Are your BPs shy around strangers?

[Vasiliki]

I've taken my corn snake out for a few people now. One was a huge school presentation. We were misinformed as to how many children we would be interacting with, so it was a definite challenge of balancing the animal's stress levels and the kids curiosity. Thankfully, we had plenty of chill boas that took center stage.

My corn was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Calm, not upset.... Until this one child reached out to hold her. He picked up her back end and she turned her head to taste him. Immediately she went into the S-shape and started writhing to get away. I've never seen her buck like that. I took control of her front end (putting myself between her head and the kid) and calmly explained that she was tired and needed a break. Once the child stepped away, she calmed right back down and returned to her normal self. A young girl came up and my corn happily went over to her... So strange. Apparently a few of the animals had certain 'reactions' to some of the children. But with others, they were fine.

My corn also happily pooped on my good friend while she was sitting in his lap. One of those delightful, LOUD (oh yeah, she was farting!) wet ones too. Poor guy. She didn't appear to impressed with him. But, she's fine with 90% of people.

Recon, my leopard gecko, is a ham and loves to explore. Whether it's new places or new people, he's in there like a dirty shirt. I take him to our local reptile meet and he happily wanders on the table, walking right up to people and sits himself in their hand, staring up at them and licking them to check them out. Too funny. But, every now and then there's someone he avoids for whatever reason.

So I'd say that makes total sense, especially for a more shy animal.