I'm Really Irritated..... :(

[drpkckmurphy22]

So, I was reading about sand boas to my mom and she kept on annoying me about the biting. I said every snake is going to bite, so she made me feel worried and I told her maybe I shouldn't get a snake. She asked me what I wanted first and I said: ball python. She asked how big it gets and I said about 4 feet. She is also worried about how I'm going to clean the tank when the snake gets to be 4 feet. So, please tell me if I should get a snake or not. Please recommend any other snake that rarely bites because I dont want her to be paranoid. Thanks!!

 

[Barbel]

I always recommend ball pythons as a first time snake. They don't get huge, are docile, easy to handle and require basic/simple care.
As long as you regularly handle a ball python, like most snakes, you shouldn't have any issues with it trying to bite you. Even if it does bite you, it really isn't a big deal at all and they are very easy to remove. I was bit by our 2000g 4 foot long female and it seriously didn't hurt at all; it bled, but no pain. In the 3 years we have been keeping these snakes, that is the only bit either of us have endured. From my experience, the only time they show any type of aggression is during feeding, which is natural. They have good aim (towards their food) and neither my boyfriend nor I have ever been bitten during feeding.
Just be smart about it. Always wash your hands, even up your arms a bit, before and after handling, just in case there may be some scent of prey on you. That is pretty much the only reason they may be tempted to bite you.
I don't know why she would be worried about you cleaning out a five foot long snake's enclosure. IMO it is no different than cleaning out a 1 or 2 foot long snakes enclosure. Just place the snake in its feeding tub, clean the tank then put it back; not a big deal.
Really the only way a ball python can cause serious injury to a human is if that person wrapped the snake around their neck and LET it choke them.
If your mom has any questions, feel free for her to ask. As long as you are responsible, there really is no reason to fear them!

P.S. We also had 4 sand boas for a while. They never even struck at us.

 

[PacHerp]

Western Hognose snakes are my first snake of choice - the males only get about 14-16 inches long as adults, they are extremely tame, and have great personalities! An adult male can live in a 15 gallon tank his entire life!

 

[Nigel4less]

Ball Pythons are great snakes, most Males don't get past 3 and a half foot. While your females are about 4 to 4 and a half feet. They are big puppy dogs their entire life, there is a reason they are one of the top 3 most popular beginner snake species in the pet trade

 

[Mel&Keith]

I've had a baby Ball latch on to my finger and wrap my hand. My husband had to help me get it off because it wouldn't let go. It would strike the glass when I walked past it's tank. Every snake can bite but that doesn't mean that all will. I've never known anyone that's been "attacked" by their Ball Python like that, I'm just lucky. I personally don't feel very comfortable with snakes anymore because I'm a scaredy cat. The only snake I would still like to have as a pet would be a Hognose. I feel less intimidated my them.

If you're going to buy the snake in person (rather than having it shipped) handle each of the "beginner" snakes you're considering and get the one you feel most comfortable with.

 

[goReptiles]

I think balls are a good beginner snake, but like Mel, I had my adult male (4 feet) bite and latch on. It was an accident and it was my fault, but boy he didn't want to let go. The one issue that I see with BPs being beginner snakes is their poor feeding habits; they are known to be one of the worst feeders, refusing food for months for little changes in their environment, whether it's the temperatures enclosure size, decoration change, or even placement of the tank changing. I love my boy, but we've been through months of him refusing food for tiny temp fluctuation during winter.

4 feet really isn't that big, and you'll have to think about cleaning the tank for any sized snake and the possibility of getting bit.

 

[Starwild]

Well with any animal that has teeth there is a chance it is going to bite. Dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, doesn't matter. But ball pythons, Western hognose snakes and colubrids like corn snakes are usually very docile.

Snakes bite for one of two reasons, one, they smell rodent on you, sense the heat and motion of your hand and mistake you for food, or two, you're scaring them and they're acting defensive.

You prevent the first by always washing your hands after handling rodents and by not grabbing a snake's head or wriggling your fingers in a way that might look like a mouse. Scoop them up from underneath or behind them after tapping lightly on the cage to let them know you're there. Which is mostly how you prevent the second kind of bite. That and you will learn to read the animal's body language and will be able to tell when it is thinking about biting; they curl their necks back into an s-shape. It is very distinctive.

Living with a snake means you will probably get bit at some point, but it's not terribly painful and won't do you any harm beyond needing some neosporin and a band-aid.

As for cleaning the tank when the snake is four feet, well, you will probably do what I do which is tap on the cage, unlock the cage, pick up snake, drape snake around my neck, let her get settled then clean the cage. Once cage is clean, replace snake or else go do more household chores. I often do dishes or clean house with my snake hanging around me. Balls are small enough and docile enough that you can do that with most of them. They are quiet and will just hang out with you.

But if it's your mom and not you who's scared of being bitten, just take care of the snake yourself and tell her she won't ever have to handle it.

I would suggest going to a GOOD pet store and handling some of their snakes before deciding if you want one or not.

 

[lar20]

my ball has never bitten me and none of my friends have been bitten by one either. not all snakes will bite some will but unless you get 1 of the big 5 snakes it usually wont cause more then a little bleeding lol and idk why your mom asked what u would do when u cleaned the cage lol you either put it in a seperate container or you put him on your shoulders which is normally what i do when i clean his cage.

even a species that bites a lot i still would say they are worth it since the bites normally arent to bad and its worth it to have a awesome snake. any reptile can bite

 

[ang3l3s]

I have quite a few balls and they all have there own characters,but this 1 albino always snaps whenever u pass by her, but the rest pretty cool. I have been bit once an that was cause i was cleaning the asfs b4 i handled her and didn't wash my hands. I must admit I'm more precautious with them but i have one demon gecko I'm more afraid of then my balls.