Old Python Myth

[BOASandBASS]

I have heard this old myth/story many times and i am curious as to were it comes from.

A man bought a baby python when he saw an old man selling them at the market so he quickly bought one and took it home. Over the next many years he and his "companion" got very comfortable with each other, that they would sleep in the same bed together, were the snake would curl up against him and warm up. Then one day he noticed that his python was not resting in a curled or coiled position anymore, but it was lying down next to him fully extended. Because of this the man took his pet snake to the doctor to receive an explanation. The doctor told him his snake was sizing the owner up to eat him. Upon hearing this the man killed his python to avoid accident.

Has any one heard this before? When i was trying to convince my mom for a snake she told me this story as a deterrent. BTW she is turkish and i have heard this myth from another middle eastern person. Does anyone have any info on this? Im just curious.

[revent]

I can't remember where but I've heard that story before lol

[BOASandBASS]

But you have heard it though!!! Were does it come from?

[SSSSnakes]

The "snake measures its intended victim" tale appears in the 2012 Paul Theroux fiction The Lower River.

Read more at snopes.com: Python Measures Victim (http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/measured.asp#IvILFLxGTZAJqhEs.99)

[Donnie]

That is quite a common story over here that you get told by some people who don't keep snakes. I had heard of it but never had it mentioned to me personally until early last year, I had to laugh and then I educated the nice chap who thought it was real :)

[pdomensis]

Could you imagine a snake doing this in the wild? "I think I'll just saddle up next to this rat to make sure it'll fit.":wacky:

[Sublimeballs]

I've heard this aswell. but it wasn't something I've heard for a long time, it was only a few years back that I heard this for the first time.

[Sublimeballs]

Could you imagine a snake doing this in the wild? "I think I'll just saddle up next to this rat to make sure it'll fit.":wacky:

I laughed.

[marvelfreak]

It nothing but a stupid wives tale spread by ignorant people who fear snakes.

[Jim Smith]

Who knows, maybe the python had just come out of brumation and was in the mood;)

[Jinxygirl]

My cousin told me that story, but she is terrified of snakes and refuses to acknowledge anything good I try to tell her about them.

[psychocircus]

I've heard this story at least three separate times.
Snakes are opportunistic feeders and will go after prey first, then decide if it is manageable. Not the other way around.

[LiL Zap]

It's sad to know that people believe this garbage too.

[shaunyboy]

I have heard this old myth/story many times and i am curious as to were it comes from.

A man bought a baby python when he saw an old man selling them at the market so he quickly bought one and took it home. Over the next many years he and his "companion" got very comfortable with each other, that they would sleep in the same bed together, were the snake would curl up against him and warm up. Then one day he noticed that his python was not resting in a curled or coiled position anymore, but it was lying down next to him fully extended. Because of this the man took his pet snake to the doctor to receive an explanation. The doctor told him his snake was sizing the owner up to eat him. Upon hearing this the man killed his python to avoid accident.

Has any one heard this before? When i was trying to convince my mom for a snake she told me this story as a deterrent. BTW she is turkish and i have heard this myth from another middle eastern person. Does anyone have any info on this? Im just curious.

that crazy story comes up frequently on snake forums and ive had a few non snake keepers tell me this story,it's a pretty common told myth here in the U.K.


cheers shaun

[BIGT FROM F.B.]

Rule of thumb; don't make your snake a "bed buddy". Get a dog or hooker. LOL!!! :bouncy::bouncy:

[kelzerman]

Rule of thumb; don't make your snake a "bed buddy". Get a dog or hooker. LOL!!! :bouncy::bouncy:

I don't like the way dogs smell.... lol

[StudentoReptile]

OMG....someone was telling me a story about a friend with a boa, with the same situation. They took the snake to the vet and the vet told them the same thing!!! That the snake was sizing them up.......A VET!!!! :wacky:

Where do people get these ideas?!?! No snake in the history of snakes, has ever used its body to measure prey. Period.:pissedoff:

[revent]

A co worker actually told me this story today...