Quote Originally Posted by Kira View Post
I used to catch garters (and release after a minute or two) ever since I was in middle school so I've been fascinated by snakes for a while but never imagined I would have one as a pet. The first few times that I handled my ball python I was afraid that she would bite me. Over time I got more comfortable and the fear quickly went away. Now it's been over two years and she has never bitten anyone.

I'm more afraid of my dwarf hamster than I am of most snakes!
Good reason to be more afraid of a hamster...their bites can be more significant than snake bites (except for hots or giants). I grew up with parakeets too...same thing.

Helps to remember that our snakes are thinking much the same thing..."is it gonna bite me?"

I never got into snakes until well into adulthood...for one thing, I'd had pet rodents of all kinds, along with other animals. I just hadn't met any snakes*, & then I had to
make peace with their diet. I'm very glad I did. (*at least none besides those in a program given to my elementary school class, & about which I can only remember the
huge snake that was handled on stage; I suspect the program at least helped keep my mind open, against all the fiction about snakes.)