Why Do You Have Snakes In Your Life?

[psychocircus]

There's pictures of me when I was 3 touching a giant Burmese python.

When I was around seven years old my dad took me to a reptile show where I got to hold a variety of small snakes. The only one I distinctly remember was a corn snake.

When I was probably nine or ten we went to a pet store and they had a ribbon snake that I just HAD to have. My mom has always had a phobia of snakes, but she now tells me she allowed me to get it because I never asked for anything.

All these things probably had an impact on me being interested in snakes. What keeps me interested? The variety, my fascination with the giants, and my fascination with the venomous.

[MM1]

I'm not sure where my fascination with reptiles originated. They all interested me; particularly crocodilians (weird since I'm from the Bronx and still live in Brooklyn) but it took till I was 12 to convince my parents on a pet snake. I have been so unbelievably fortunate to still have this animal (a Haitian Tree Boa named Rudy) at 43 years old (he's about 32). Along the way I also kept some adult garters and ribbons for a few years each, as well as an anole and a newt. Right now I just have the old guy but would definitely like to keep maybe 2-3 herps (maybe a lizard and another snake or two) in the future. This past holiday season I had a great time showing my 6 year old son a little bit of the Everglades. He really got a kick out of seeing the turtles and all the alligators basking right there beside the trail.

[ScalelessTime]

When I was 7, I was terrified of snakes. Then one of my sisters brought her snake to my house and showed it to me. It was only one of the days I had the guts to touch one.

Another day was curiosity. I saw a "black rope" under a homemade bench in the backyard and thought it was a little odd why there was a random rope. So I went to pick it up and it slithered away.

Guess what, it wasn't a rope at all. It was a 5 foot black garden snake. I chased it all around my yard trying to catch it. Sadly, I didn't know better and beat the thing till is couldn't slither away from me anymore. I kept it till it died 5 hours later. It was pretty sad.

Then about 2 years from now, I got my first pet snake, a Okeetee cornsnake. I named him Valentine since I got him on Valentine's day. I lost him about 2 months later after owning him.

After that day of seeing my sister's snake, I fell a small bit in love with them As I got more experienced with snakes, I went mad for every species. Now I just want all of them as my own and can't have just one.

Every snake that I have owned so far has given me something to be proud. Though some days are bad, y'know the usual biting behaviors, them as themselves make up for it. I love snakes, forever and always.

God gave us some beautiful creatures on this planet.

[Wyldrose]

When I was 8 we went to Reptile world in Drumheller Alberta. It was disappointing at first, a lot of animals where not on display and/or hiding. Just as we where about to leave we where asked if we wanted to hold a snake. They brought out a 6 foot boa constrictor and have been in love ever since.

[limey]

I was a late starter with reptiles. I was always an "animal boy" growing up. I would always beg my Mum and Dad to go to farms and parks and places where we could see animals.

Fast forward 15 years, I got my zoology degree and became a zookeeper. In the last 4 years, my passions shifted from mammals more to snakes. There are so many species of snakes and so much to learn! Not to mention they are some of the prettiest creatures in the animals kingdom.

And, as somebody else just pointed out... I find it "soothing" to have them out. Couldn't have said it better myself. Snakes actually make good companions... who would have thought it?

They are like chicken soup for the soul.

[Will0W783]

I've loved snakes as long as I can remember. My dad used to take me to this local reptile zoo- Clyde Peeling's Reptiland- every summer and I remember touching and holding several snakes during their educational kids' show. My mom is terrified of snakes and I think my dad didn't want me to have the same unfounded fear. Little did he know what he'd create, lol.

I started keeping snakes 9 years ago, with just a ball python. Now I keep several pythons, but mainly am focused on the vipers. To me, the snakes are a form of therapy. They're beautiful, calm and relatively still creatures that move methodically and rhythmically. I love feeding them and caring for them. I feel honored and awestruck to be able to share my life with species of snakes that most people will never know even exist! The biology of these creatures: how perfectly they've evolved, the different types of venom and venom apparati, the patterns and colors- they just amaze and fascinate me!

[limey]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

To me, the snakes are a form of therapy.

I feel exactly the same way.

Non-snake keepers will never know what they are missing out on. Simply put.

[Mikoh4792]

I just find them to be fascinating and interesting.

I keep them for a similar reason that people keep fish in an aquarium. They are interesting creatures to observe(even though compared to other animals they are inactive).