming like that when a bunch of nervous cops with guns showed up? How would you have felt if they shot your snake, or worse, confiscated it and beheaded it because they thought it was a threat to people? And what about the rest of us snake owners, when the media started playing endless clips about a "killer" ball python?

If you cannot grow up about owning this snake, then it's time to admit snakes aren't for you and maybe get a hamster or something. You can get mad at me if you want, and I'm sure a lot of people will, but you need to hear the harsh truth, so I laid it out for you. Now, if at least ONE of you can keep a clear head about this, then that one can care for the snake and the other have nothing to do with it. But if all you are going to do is bash each other about the snake, it's time to let someone else care for it.

Gale

[akaprincesssophia]

You know, as much as I hoped things would work out for you two and your snake, at this point I do NOT think you have what it takes to be a responsible snake owner.

If things like this youtube video are going to escalate into a full blown panic attack and possibly result in injury to the snake through foolishness, it's time for you two to admit you cannot take proper care of this snake and find someone who can.

To have a reaction that strong for no real reason whatsoever shows me you are not as comfortable with the snake as you would have everyone believe, and it's not fair to the snake to be punished for your instability.

Sure, people will tell you all snakes can bite. Even a human baby will bite if you stick your finger in their mouth, but that isn't the point. A lot of people are nervous about being bitten, but they don't have a panic attack over nothing because of it. What would have happened if she flung the snake in her terror? Do you realize she could have broken it's back? What if a neighbor overheard her screaming and DID call 911? What would have happened to that innocent snake with her screaming like that when a bunch of nervous cops with guns showed up? How would you have felt if they shot your snake, or worse, confiscated it and beheaded it because they thought it was a threat to people? And what about the rest of us snake owners, when the media started playing endless clips about a "killer" ball python?

If you cannot grow up about owning this snake, then it's time to admit snakes aren't for you and maybe get a hamster or something. You can get mad at me if you want, and I'm sure a lot of people will, but you need to hear the harsh truth, so I laid it out for you. Now, if at least ONE of you can keep a clear head about this, then that one can care for the snake and the other have nothing to do with it. But if all you are going to do is bash each other about the snake, it's time to let someone else care for it.

Gale

amen to that, i am totally on ur side about this. i have been reading their posts since they took over the snake and i couldnt agree with u more angllady2. some people just simply arent meant to have a snake as a pet.

[MustBeSatan]

There's some word that I'm trying to think of... It's like one of those internet slang words... And it usually gets thrown around in these types of situations... It has something do with fishing I think... Or maybe some kind of mythical creature that lived under bridges and posted rediculous crap all over internet forums...

Wish I could remember the word...

[ryssa]

There's some word that I'm trying to think of... It's like one of those internet slang words... And it usually gets thrown around in these types of situations... It has something do with fishing I think... Or maybe some kind of mythical creature that lived under bridges and posted rediculous crap all over internet forums...

Wish I could remember the word...

[Skiploder]

I'm speechless..........

[OhhWatALoser]

Im trying to figure out if this is a serious thread or not....

I got him out of his tank tonight, but he was acting very strange and he kept lifting his head and looking at me, usually he just crawls around on me but this was different.

oh no the snake looked at you?

I freaked out and my heart started racing and i just sort of panicked, i kept trying to be calm but he kept doing it and eventually i couldnt take it and started screaming for exotica to come in here but when she got in here i was so freaked out that it scared her and she wouldnt take the snake from me and my other roommate was just mad that i even put myself in that situation that he wouldnt even help.

i think your friends are overdramatic as you... all this because the snake was "looking at you weird?"

i was trying to hold his head away from me and he opend his mouth. so i freaked out and started screaming to call 911 and eventually our other roommate had to hep exotica get it off me

opening their mouth does not show aggression at all. they yawn, they breath open mouth when their sick. nothing aggressive about it tho. and you have a total of 3 people wrestling this ball python now....? wtf?

im ok now but I really liked having a snake but im really scared of him now. exotica says they hold their mouth open sometimes but now ii cant go near him without feeling like i cant breath. i dont know what happened. please someone tell me if the way he was acting seems as if he was going to attack me or am i just being paranoid???

If the snake is going to bite you, it will let you know, strike position and hissing are good signs to stay away. Nothing you said sounds anything like aggression... nothing at all. Your being overdramatic.... your friend is being overdramatic.

the youtube post i showed her was of a ball python trying to eat a mans hand i thought it was good to show her this because in truth any python can do that to us if we have a mouses scent on us OR if its really hungry

i think wispurs just needs to wake up and realize that these things can and do happen thats why i think showing youtube videos of ball python biting is a good idea because these are living things not toys.

When you go to get a dog do they show you videos of dog mauling children and ripping them apart? It can happen you know. Usually we just stick with telling people, wash your hands so you don't smell like food, no videos needed for that bit of info. and i think videos showing signs of an unhappy snake ready to bite, and techniques to avoid being bit would be a little more educational. This episode never would of happened if she knew the snake was being normal and unthreating as can be.

she even pet bb on the head right after he swallowed a mouse anyone that does such things is begging to be bit, i kinda hope it bites her and she will learn.

None of my snakes would bite me if i did that... only thing I find wrong with that is she messing with a snake that just ate, general practice is to leave them alone for a while so you don't stress em out and they regurg. sounds like you need to spend your time educating your friend rather than online bashing.


and ill add im still not sure if this thread is a big joke, if it is omit everything i just said

[jjmitchell]

Ok Im not sure what to say..... In my oppenion if someone would have called 911 like you guys were apparenly screaming to do in you moment of stupor you would have hurt this hobby and everyone that keeps reptiles. Our Govt is looking for this kind of crap to use against. Please if you need the experience of handling a snake again take a valium or something think of all the undue stress you put that animal through. Look on you tube for snakebytes tv and look for the episode that talks about snake body language and try to figure out what you are doing. AND RELAX

[Kaorte]

The "lifting his head up" thing was probably him periscoping. It is completely normal. It is what they do in the wild so they can see over the Savannah grass. Basically to scope out their environment for food.

The yawning is also completely normal. Usually they will yawn directly after a meal to realign their jaws, but occasionally they will yawn for no apparent reason. "yawning" is not aggressive. Hissing and striking is.

If you are this nervous around the snake, something is wrong. Next time you feel like you want to handle the snake, have someone who is not afraid close by in case you feel uncomfortable.

Please don't be afraid, these animals cannot hurt you.

[exotica0095]

tuesday is feeding day do u think its ok if we both maybe held him for a lil bit today together?