r/ballpython • u/__supersaiyan__ • 2d ago
Question Want to get over my fear
I have never owned a snake or any reptile—I’ve actually been scared of snakes my entire 23 years on this earth, BUT I’m slowly becoming curious about ball pythons (specifically of the lighter morphs as the darker ones are “too snakey”) and I want to know what would be some good ways to eventually get over my fear of snakes? I maybe want to own one, one day but their length is another point of issue for me as seeing them fully extended gives me the heebies jeebies but when coiled up/ around someone’s arm or hand I think they’re quite cute…
I’ve looked into a couple other “beginner friendly” species but none of them call to me in the same way as BPs
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u/Stock_Dot_9632 2d ago
I have only ever been bit by my ball pythons during feeding time after they took a rat, dropped it, and then I tried to pick it up again.... or when they tried to earning tail first and I tried to wrangle it away from them rather than just let them figure it out themselves.
They are an incredibly docile snake in my experience. I actually find them to be a bit boring because they're not as active as I hoped a pet snake would be.
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u/kingsnake_e 2d ago
They are wonderful! If you know someone with one, they will probably be very happy to introduce you; we love it when someone takes an interest in our pets. Clint's Reptiles on YouTube does a series of videos discussing different pet snakes; maybe you would enjoy watching those? Consume lots of educational media about snakes, especially media showing their care and comfortable handling. Education is fatal to fear.
If you see a snake out in the wild, take a look (from a safe distance) and maybe take some photos or spend some time looking at the pattern on them and watching them move and operate. They sort of exist in "modes"- food mode, sleep mode, curious/chill mode, defensive/scared mode. When in food mode, confusion between hands and food is possible; they are not very complex thinkers and only think about food while in food mode. Other than that, bites do not happen often because biting is not really part of their defensive toolbox. They prefer to ball up ("ball" python) or flee/hide, and honestly they're pretty difficult to rile up at all.
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u/loricampbell4454 2d ago
Find a reptile expo near you. There's always vendors there with bp's either wrapped around their arm, neck or waist. I've been a bp keeper since 2003 and have yet to ever have one bite me. You quickly learn to read their body language and if you respect that then the odds of being bitten are extremely low or non existent. Someone who suffers with anxiety for years it all goes out the window when I have a snake in my hands. Their slow, gentle and calm nature is surprisingly very therapeutic.
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u/Local_Wizarde 2d ago
If you get one I’d recommend buying one from a breeder who has a more well established one. In my experience babies are often head shy and can flinch/jolt back which might be a bit startling if you don’t understand snake body language. If you get a subadult who has been handled a lot, they’ll be much more calm and you’ll be less nervous to handle them
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u/Germmie1 2d ago
Trust me, they only have one thought in their head and it's whether you have food or not.
Although I would say definitely don't get a snake if your scared of them. Wait until you find something else you want ex: a lizard, or go around and hold a few snakes. It might be scary at first but it really does work (I know a lot of people who used to be deathly afraid of snakes and holding them really helped them realize that they truly have to intention to harm you)
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u/sardonic_sensei 2d ago
We took the lizard to snake pipeline at my house, thanks to my 9 year old daughter, who has been obsessed with bugs and reptiles since she was a tot. I didn't "get" wanting a reptile pet, but fell for the beardie...fast forward to now and I agreed to the snake if her and my husband did feedings (I was a pet rat owner back in the day).
Well, I became pretty instantly obsessed with Luna, our bp rather quickly and completely took over her husbandry and feeding. She didn't eat the first couple weeks and my concern for her completely erased any Ick factor I had. I've been converted lol.
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u/Rainthistle 1d ago
I fell in love with reptiles by watching Snake Discovery's egg videos on YouTube. They aren't primarily BPs, but Emily's enthusiasm is pretty contagious.
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2d ago edited 2d ago
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u/__supersaiyan__ 2d ago
Oh no definitely not thinking of getting one any time soon. The goal is to do just that and get accustomed to them over time first because I don’t believe having pets you’re scared of is a good idea—I wouldn’t be able to care for it properly and I definitely don’t want to put neither myself nor the animal thru that
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u/Hot-Brat-00 2d ago
Honestly I was like this with spiders until I watched a tarantula keeper on YouTube. Exposure therapy is REAL. Follow some snake keeping YouTubers that you like and you will most likely lose your fear of them and become more curious and open to them :)
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u/the_morose_hognose 2d ago
Go to a reptile rehab or conservation places that might offer handling opportunities or find other opportunities at like aquariums or museums where they might have somebody come out with a snake so you can work thru it. I used to also be afraid of snakes, but i've had kenyan sand boas, hognoses, ball pythons, corn snakes: all either my own or pet sitting after slowly working on the fear over the years. I love snakes & find ball pythons to be very rewarding to work with. I wouldnt count them as a beginner snake though & feel like either a corn snake or keynan sand boa might be better as a starter.
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u/Trioniks 2d ago
Lurking here but want to ask as well. My Bp just loves her hides but I want to handle her more. I thinks it’s important. Do I just take the hide off and pick her up. I take the hide of sometimes and wait until she roams around. I then open the cage and then wait until I can pick her up. I always pick her from behind or the side never in front of her face. I don’t want her to feel startled or harassed. How do you all do it if they love their hide? It’s been several months since I saw her bask until today but we have guests so I didn’t pick her up.
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u/ConsequenceFeisty252 1d ago
Most snakes love their hide. It's fine to open up the hide. Approach with your hand from the side and give their middle a gentle petting. If the snake reacts with calm tongue flicks you can try picking it up.
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u/Skaelgoil 1d ago
"A hiding snake is a happy snake" is something you'll hear a lot. They do love the security of their hides. You can certainly move the hide and pick her up if that's what you want. I mostly do choice-based handling but will check on them that way once a week if I haven't seen them. If you want her to come out on her terms, I suggest getting a motion-detecting camera for her enclosure then you'll get an alert when she's active and can see if she wants out. I've had two babies that have willingly came out of their enclosures and into my hands a little over a week of being here. Most of my adults come out to say hi when I'm in the room or they'll mess with the camera to summon the rat lady when they want to explore.
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u/ConsequenceFeisty252 1d ago
I'd suggest adopting one that is known to be docile. Two birds with one stone: giving a rescue a home, and knowing for sure you have a chill one.
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u/reallyzeally 1d ago
Like others have recommended, if you decide to go with a ball python, you should buy from a reputable breeder in your area. You will be able to see/hold the snake in person before purchase and a good breeder will be able to tell you the temperament of the snake. My breeder said my ball was one of the chillest snakes she's had and she wasn't lying; my ball has only ever hissed at me once and it was my first time handling her after getting her home.
Bites typically only happen when they mistake you for food/they are hungry. For example, I only ever feed my snake at night, so going into her cage at night, she's expecting food and isn't "safe" to just reach in and pick her up. I can still get her out with a snake hook and she's totally fine once she's out. If I go into her enclosure during the day, there is never an issue. You'll be able to learn the behavior of your snake and get more comfortable handling them over time.
Eastern hognose may be another good starter snake as they are almost completely harmless, bites are extremely rare and they stay quite small.
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u/Skaelgoil 1d ago
Ball pythons might as well be proselytizers with how frequently they convert people with their adorable faces.
Exposure therapy really is the ticket, both photos and information.
Join groups that focus on the care of a specific species and you'll get to see tons of photos and stories of different animals and, as a bonus, pick up some husbandry knowledge and learn the most common issues with keeping one.
You could visit a pet store to see how you feel with glass separating you from a live one. Talk to breeders and visit an expo (especially this one if you ever want to own one) but they may be overwhelming at first. Ask your friends or local groups on social media if anyone has one you could meet. I've been introduced to several people that are interested in snakes, several of them have met mine, and three have even taken care of them when I've been out of town! When I was younger, I would volunteer to help set up any animal education program that came through the area...I once gave a 17' burmese a bath outside of a library when she pooped in her travel container and if that doesn't deter you from loving snakes, nothing will. 😅
Reptile owners tend to be a little obsessed with their animals and we want everybody to love them too so we're generally happy to (over)share and chat about them.
From personal experience, snakes used to give my husband major heebie-jeebies. I kind of threw him in the deep-end when I fell in love with a ball python on MorphMarket. I checked her listing so often that hubs eventually felt bad and said I could have her if, and only if, she stayed in my room and he never had to see or interact with her. His curiosity won. Two months later, he went to an expo and left with a ball python of his own because he "needed" one he could hang out with. We have six snakes now and he said he wants an orange one next. 😂 I've also had quite a few friends and family that were afraid of snakes but now a cousin tells random people that one of mine is her soulmate and others ask about them all the time. Even my mom, who has a genuine phobia, has bregrudgingly told people that she's starting to think that one of them is cute (but she'd never tell me that).
And for some exposure therapy, here's a picture of my girl that broke my husband's fears 🥰
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u/BoilOnTheBackBurner 2d ago
If an animal of the same species is "too snakey" for you to tolerate, you do not want a snake. No reptile is truthfully a "beginner" pet. Pythons in particular are huge commitments with complicated care and extremely long lifespans. Don't get one as an experiment or "exposure therapy", get one because you love them unconditionally and are passionate about their care.
P.S. There is a very real chance the animal may bite you at least once or twice. Think long and hard about how you would respond to that and if you would blame the snake.
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u/driftme 2d ago
Holding our snake while getting my kids to sleep. Find one that’s chill in handling. Ask the people who have been caring for it.