Narrow minded or am I asking too much?

[Vypyrz]

Everyone realizes, don't they, that humans also have e-coli in their mouths?

Where's my Listerine?

I agree with the post above. Don't tell them what you are looking for specifically, only that you are trying to get samples from various sources to make comparisons. After you finish with your BP bacteria study, maybe you could collect sample from other species of snakes and reptiles, and compare them to the Ball Pythons to see if there are any common bacteria or if it is just BP specific...