Snakes and Cigarettes/Nicotine?

[AndrewM1217]

I would like to preface this post with the statement that I am well aware of snakes' sensitive respiratory system and would never allow any sort of smoke around my snake, so please do not think that I am putting an animal in harm's way. In fact, I hope to do just the opposite by asking this question.

While I do not personally smoke cigarettes, I have a handful of friends that do. Some of which have taken an interest in my Spotted Python and have become curious about reptiles in general. I do my best to tell them about keeping reptiles and what is involved in it so that if they too decide to get into the hobby, they wont be one of the countless people picking up a ball python at a chain pet store and keeping it in awful conditions.

One of said friends, who was timid around snakes initially, asked to hold my spotted python the other day. He smokes cigarettes, and smelled slightly of cigarettes at the time. I asked that he wait until a time where he hadn't recently smoked.

I know snakes don't respire through their skin like amphibians, but I was curious if handling a snake after smoking a cigarette and having the residue on one's hands could have any sort of ill effect? A Google search turned up no relevant information. I feel like this is probably just me worrying too much, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Thanks in advance for the help!

[Andy_G]

I don't think so. As long as they aren't inhaling smoke it should be fine...but unless a scientific study were published on the matter it would be very hard to know. Just get your friends to wash up before handling.

[macandchz]

andrewm1217- i agree with you about being safe than sorry. although there's been no studies that you can find about nicotine, you never know what they may find out down the road. remember, there was a time when smoking was considered safe. washing hands seems sufficient.