This topic always seems to come up in one way or another. Along with the stated reasons above snakes do not have emotions or social needs like we humans due. Often humans get their own emotions intertwined with the snake and in the end do the snake more harm than good. Like I've said in other posts the emotional relationship with a snake is one way...we love them...they think we're gonna eat them, its that simple. Ball Pythons have in rare instinces shown to be canabalistic, if you think a mouse regurge is gross you should see a snake regurge...yuck!