Babies and snakes

[yeroc1982]

Ok so wev had snakes for almost 2 yrs, we have 1 bp, 1 dumeril boa, 1 jcp and 1 juvenile rtb we just picked up 2 days ago. We have a baby on the way in April and the parents are always saying" what are u gonna do when the baby comes? Can they get out if the tanks?" they are worried for some reason that the snakes now have an appetite for babies lol. 2 are in PVC tanks with key locks and the other 2 are in a snake rack. It's been brought up soo many times they are making me second guess myself for some reason. What do I tell them? I'm sick of hearing the same old thing. Obviously I'm not going to be handling the bigger snakes around the baby. Any thoughts or suggestions so I can put them at ease??

[zeion97]

Ok so wev had snakes for almost 2 yrs, we have 1 bp, 1 dumeril boa, 1 jcp and 1 juvenile rtb we just picked up 2 days ago. We have a baby on the way in April and the parents are always saying" what are u gonna do when the baby comes? Can they get out if the tanks?" they are worried for some reason that the snakes now have an appetite for babies lol. 2 are in PVC tanks with key locks and the other 2 are in a snake rack. It's been brought up soo many times they are making me second guess myself for some reason. What do I tell them? I'm sick of hearing the same old thing. Obviously I'm not going to be handling the bigger snakes around the baby. Any thoughts or suggestions so I can put them at ease??

I'll say this first, since I say it when I teach people how to cook.. "I teach you almost everything I know, BUT I can not make you learn"

Never guess yourself. I have two autistic brothers ages 17 and 13 and haven't had a single problem. I've also had my 2 year old step son in the house as well. Snakes don't eat babies... Now if you're going to be like most and starve your snake then of course..it's going to try to eat ANYTHING with a heartbeat. You'll be fine.. especially if the tanks are locked.

To put them at ease... just show them how secure the snakes are and try to teach them, just remember, you can't make them learn, nor can you force them to accept it. My soon to be mother in law HATES snake and wants them gone, especially when my fiancee is going to be pregnant. you can't please everyone at once, nor should you try.

[yeroc1982]

Thanks

[jjmitchell]

I would be like mom just relax... as long as the kid dont cry alot we wont feed the baby to the snake....lol

Now on a serious note, there is nothing there you have listed that with any common sense would be dangerous (obviously doing something like leaving an adult boa with a child unattended is stupid) I would seriously explain that even as adults the boas wont be eating anything larger than a few pounds, and that the caging is secure. I would also point out the number of people a year killed by dogs or horses every year vs snakes.... I wrote a research paper over the python legislation and came across some statistics cant remember them exactly but over 100 people a year are killed by dogs, and in the last 20 years there have been 8 deaths from constrictor snakes.

And ultimatly if they are not willing to learn or accept it you have to make a decision to have your hobby and tell them to bugger off, or keep them happy and give up on something that you love

[yeroc1982]

I would be like mom just relax... as long as the kid dont cry alot we wont feed the baby to the snake....lol

Now on a serious note, there is nothing there you have listed that with any common sense would be dangerous (obviously doing something like leaving an adult boa with a child unattended is stupid) I would seriously explain that even as adults the boas wont be eating anything larger than a few pounds, and that the caging is secure. I would also point out the number of people a year killed by dogs or horses every year vs snakes.... I wrote a research paper over the python legislation and came across some statistics cant remember them exactly but over 100 people a year are killed by dogs, and in the last 20 years there have been 8 deaths from constrictor snakes.

And ultimatly if they are not willing to learn or accept it you have to make a decision to have your hobby and tell them to bugger off, or keep them happy and give up on something that you love

Yes exactly, there are a lot more dangerous animals ppl keep like dogs or whatever that cause more harm or deaths than snakes. I think over the past decades, snakes have gotten a bad name, for whatever reason. I handle all my snakes on a regular basis, Iv only been bit 1 time, and that was from my jcp when he was super small, and I laughed at it. I think ppl get scared because they constrict, which is just how they operate.

[snakecharmer3638]

At the end of the day the only person you need to worry about is your spouse. My wife supports my hobby but is not involved in it. And when she was pregnant with my youngest son I had a nine foot burm that had been around both of my two older children who were ten and five at the time. She said that she was not comfortable having a large snake in the house with a new born baby and I didn't argue. I found the snake a new home and welcomed in a new baby.

So as long as your spouse is ok with it then I don't see any need to worry about everybody else.

[jjmitchell]

Yes exactly, there are a lot more dangerous animals ppl keep like dogs or whatever that cause more harm or deaths than snakes. I think over the past decades, snakes have gotten a bad name, for whatever reason. I handle all my snakes on a regular basis, Iv only been bit 1 time, and that was from my jcp when he was super small, and I laughed at it. I think ppl get scared because they constrict, which is just how they operate.

To be honest the fear of snakes for most people run much deeper than a fear of being constricted..... snakes have been villanized since biblical times.... The first thing you learn about in any childrens bible classes is how the devil took the form of a serpent and caused the fall of man kind. Snakes have always been used as a sighn of evil. It is a real and deep seated fear that people have along with the fact that most people are terrified of what they dont know or understand, and there are few animals that are as misunderstood, couple that with all of the myths and misconceptions along with the fact most people cant identify a venomous animal from a non venomous animal native to their area. It is a very real fear that just seems silly to us because we have went above and beyond to learn the truth.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Giant snakes, big dogs, horses, and other large animals are dangerous--although not nearly so dangerous as automobiles. Wear your seatbelt.

It sounds like you're doing just fine. The big snakes have locks on their cages, and are secure, and you're aware of their strength. By the time your juvenile RTB is large enough to pose any threat, your child will be too big to eat.

There's no reason to evict your snakes because you have a baby--any more than there would be a reason to sell your car and start walking, or give up a beloved dog. You'll have enough fears as a new parent without spending a lot of time on this one. Your child will benefit from growing up in a household where animals are respected and cared for properly, and will likely adopt an appreciation for animals and the natural world, as a result. That's a good thing. Just keep those cages locked, because toddlers get into EVERYTHING, and as noisy as they are while you are awake, they can stealth like the most skilled deer hunter while you are sleeping, and you don't want to wake up to discover that the baby has eaten the snake.

[yeroc1982]

Thanks everyone for the info/support. My wife is totally fine with the snakes, she loves them as much as I do, sometimes as a joke, I say " ugh we have to get rid of the dumeril boa(5 footer)" she almost ends up in tears lol. In our bedroom, there is a set of stairs to an extra bedroom that goes downstairs and that's where the snake room is so it will be pretty much off limits to a baby, and I'm pretty sure the new born won't be walking downstairs anytime soon. I really think snakes need to be more understood and learned about before anyone calls them evil animals. They are very nice animals, some are mean yes, but u get that with any animal, dosent matter what it is. I love my snakes and would never get rid of them due to someone being scared of them. The baby, as it goes up and older, will be introduced to the snakes as pets and will learn a great deal about them, something that a lot of ppl don't ever get to do due to being scared. If my son/daughter isn't interested, not a problem at all, not everyone is. But I will at least give it the chance to see that snakes are wonderful creatures and when raised properly, can be the gentlest animals out there.

[WingedWolfPsion]

My son and daughter both got 'their' first ball pythons last year--I let them pick out 2 holdbacks to be theirs, and name, and they feed them and handle them occasionally (always with supervision). They are 8 and 10 now.