Snakes around the neck?

StudentoReptile · 08-13-12, 03:52 PM

Okay...This is the only forum where I have seen people completely flip out about seeing pics of folks with snakes around their neck.

Now, I totally understand not doing this with larger constrictors because of the risk of strangulation. But corn snakes and ball pythons? I'll be honest, I have on occasion taken my elderly BP out and casually drape him around my neck while I'm giving him fresh water or spot-cleaning his cage. In 20 years, I have done this same thing with many snakes and never had an issue, although I have never done so with anything larger than a BP or an adult kingsnake.

I keep seeing the argument of pressure points being brought up repeatedly, and while I am no expert in that area, I can acknowledge the plausibility of that scenario. However, I would like for someone to explain it in greater detail for me (and any future viewers). How many pressure points are there on the neck and realistically, how possible is it for a snake to touch these? Does it have to touch them all at once for unconsciousness to occur? From my rudimentary understanding of pressure points, it would seem that the nose or tail of the snake would be be "ideal" to accomplish this, compared to the relatively flat, smooth sides of the snake's body.

Then I have to consider: what is the probability of something like this actually happening? I mean, yeah, anything can happen. Mind you, I don't really advocate that people put snakes around their necks anyway, but still, the way some people react on this forum, its like, "OMG, don't handle your ball python. It might strike you on the wrist and severe an artery!" Possible? Sure. Likelihood of happening? ...Meh...not enough to keep me from handling pythons.

I mean, I'm trying to get a grasp on this, but I just don't understand the reaction. Maybe it just needs to be explained better to me, I suppose.

mykee · 08-13-12, 04:00 PM

I see it as potentially Social Darwinism at work.

Wildside · 08-13-12, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

I see it as potentially Social Darwinism at work.

I lol'ed so freakin' hard. Here's the thing... I've never ever ever ever heard of anyone passing out or dying because their snake gave them some sort of no-fingered death slither. In every recorded incident of "Death by Pet Snake" it's a tragic incident of "Obvious stupidity is obvious" and has absolutely nothing to do with someone chillin' with their snake around their neck.

MoreliAddict · 10-11-12, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildside

I lol'ed so freakin' hard. Here's the thing... I've never ever ever ever heard of anyone passing out or dying because their snake gave them some sort of no-fingered death slither. In every recorded incident of "Death by Pet Snake" it's a tragic incident of "Obvious stupidity is obvious" and has absolutely nothing to do with someone chillin' with their snake around their neck.

Me either.

The deaths I mostly hear about are people getting killed by their cobra, or people getting killed by their burmese while trying to feed it.

StudentoReptile · 10-11-12, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

Me either.

The deaths I mostly hear about are people getting killed by their cobra, or people getting killed by their burmese while trying to feed it.

But here's the thing...people see the photos of you and your BP or cornsnake around your neck, then they think its fine to do it with their Burmese, retic or adult RTB. That's how accidents can happen (and have happened).

Kettennatter · 10-11-12, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

Me either.

The deaths I mostly hear about are people getting killed by their cobra, or people getting killed by their burmese while trying to feed it.

Here in Ohio a man was strangled in 2006 by his burmese in its enclosure. Details vary dependng on the report.

It's an unlikely event. But even low numbers will harm our cause tremendously.

Wildside · 10-11-12, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kettennatter

Here in Ohio a man was strangled in 2006 by his burmese in its enclosure. Details vary dependng on the report.

It's an unlikely event. But even low numbers will harm our cause tremendously.

Why was he in its enclosure with it?

Kaetlinv · 08-13-12, 04:12 PM

None of the comments told to me are going to make me hold my pythons any different. I'm relaxed around them and move carefully - I won't give them a reason to tense up and if I do, I really do have enough time to stick my finger behind their tail or neck and loosen them up. I've done it plenty of times, and only the bigger of my two pythons I have any concern over hurting me.

If they're relaxed, they won't tense up, therefore they can't hit any of those specific pressure points. I'm more worried about them getting caught up in my hair, before either of them hurting me.

Ivalynfyre · 08-13-12, 04:09 PM

I don't think it's smart to let any snake wrap all the way around your neck - I used to let my ball do so and a few times he made me lightheaded, and even if I tried to unwrap him tail-first, it was difficult to get him off. Of course I'm a weak little teenage girl, lol.
Now, just draping them across the back of your neck is fine by me - I do it with all my snakes, and over the shoulder is fine with me, too. I'm not going to get all mad and flustered if people let their snakes all the way around their necks...
When Hikari gets big in several years, she's staying away from my neck, and anyone else's, for that matter.

Wildside · 08-13-12, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivalynfyre

I don't think it's smart to let any snake wrap all the way around your neck - I used to let my ball do so and a few times he made me lightheaded, and even if I tried to unwrap him tail-first, it was difficult to get him off. Of course I'm a weak little teenage girl, lol.
Now, just draping them across the back of your neck is fine by me - I do it with all my snakes, and over the shoulder is fine with me, too. I'm not going to get all mad and flustered if people let their snakes all the way around their necks...
When Hikari gets big in several years, she's staying away from my neck, and anyone else's, for that matter.

Once they are that size they're much easier to drape over your shoulders or just hold in your hands. You can't walk around holding them and cleaning their cages and stuff when they're that size anyway. Has to be done separate.

marvelfreak · 08-13-12, 04:37 PM

I did have a 8.5 foot 20 + lb RTB get spooked and choke me out in under ten seconds. she was wrapped around my neck when she got spooked by my brother in law walking pass the window. I am a big boy, i am strong as hell, i always thought i could easily pull her off. When in the blink of a eye your air is cut off you no longer are as strong. I passed out and fell. When my sister in law and brother in law pulled her off of me my face was purple. when i fell she had actually tighten up even more.

I will say though power wise there is a big difference between say a 8 foot RTB and a 8 foot Carpet python. The key is always use safety and always expected the unexpected.

Philmul · 10-09-12, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

I did have a 8.5 foot 20 + lb RTB get spooked and choke me out in under ten seconds. she was wrapped around my neck when she got spooked by my brother in law walking pass the window. I am a big boy, i am strong as hell, i always thought i could easily pull her off. When in the blink of a eye your air is cut off you no longer are as strong. I passed out and fell. When my sister in law and brother in law pulled her off of me my face was purple. when i fell she had actually tighten up even more.

I have a 4- 5 ft boa I had. Her around my neck and she tightened up. I felt the potential power of her. But I would never let any boa bigger than her around my neck. I don't even think I would put her around my throat part again. Lol. I let my royal. Even at full size she is not strong enough to over power me.

Terranaut · 10-09-12, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philmul

I have a 4- 5 ft boa I had. Her around my neck and she tightened up. I felt the potential power of her. But I would never let any boa bigger than her around my neck. I don't even think I would put her around my throat part again. Lol. I let my royal. Even at full size she is not strong enough to over power me.

Either of the snakes you have could drop you like a stone and you would not be able to pull them off yourself. I mean if they got a good hold. Bigger snakes can do this just by being like a horse shoe over both shoulders. Most of the time its not a case of asphyxiation but of having your blood flow to the brain cut off. Even an out of shape slob can go 45 seconds without air. But even an athlete will be out in 5-10 seconds after the bloodflow stops and you realisticaly have about 2-3 seconds before you lose strength and body control. So don't kid yourself. It can happen even to you. But the best way around this IMHO isn't to stop putting snakes on you but to ensure you always do it with a friend. This way you get to share your snakes as well

When this thread was started I got the idea to have a couple drills with my kids so they knew what to do. I put my male jcp around my neck and had the kids remove him tail first as if he was choking me. I doubt we will ever have an issue but I am sure anyone killed by their snake thought the same. We also did a bite scenario where the snake would not let go. All good stuff and we had an entire afternoon of messing with my kids and our snakes.

Kettennatter · 10-11-12, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philmul

I have a 4- 5 ft boa I had. Her around my neck and she tightened up. I felt the potential power of her. But I would never let any boa bigger than her around my neck. I don't even think I would put her around my throat part again. Lol. I let my royal. Even at full size she is not strong enough to over power me.

Phil, you didn't feel the potential power. Unless she was going to fully constrict, you only experienced a fraction of what is possible. I had a 5 ft. King Snake constrict on my lower arm once, trying to strike and feed. It's a snake that you can normally peel off at any time, yet in that moment it felt like the strength of a human hand gripping me hard.

This is an unlikely event, so I have the feeling that many boa or python owners have never fully experienced what their snakes are capable of.

My BCI is the most mellow thing there is, and she may hang over my shoulder, but she is not going to be around my neck.

Ivalynfyre · 08-13-12, 04:23 PM

That's why I said my neck, not my shoulders. I'm not sure I'd be able to get a 50 lb snake onto my shoulders, though, that's half of my current weight.