Who's Afraid Of A Little Old Snake?

Who's Afraid Of A Little Old Snake?

Who's Afraid Of A Little Old Snake?

I didn't used to think about reptiles at any time. What I mean to say is, I was aware they existed and I'd watched some in a zoo a few times. Then one fine day my youngest son dived into the bushes while we were rambling in Illinois and popped up holding a 2 foot long water snake. He was approximately six years of age! That was the birth of a lengthy relationship with 'slimy' reptiles.

Another time was during vacation in Italy. My son heard something in the bushes and dived in. We were getting used to it these days, when all said and done, he was just about eight years of age. He assured us that he was well aware how to handle snakes and, even if venomous, he would get hurt. He sauntered into a local store, and three men swiftly jumped over the counter and ran into the back of the shop, shouting some strange words in their language.

It suddenly struck me that my son was brandishing a snake that was very venomous and told him so. He shrugged, looking about the room with contempt at these wimpish adults, went calmly across the road and threw it (gently) into the undergrowth. That was an ordinary thing throughout William's early years. We might be out in the country someplace, he might hear something and away he'll go.

It was a foregone conclusion that he would keep pet snakes, beginning with a milk snake0 and later favoring rather big pythons and boas. He liked to keep large spiders, which he tells me me display temperaments, but I never believed this see this, and didn't really like spiders at all. Its not that I love reptiles, but I know something more about them because of his enthusiasm for them.

I started out holding smaller versions first, like the garters, milks and corn snakes. Of course, they are not cold a bit (if housed in the right way in a warm habitat) and without doubt not at all slimy. Reptiles bodies are protected by scales but they are not harsh to hold. A reptile's skin is dry and supple. You could say they are quite pleasant to touch. I observed that smaller snakes are quite lively if warm and somewhat slow moving if a bit chilly. They don't have an internal process for warming their blood, and thus need to take heat heat out of the external environment.

The first big snake I handled was perhaps around three feet in length and 2 to 3 inches across. The reptile being a young boa constrictor and I was immediately impressed by the power of the muscles rippling just below the scales, even with such a relatively little animal. It was obvious to me that a big snake must be incredibly powerful. Every one has heard the myth about the pet boa making a meal the family dog, and it has to be said that a little dog wouldn't stand much of a chance against a constrictor six feet in length and at a weight of around seventy pounds.

A neighbor had a snake bigger than that which had the habit of roaming around the kitchen. Once, the snake attacked his pet dog as it was walking close by, one would think, to try and eat the dog. Luckily, the dog was a strong Alsation, so the reptile didn't get very far, but care should be taken if keeping these large animals close to other pet animals and children.

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