perfectsoldier23
New Member
- Messages
- 96
- Location
- California
Hey guys.
So, this will be pretty silly but...bear with me.
About a week ago I wound up at an old high school friend's birthday party and he just so happens to breed ball pythons and some leopard geckos. I was rather intrigued with his pythons. After some time seeing them being handled by other guests [and...several shots of alcohol later] I asked him if I could hold one. He placed in my hand the sweetest little normal baby ever. Up until this point, I was nervous with snakes, thinking they were chronic biters and would strike/hiss, etc and not be very "friendly pets." Well, after holding this little one my thoughts changed entirely. I let her crawl all over me and even offered him $50 on the spot for her. I was pretty in love.
Well, he hasn't gotten back to me on the offer [I thought it was a damned good one considering she's a baby normal], so I've been looking around locally at some private breeders who specialize in captive bred balls. I'm very intrigued but now that I've had time to think about it [and, now that the alcohol has clearly worn off], I'm nervous again about getting bit.
I understand that getting bit / struck at is inevitable. Snake handlers have called it a "hazard of the job." And I think that is why I am more apprehensive about buying my first python. My boyfriend is all excited and between him and I, the snake would have an insane amount of handling [within reason] which I have heard is good so that the snake gets used to it.
I understand that after handling rodents, it's crucial to wash your hands before handling your snake. Handling a snake while it's hungry increases the risk of being bit as well as startling it or too much interaction directly in it's face. Providing a warm environment [which will be provided regardless of my fears] results in a little more active of a snake. Fine by me. It's not the wriggling I'm worried about, it's the snakes sudden realization that it wants to sink it's teeth into something...like me. My friend told me not to handle them while "in blue" because they have a difficult time seeing and will rely on the expression of heat to determine prey.
Is there anything else I can do to make sure I'm less at risk of being struck?
Would it be odd if I approached a breeder and asked if I could just relax with the snake for a little while before committing to buying? I want a "bond" like I had with that other female at the party [that sounded weird...well, this whole post is weird really..]
Any advice is welcome.
So, this will be pretty silly but...bear with me.
About a week ago I wound up at an old high school friend's birthday party and he just so happens to breed ball pythons and some leopard geckos. I was rather intrigued with his pythons. After some time seeing them being handled by other guests [and...several shots of alcohol later] I asked him if I could hold one. He placed in my hand the sweetest little normal baby ever. Up until this point, I was nervous with snakes, thinking they were chronic biters and would strike/hiss, etc and not be very "friendly pets." Well, after holding this little one my thoughts changed entirely. I let her crawl all over me and even offered him $50 on the spot for her. I was pretty in love.
Well, he hasn't gotten back to me on the offer [I thought it was a damned good one considering she's a baby normal], so I've been looking around locally at some private breeders who specialize in captive bred balls. I'm very intrigued but now that I've had time to think about it [and, now that the alcohol has clearly worn off], I'm nervous again about getting bit.
I understand that getting bit / struck at is inevitable. Snake handlers have called it a "hazard of the job." And I think that is why I am more apprehensive about buying my first python. My boyfriend is all excited and between him and I, the snake would have an insane amount of handling [within reason] which I have heard is good so that the snake gets used to it.
I understand that after handling rodents, it's crucial to wash your hands before handling your snake. Handling a snake while it's hungry increases the risk of being bit as well as startling it or too much interaction directly in it's face. Providing a warm environment [which will be provided regardless of my fears] results in a little more active of a snake. Fine by me. It's not the wriggling I'm worried about, it's the snakes sudden realization that it wants to sink it's teeth into something...like me. My friend told me not to handle them while "in blue" because they have a difficult time seeing and will rely on the expression of heat to determine prey.
Is there anything else I can do to make sure I'm less at risk of being struck?
Would it be odd if I approached a breeder and asked if I could just relax with the snake for a little while before committing to buying? I want a "bond" like I had with that other female at the party [that sounded weird...well, this whole post is weird really..]
Any advice is welcome.