Arguments for keeping ball pythons<3

[Cheesenugget]

I used to belong in that camp of "reptiles are not good captives no matter how well bred." When I cross that line and acquired my lizards, I filtered that down to "snakes can't be good captives because" camp.

That was about 2 years ago before I fell in love in snakes. Oddly enough, it was not my first snake, the bp, that convinced me. It was my king, my 2nd snake.

I have other exotic pets too including a hamster but my king proved something to me that almost everyone around me was wrong about: they have a personality. Nibbler is a sweety from day 1. Never hissed, never bit me even out of hunger, and never fussy during or after shed. She is in many ways, a "good girl," if she was a dog. She knows if you approach her tank. She knows who is handling her by how right she would wrap her tail around you if you are new to her. With me, she is so relaxed she could fall off my arms. She does not mind getting her head petted. And best of all, if I place a new item in her tank, she actually checks it out, not ignoring it. How can one say there is nothing behind those eyes and she is doing all this strictly for survival? There is curiosity. And there is personality. And she is a snake, supposedly one with a fussy attitude.

The only thing I will agree with this group of people is that reptiles, including snakes, should be provided a good quality of life, commitment and purchased captive bred only.

They will have their opinions and I respect them. In return, they should respect what they don't have to understand other than that it brings joy, companionship and admiration to the young and old. I have never met such loyal, dedicated pet owners compared to dog or cat owners. These people memorized the Latin names of their snakes. If that is not love for the species, then what is?