Good advice so far.


I don't have much to add except for stories.

1. I got a friend accustomed to snakes when we both worked at a Petco. She didn't really care for snakes(especially older or bigger ones) but also wasn't afraid of them either. After I calmed her down with the baby redtails she would walk around the store with up to 3 of them on her at any given time. Unfortunately after she left the store, she had gone back to her "old ways".

2. My grandmother and my mother respected snakes but weren't really thrilled with them either. I got lucky with my "pretty" albino black ratsnake. When we would be at the kitchen table, I'd let him hang out on the table so they could watch/study him. He was also 2-3 feet at that point as well. My cali king helped also because he is kinda "pretty" as well and the african house snake is pretty much a worm so his size was like "that's all, but he's so small?". Once they realized nothing "bad" was going to happen, they would touch him low on his body and eventually my mom came around and now willingly handles any snake I have, even my nippy one(s). Grandma still kept her distance but was more open to them.

3. My new neighbor at my apartment isn't thrilled with snakes so if there is a group of us sitting outside, I'll bring out the house snake and sit a couple seats away from her so she gets accustomed to their presence. She's ok with the "little" guy but anything bigger and she might not sit around. I'm gonna subtley get her to overcome her fear. She's ok with talking about them so thankfully that is one step I don't have to overcome.

4. I know a couple people who have nightmares if you say the word snake or make hissing noises. As much as I'd like to have them overcome the fear, I know it's probably not worth the time and effort.