explain the passion (not pc)

[MissDizzyBee]

It's just what you said, a passion...just something that appeals to some people. It's not really logical, I suppose.

I love the way they look and the way they lace their bodies around, the smooth and shiny way their scales look and the things they do. I think he's beautiful when he's hunting and how he snaps and coils so quickly. Little snake yawns are the cutest thing ever. I feel like I could explode with happiness every time Java does it.

Additionally, it's kind of fun to have something that everyone finds scary, makes me feel like a fake badass. I also like to educate people about them, since there's a lot of misconceptions out there, and having personal experience with them makes it that much more interesting.

I've been this way since I was young and getting a snake really just made it blossom even further. I knew a few people who had snakes, but I don't think that necessarily caused the addiction to them. It's just something that is.

I have friends who are all about cats or melt into a puddle when they see babies, people who can spend a 10-hour day cooking and be the happiest person in the world, people who feel restless and unmotivated without a mountain to climb. For me, it's my snake. Watching him, taking care of him, even tracking his temperatures. None of his care feels like a chore....it occurs to me as more of a compulsion than anything.

I'm not even entirely sure I explained anything at all here. I may have just babbled on like a lovestruck idiot for a bit in the attempt..but there ya go.

[Homegrownscales]

For me I think it's the individual snake. They all have their own personality, color( oh there are so many) and pattern. They are a mysterious animal. And That's what I love about them. I think I realized my true passion when I hatched out my first clutch. It was amazing to me. To see all of those new little heads poking out of their egg. It was awesome. The genetics that comes out of these snakes is crazy. It mezmorizes me. That's the pull for me I guess.

[loonunit]

Well, first, I'm a little mad about reptiles. Just to start with. The first thing I thought was cute as a kid was a rubber dinosaur. My mom was so distraught.

Second, not all ball pythons have the same personality. My first bp isn't clingy---he's squirmy. I take him out and he immediately wants to be someplace else. AND he was a defensive biter for a good year. I was still having fun with him, obviously, because I went and acquired a dozen MORE ball pythons... and some of them were biters, and some of them were completely neurotic and hid all the time. But some of these guys are amazing, wonderful pets. They've all improved with time, frankly--but a few of them seemed to enjoy handling from the first, and they have continued to be AMAZINGLY fun animals to interact with. While Morris is still a squirmy pain in the butt.

Third, well, morphs. It's an addiction, what can I say? You buy two or three, you think you'll be okay just with two breeding pairs of pastels and spiders... and then somehow two years later you've got an extra freezer in your garage so you can store the frozen mice you buy in bulk over the internet.

[Simple Man]

This is not pc nor chipper but it is honest.

Explain the passion! Explain it so maybe I can get it.

I wanted the energy of a snake for years....and liked the ball python because it is well...clingy. Then on impulse I bought one 3 years ago. She is a sweet animal, never bites, tolerates handling, and is very very finicky. Yes I knew all that beforehand but still. I am summoned to provide a living sacrifice every week and I do so. But I have to admit, it is not fulfilling.

She is constantly hiding and really does not like being handled though tolerates it well (and yes I guess I knew that ahead of time so no rude lectures please).

But what is the passion? For the veteran BP owners what is it? Because I just don't quite get it. Sweet in a quiet way yes, harmless yes, hidden and prefers to stay in the hide 24/7, yes. Honestly while she is quiet and harmless I am failing to get it, if I need to sacrifice a rat to the snake god every week I would at least like the eye candy of the snake lounging around. I do not enjoy the live feeding bit, I suppose some enjoy that thrill but not me....so help me see the upside as quite honestly if I am going to go through this every week I should have bought boa or other display species that would at least lounge around and be seen even if they don't want to be handled.

Maybe you should stick to plants.

Regards,

B

[Egapal]

Explain the passion? Thats a tall order. How do you explain attraction, love, contentment, addiction. These things can't really be explained. They need to be felt. In the movie Pretty Woman the character Edward Lewis played by Richard Gere has a line about opera that I think applies to snakes.

"Peoples reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul."

Now it's possible that people could learn to love snakes but the sentiment is more often true than not. I remember loving the first snake I saw. I wanted a ball python the moment I first saw one. Not a burmese, not a retic, but a ball. Now I have one, I don't take him out every day, I don't obsess over him. Sometimes a day or two will go by without seeing him. I can tell you that when I shut down my computer to head off to bed, I spin my chair around and the nights he is looking back at me I smile like a child. Either way, I say goodnight snake then I look to see if my California King snake is up (not my first love but still a love) and say goodnight king snake (I don't name my pets till I have two of the same breed). On that note I will say goodnight. I will submit this post then take my BP out for a few minutes of quality time, he is up and out of his hide, and then head to bed.

[Johan]

I love reptiles. I have since as long as I can remember. I alway wanted a snake but my mom would not allow me in my youth (rat thing). Anyways, now living on my own, I decided to fulfil one of my childhood dreams. I love snakes just like I did as a kid. I love my ball and my corn. I think they are the greatest guys

[coldblooded]

Hello, Fellow Atlanta Resident

Ball Pythons are not for everyone. I know a lot of snake people who find them 'stupid and boring', but that is why they own other snake breeds that are more active.

Personally, I love the BP's chill attitude and general ease of handling. I find them very relaxing. They are also gorgeous to look at. Other snakes species are also quite awesome, and I am slowly expanding my collection into those, but BPs were one of my first loves (after Kenyan Sand Boas, who are even more boring. Ha.)

Have you tried feeding frozen/thawed instead of live if it bothers you so much? Some snakes will readily take it, others may after a little persistence.

Just my .02!

[ballpythonluvr]

I got hooked on ball pythons back in 2008. I was always fascinated with them and always wanted one. I started out with a common garter snake. I love my hobby and I love my snake as much as I do my cat and dog. It doesn't bother me that I don't see my bp much because I know that this means my snake is secure and happy. Does feeding live bother me, no not particularly. A snake has to eat too. I love handling my snake and I love taking care of him. I find it very relaxing and rewarding.

[franken_stein]

I love my ball python, and I think everybody has already articulated their thoughts way better than I can, but I could just add one more "practical" thing that isn't really... what you were asking for, since it's more logic than passion. But, just thought I'd throw it in the mix anyway. If I could, I would love to keep a dog. But I can't. I'm a waaaayy too busy graduate student and am often not even in my apartment at all during the weekends. I have to have a low maintenance pet if I'm going to have one at all. The BP is perfect! He doesn't need to be fed every day, doesn't need to be walked, the cage doesn't have to be cleaned every day, and all that kind of stuff. I make sure there's enough water for him before I leave for the weekend, and the feeding and cleaning I take care of when I'm there on the weekdays.

So... I really don't know, this probably doesn't add much to the discussion, sorry But for people who have a particular lifestyle it's a great pet. You don't have to devote a part of your day every day to taking care of it... and it'll still be thriving. I guess you could say that other snakes fit this bill as well, and it will be hanging out as a "display" pet and not hiding out like the ball python, and well, I don't really have much to say about that other than the ball pythons have such cute faces, seriously

[Sonya610]

Have you tried feeding frozen/thawed instead of live if it bothers you so much? Some snakes will readily take it, others may after a little persistence.

See that is part of the issue. She was always on frozen and I swore I could never feed live. Then a few months ago that changed, she now absolutely will not touch frozen (she jerks away like a dead rat is repulsive). I broke down and started feeding live which is not only unpleasant but there is only 1 store that sells rats about 30 minutes away (when they have them), so it is make the drive every week or start keeping feeder rats here which I am doing but gosh darn they are so cute it is sad (I no longer live in Atlanta, old profile info, I live in a small town in middle GA).

Plus during her feeding issues I stopped handling her to reduce any stress. I can see how the breeders enjoy them, and the single college student types that want a quiet pet without a lot of upkeep. Maybe some think "display" snake sounds bad, I would just enjoy the beauty of seeing my snake instead of just seeing a little head pop out when hungry, then disappear for another week once she is fed.

I am thinking I will rehome her but I want her to have a stable long term home and not end up as a play toy to adolescent males down the road.