Small woman.

[Painted]

Hello! So I have a pretty silly question but I don't have many people to ask who will actually answer it correctly. So I am asking you lovely people!

I am a pretty short and small woman, but I love reticulated pythons. I have loved them for years as well as researched them, watched any documentary that slightly mentioned them and grabbed any chance I had to be near one of them. To me they aren't animals, they are people in a sense- on the inside. Or maybe it's the other way around and we are the animals... my point being, we aren't so different after all. Their intelligence, size and beauty is so attractive I can't stand it. I have had people tell me that I can't own or maintain a reticulated python by myself because I am too small- which I agree, I shouldn't be handling anything over 8 feet while I am alone. But how then will I ever come to own one if not through partnership with another? I could go my whole life without being able to experience these animals because they are formidable in size.

With that, I must ask, if you are a smaller person do they really view you as a possible food item? I'd hate it if so, but I wouldn't blame them. I guess I have just had a lot of negative people get to my head on the topic I know they are intelligent enough to decipher the hand that feeds them, but we are mammals, too. I have many snakes of different kinds, so I am not new to their requirements or even mentalities. I just hoped that being so intelligent, maybe a reticulated python wouldn't always think of me as a potential food item Even if I am 5 feet and they are 20 feet.

All comments are welcomed and accepted. I know it's a pretty scattered question, it's just I am stepping on eggshells trying not to offend people- I don't know how people feel on the topic and I don't want to sound stupid. Thanks for reading!

[John1982]

Don't think of it as strength vs constrictor cause if things go awry it doesn't much matter how strong you are, when dealing with large constrictors, the snake is likely stronger. Larger and stronger people will have an easier time manipulating a big snake but anybody who thinks this advantage goes beyond that is delusional. It's highly unlikely you will be viewed as a possible food item because of your size. These accidents are almost always a failure of the keeper in following good husbandry or handling practices. There are some dwarf localities you may want to look into as well - all that retic personality in a smaller package.

[J.P.]

i think op is mistaken that retics are intelligent enough to recognize the hand that feeds them. this is not true. maybe some get to a point that they are very docie, but at the end of the day these are wild animals and are guided by instinct, not intelligence.

i bet my snakes never think of me as food, but sometimes they think my hand is....not very smart critters but i love them just the same.

[vangarret2000]

i think op is mistaken that retics are intelligent enough to recognize the hand that feeds them. this is not true. maybe some get to a point that they are very docie, but at the end of the day these are wild animals and are guided by instinct, not intelligence.

i bet my snakes never think of me as food, but sometimes they think my hand is....not very smart critters but i love them just the same.

I was surprised when I saw that to, seeing as how she said she has seen so many documentaries. It's not true. Also she mentioned she sees them as people, at least on the inside. She seems to put them on a level way higher then they actually are.

Snakes are an instinctual animal. They aren't a caring creature, they agent a social creature. I wouldn't say they aren't smart, but their brain defiantly aren't as intellectual as it seems she expects them to be. If she has seen so many documentaries they must not have been that factual if they have given her this kinda impression of them. Don't get me wrong, they are impressive and very nice looking , and interesting but it is still a snake. She seems to be erecting something more then what they are. Honestly I bet she would end up being disappointed if she actually got one herself.

With that being said, rule of thumb I have generally heard is that, to be safe, for every 6 foot of snake you should have one person there for handling. Obviously not everyone follows that and it isn't always necessary depending on the animal, but if you are unsure it would be good to follow. That doesn't mean one person can't own a large snake. The majority of the time caring for a snake they are just in there tank. You wouldn't need multiple people around constantly for safety if it's locked in a tank. Even when it's a large size. When you have to handle them though it is better to have more then one person if it is a large snake.

[Pyrate81]

Don't think this is super pertinent but a couple small things to add:

1. There was a picture of a girl that was 5'2" handling a 10+ ft anaconda floating around somewhere. Not sure if it was on this site or on the 'net. Pretty sure it was here. She had it "draped" around her neck(like a very long and heavy feather boa) for a minute or so to get the picture then immediately was assisted in removal cause it was a very thick and heavy snake.

2. Like John said, there are smaller locals and they "make" super dwarf retics which get/stay around 10 ft.


Hopefully reptilexperts sees and chimes in on this, he's a retic keeper and is the go to guy for retic information.

[Painted]

I really thought reticulated pythons were very intelligent, are they not? And when I said the hand that feeds them I meant me as a whole, not my actual hand- sorry I didn't say that one right.

I understand they are snakes and cannot conceive emotion, I just thought a more intelligent animal with facial recognition might not view me as a food items but rather the person giving him food. I don't think I'd be disappointed, but I see what you all are saying. I do rank them very high up, but I do that with a lot of animals. I just have a lot of love for them, even if it's a bit irrational.

I really appreciate everyone's input and I've been looking into dwarfs, I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on the big ones first.

I have been handling my friend's 15 foot female (and still growing) and I guess it just finalized for me how amazing they are in so many aspects.

As for my documentaries, they were the scarce clips that mentioned reticulated pythons as well as other huge constrictors. I based my attraction on them from more than those, because you're right, a lot of incorrect information may have been on there. They were just the extra bits of excitement

Thanks for all your comments I really appreciate them! You're all awesome.

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[Rob]

I really thought reticulated pythons were very intelligent, are they not?
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They are very intelligent, for a snake. Comparing our intelligence with that of retics is apples and oranges.

[Painted]

They are very intelligent, for a snake. Comparing our intelligence with that of retics is apples and oranges.

That's what I meant, sorry again. I didn't mean to compare human intelligence to their intelligence.

When I compared us I meant people are predators, too. I should have explained that piece a little more, too. I have been combating a lot of stigma from people thinking they are merciless killers... but humans kill and eat just the same. Honestly humans kill and sometimes don't even eat whatever it may be. Whether animals or just other people.
Not that I think we should be eating other people

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[iPanda]

I really thought reticulated pythons were very intelligent, are they not? And when I said the hand that feeds them I meant me as a whole, not my actual hand- sorry I didn't say that one right.

I understand they are snakes and cannot conceive emotion, I just thought a more intelligent animal with facial recognition might not view me as a food items but rather the person giving him food. I don't think I'd be disappointed, but I see what you all are saying. I do rank them very high up, but I do that with a lot of animals. I just have a lot of love for them, even if it's a bit irrational.

I really appreciate everyone's input and I've been looking into dwarfs, I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on the big ones first.

I have been handling my friend's 15 foot female (and still growing) and I guess it just finalized for me how amazing they are in so many aspects.

As for my documentaries, they were the scarce clips that mentioned reticulated pythons as well as other huge constrictors. I based my attraction on them from more than those, because you're right, a lot of incorrect information may have been on there. They were just the extra bits of excitement

Thanks for all your comments I really appreciate them! You're all awesome.

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Intelligent? Yes. But they're not going to mistake your ENTIRE body for food. Mostly, it'll be your hand when you reach in, if you don't alert them you're there, or you happen to smell like rats/rabbits. They are VERY instinctual, and comparing them to a human is not even close. Unfortunately, that may be the kind of thinking that can get you hurt. You get complacent, you think they 'love' you or would never do anything to you, and you catch them on a bad day. OR, say you get a male, and he decides out of the blue during handling one day, that you are a threat, and slashes you. Rare? Yeah. Possible? OH yeah. That's the time you NEED another person there. Just some thoughts =3 I keep 2 retics (for now), and I have a roomie. I do not handle unless someone is at the house, usually my boyfriend. Better safe than sorry.

[Painted]

Okay, thanks everyone! I'll invest in some hefty snake hooks, some more research and a possibilities into getting a dwarf.
It's good to know they won't mistake me as a whole for food. I'm okay with everything else And I swear to never smell like rabbits. Or rats. Thanks again, this made me feel better.

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