what are snakes like?

Question

I've always had the thinking that snakes were dangerous and poisonous and I should stay away from them....the only snake that i think is harmless is Kaa from The Jungle Book because he's so funny =)....yea, but he' not real...Snakes also look mysterious and evil, or maybe that's just because I think of them that way...anyways, I would like to know from a snake lover or snake owner's perspective? are snakes scary and dangerous? have they ever bitten you? do they bite a lot? what made you choose a pet snake? didn't it used to frighten you as well when you were younger--almost everyone I know doesn't like snakes? thanks for answering!

Answer 1

You know I have a lot of respect for you asking that question, thats something people sit and wonder their whole life but never ask.Snakes have alot fo myths that make them sound evil. But first thing is first. Snakes are not poisonous. They are Venomous. there is a difference certain frogs (hense the name) poisen dart frog, they are poisenous because the excret a poison from their skin. It has different purposes, mainly defense. Venom is used for food ,and if push comes to shove then its used for defense. If it makes you feel better when i was younger snakes,even turtles scared me!That why i learned about them, i wanted to know more. Even Kaa wasn't harmless, remember he started constricting Moglee(sp). Most snakes just like any other animal or human can be dangerous. Mainly when people get bit by a snake it is because they're hand was going straight toward the snake without the person aknowledging this incident, and the snake thinks it is an attack!So they bite. A recent study did show snakes can control the venom they use in a bite. The reason for this, is because most snakes know that we're not food, but if you have the food smell on you, then things could get serious. The reaosn snakes look mysterious and evil is because you don't know about them! And they are mysterious, which isn't always a bad thing.It's really all in your head. there are 2 different types of snakes, constrictors and venomous. Most constrict. Even garter snakes, but these are so small that they can't do you harm. I hve in fact been bitten by a few snakes. But it was always when i was going after the snake(to relocate it), or because i had been "harrassing it" and made it mad. When we get mad we yell or cuss or something of that sort to vent our anger, and sometimes we want to be left alone, well snakes try to get away, if they get "cornered" then they will "yell or in this case bite back. What made me choose a pet snake..Well i was interested in them for one. I got a small snake for starters, but like a good herp(reptile/amphibian) keeper i did all my research first!I also have asthma and allergies, so snake was a good choice. Plus i could interact with it and it wasn't a pet everyone had,and well it was a good conversation starter, but main reason i just flat out loved snakes. None of my pet snakes had eve bitten me,although it is possible. But i never gave them a reason to bite me, I cared for them and they could sense it. It really depends first onthe breed of snake you have. Some are mean some are nice, some go back and forth in their moods, some are more dangerous than others,some are easier to take care of than others for certian people.Alot of people like snakes, its just hard to find them. they are great animals.

Answer 2

Only a small percentage of snakes are venomous. There is no such thing as a poisonous snake.
They are only scary to someone who is unwilling to learn about them and unfamiliar with them. Sure they can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Respect the animal. They do not become tame. They do not crave human interaction nor do they feel love or show emotions, need or love to be held as some owners will tell you. It all comes down to respect.You have to know what you are doing and the animal will tolerate you handling it. This is especially important with large snakes (some of ours are 14-16 feet long)
Yes, when you have snakes you do risk being bitten. It can happen for any number of reasons. They do not bite alot. We have over 400 snakes right now. We have had many more and sometimes less. We have only had a few that have ever actually bitten anyone.
I did not like snakes when I was very little, I always thought they were slimy and gross.. but around 7th grade science I changed my mind. We had one in the classroom and they are not slimy. Their scales are quite dry.
My husband and I started out with a little ball python that we paid $30 for from a local pet store and now we own our own company.

Answer 3

The unknown is always scary. The easiest way to diminish your fears is to watch a captive snake for a while. See how it moves, climbs, drinks water, hides under cover, maybe even how it hunts & eats. Then have some one that's knowledgeable about snakes hold the snake & again let you watch it, working your way up to touching the snake & maybe, after you feel more comfortable, hold the snake yourself. This gradual building up of confidence & knowledge will help you to understand this truly amazing creature a little better & maybe appreciate what life might be like for a snake. It's always best to try & understand the things we fear. Yes, they can bite, and , no, it doesn't hurt very much(much less than a bee sting), but your chances of getting bitten are very small with a snake that is used to being handled. Try it, you might just like it.

Answer 4

Wen I was 14 (6 years ago) I was TERRIFIED of snakes. I thought they were slimy and gross.

But, as part of my training as a Volunteer at the Audubon Zoo of New Orleans, I was required to hold a five and a half foot Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I HAD to hold him in order to pass my training!

So, I bit the bullet and let the handler wrap -what I considered the largest snake alive- around my entire arm.

After that, I was amazed by them...

Yes, snakes CAN be scary and Dangerous, if you have a fear of them. Because if you fear them, then whats the chance that you actually did research on it? Some snakes bite a lot. Mostly because they aren't used to being around people...

I've been bitten a totally of..... Once. I am the proud owner of a Red Tail Boa who is almost three years old now. He bit me only once when I was feeding him, two years ago. But that was it.

Well, I hope that all these answers have helped you out... Snakes aren't the servants of the Devil or anything, and usually, they'll only bite you if you had hurt them first. Do your research. Snakes are really wonderful pets!

Answer 5

Some people are drawn to snakes, others recoil in fear. Throughout history, snakes have figured prominenetly in religion and folklore, representing both good and evil. Some of the fascination comes from the fact that they have no legs, and this makes them mysterious to us. For whatever reason, the snake is the subject of countless rumors and stories, most of them entirely fictional.

Many people believe that all snakes are dangerous, slimy creatures. This is far from the truth. Unfrotunately, the stories about the hiker who scared away a shy corn snake don't make healines, but stories of anacondas eating childern sell papers. In fact, snakes are clean, dry silky skinned animals that are mostly non-dangerous to humans. Of course, there are a number of poisionous, and even lethal snakes, but they are encountered far less often than the rumor mill would have us believe.

As far as pets go, there are types of snakes that make fine companions. A snake won't come when you call it, or fetch a ball for you, but watching it explore, eat and sleep has a strange, soothing effect. My snakes have taught me that there is value in a patient, unhurried approach to life, springing into action only when necessary.

A snake needs special consideration as a pet, however. Despite your best efforts and intentions, you will encounter people who fears snakes, and will not or can not overcome this fear. If one of these happens to be your husband or wife, you (and your pet) are in for a rough time! Don't assume that logic, or time will take this fear away. Make sure that everyone in your family, and any frequent guests that you plan on keepings as friends have at least an attitude of acceptance towards snakes.

Most snakes eat rodents, frogs, insects, or other snakes. Make sure that you will be comfortable with this. Some people get a little squeamish when they realize they need to keep these "cute" little dead mice in their freezer. Some snakes will refuse to eat anything but live food. Make sure that you will be comfortable feeding live mice to your snake if the need arises.

Poisonous snakes do not make good pets. Stay clear of them - these should be handled only by professionals. No matter what precautions you take, or how well prepared you are, one day an accident will hapen. If you are lucky, it will just mean some time in the hospital. If you're not...

We have all seen the person with a snake around his/her neck on TV, or a snake owner showing off. This is incredibly foolish - it's about the equivalent of closing your eyes for ten seconds while driving on the highway. Many time someone can get away with this, but if the snake decides to tighten it's grip, it can cut off the blood flow to the brain and render you unconcious, or even dead. The worst part of it is that the snake is covering such a large area of the neck that the pressure is hardly felt. Snakes are amazingly strong. Consider the fact that virtually every muscle in their body can be used for constricting when they decide to.

If you want a snake to impress your friends, or shock your inlaws, then do us all a favor and just dye your hair orange or get your eyelids pierced or something. A snake is a living, intelligent creature that has as much right as any animal to live comfortably and securely. Unqualified or uncaring snake owners are the ones that we read about in the papers, and make the public at large wary of snakes and those who keep them.

Answer 6

One thing that always bugs me is when people say snakes are gross because they are slimy. They aren't slimy. Sometimes they look shiny, and I think people tend to mistake that for slime, but it's just shine. Even if a snake has been in the water, it's not slimy, it's just wet.

Anyway, to answer your questions...

"are snakes scary and dangerous?"

As I said, it depends on the type of snake, for the danger anyway. They are only dangerous if they have venom or are big enough to eat kill you.

How scary they are depends on the person. If you are asking me if I'm afraid of snakes, it would depend. If I saw a wild snake and didn't know what kind it was, I'd avoid it because doing otherwise would just be stupid. I'd avoid it anyway though, just so not to bother it.

"have they ever bitten you?"

Yes, my corn snake bit me twice. It stung a little, but not much since her teeth were so small. Both times it was because there was a mouse in the cage, and she mistook my hand for the mouse. With the first bite, she didn't just bite, but she wrapped around my hand. I kept my hand still. She seemed to realize she bit the wrong thing, unwrapped herself, and released my hand. With the second bite, I was pulling away, so ended up accidentally yanking my finger from her mouth. It probably hurt her more than it hurt me. I felt bad about that.

"do they bite a lot?"

Two times out of eight years isn't a lot. It depends on the snake though. Corn snakes, which is what I had, tend to be more mild mannered. She was bred in captivity, and her personality overall was calm. I noticed that when I picked her out. When I picked her out, I picked up different baby snakes to see which one I wanted. She was the calmest, preferring to rest in my hand. There was a dog running around, and she didn't react much to the dog. The first snake I picked up was scrambling to move away from the dog. Keep in mind, these were all baby snakes from the same hatch of eggs.

"what made you choose a pet snake?"

I thought it would be interesting to have a pet snake. Before I had fish, then hamsters, and I wanted something new.

"didn't it used to frighten you as well when you were younger--almost everyone I know doesn't like snakes?"

No. I don't remember ever a time of being afraid of snakes. I didn't grow up where snakes are running wild either, so that probably helps.

To your overall question, what are snakes like?

As I mentioned before, it depends on the breed and the individual snake. They have different personalities, just like any other animal. Personally, I think they are beautiful. I can't really think of anything as to how they feel. I think you got to feel scales to get an idea. They are smooth, and if you pet them, pet down the scales, otherwise you might accidentally push a scale up or something. Their stomachs' have a longer scales, across the belly, to make it easier for them to move around. If you have one moving around you, you can feel the muscles moving under it's skin. When you watch them eat, you can see the mouse moving down, but the bulge of the mouse shrinks as it goes down the mouse. Don't pick up a snake right after it's eaten. You could make it regurgitate the mouse back up.

Hmm, anything else you want to know about what they are like?

Answer 7

Cold Hearted Snake....Paula Abdul Spiders & Snakes....Jim Stafford Snake Charmer....Rainbow Tube Snake Boogie....ZZ Top Jawbreaker....Judas Priest Sneaky Snake....Tom T. Hall The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight....REM Rattlesnake Shake....Aerosmith Union Of The Snake....Duran Duran Keep On Lovin You....Reo Speedwagon

Answer 8

you should definitely stay away from snakes in the wild but pet snakes are soooooooo sweet i just got my first today. A lot of my friends in college had multiple pet snakes and I've wanted one for as long as i can remember. Ive been handling snakes since i was about three years old so I've never been afraid of them. Find a friend that has a snake and slowly build up your confidence. When you hold it you'll be surprised they are not slimy or rough they're very smooth. You probably be surprised at their strength too...they're pretty much all muscle and bone.

Answer 9

Dangerous ofcourse... there are snakes that are so poisonous that if bitten the person can die within just on esecond,deadly poisonous.....and there are also snakes which once bitten it will take a while for the person to die.....so you see it is very dangerous.And my advice to you is tip of how to beet the snake,if you see one all YOU HAVE TO DO IS STAND STILL AND DO NOT MOVE A MUSCLE EVEN IT AMY COME TO YOU BUT DO NOT PANNIC BECOZ IF YOU DO IT MAY THINK YOU WANT TO HARM IT.......thats all....

Answer 10

In order:

"Are snakes scary and dangerous?" Ours certainly are not. My daughter has had a couple of corn snakes since she was 8 or 9; she's now 15. Corn snakes are non-aggressive, socialize well with people, and are very easy to care for. They are non-venomous, and like all snakes they enjoy wrapping themselves around humans arms because we're warm. But it FEELS like the snake is "snuggling" with you, so they're rewarding pets for that reason.

"Have they ever bitten you? Do they bite a lot?" My daughter has been bitten, I think, three times in six years. (Again, our corn snakes are non-venomous, but like all snakes, they do have teeth.) Not one of her bites was as bad as the gashes I have on my left leg right now from when my big fat red tabby cat decided to jump off my lap while I was wearing shorts last week! But I love my cat anyway. Same with the snakes -- two of her bites happened when she was reaching into the snake's cage when it was feeding. Snakes have very poor eyesight and no ears at all, so it's hard for them to tell the difference between "finger" and "dinner." (The third time was when she had caught a wild garter snake, at the home of friends, and the other kids got too wild and scared the snake our daughter was holding. She was SO proud.)

"What made you choose a pet snake?" I always wanted one when I was a kid (this'll cover "Didn't it use to frighten you when you were younger?"), but my mother is REALLY afraid of them, so the closest I ever got was a segmented bamboo toy snake from a gift shop in Chinatown, and even THAT gave Mom the willies.

I can't remember what got my younger daughter interested in reptiles (I can't remember a time when she was NOT fascinated with all kinds of animals -- or when they were not fascinated with her, for that matter!). My wife and I have always had cats, birds and fish, virtually since we were first married (as soon as we found an apartment that let us keep pets, anyway), so our daughter grew up around animals.

But when our daughter was four or five she became interested in lizards, toads, and snakes. So when she was a little older and asked for one, we looked into getting one for her; a local reptile shop and several friends recommended corn snakes, and I have to say they've been a delight -- I think they're beautiful, and they are easy-going and make great pets. Our daughter is now COMPLETELY responsible for the care of her snakes, making sure they have fresh water, feeding them, and cleaning their cages.

And finally, though you don't ask -- snakes are NOT slimy. Corn snakes, at least, have a cool, silky smoothness to them, and I can watch them move for hours. It's very pleasant to have a snake draped over my arm, the loops of its beautiful mosaic skin curving in and out. Our oldest corn snake is of a variety called "Okeetee," which means she has a gorgeous pattern of red and orange markings down her back and a white and brown "checkerboard" pattern on her belly.

And to check in about other animals we have or have kept -- we have five cats, two snakes, and a pair of cockatiels at the moment. We've had other interesting pets too -- a couple of lizards, a lovely little bird from South America (a grey-cheeked parakeet, NOT a budgie but a parrot of the Brotogeris species, a sweet little guy), finches, fish, and various mice, rats and hamsters. My 9-year-old son wants a Mexican red-kneed tarantula next; I understand they're placid and sociable. I can't wait!