iz it coz themz kool
I really don't get why predatory reptiles can ever be thought of as a house pet. They aren't social animals so their mental processes extend only as far as 'Survive. Kill-eat. Breed'.

People keep these animals and seem genuinely surprised when they bite, attempt to strangle, eat other pets etc.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 20 Apr 2011, 13:34, 4 replies)

lack of knowledge lolz

( zulu eh?, Wed 20 Apr 2011, 13:49, closed)

Yes. But no. Very much no.
I'm not in any way surprised, I was bitten, once, and it was entirely my fault. I'd been preparing his evening meal and my hands still smelled of it. I was moving him down onto the floor and my hand moved right through his peripheral vision, about rat sized, smelling of rat, moving where dinner moves.

Entirely avoidable, entirely my fault.

He's never bitten before or since, he's incredibly docile and tame, even when shedding.

Snakes are predators but they're also not (well, most aren't) psychopaths. If they don't associate you with being dinner or a threat, they're happy to be around you.

Also, quite a few are social. But you'll know this from your extensive research on the topic...
(Miraclefish How appropriate, you fight like a cow, Wed 20 Apr 2011, 16:03, closed)

I don't profess to be well researched in the topic.
I would however be very interested to learn which species of snake has a sufficient social structure adaptable to domesticity.

A few friends of mine have owned reptiles at various times. Each creature being indeed interesting to observe occasionally. One instance that springs to mind is Essssther. A royal or burmese who grew somewhat cuntish once she was over 7'. Her owner couldn't let her out without backup on hand as she had a tendency to squeeze any available appendage which became dangerous as she continued to grow stronger.

As I said originally, I just don't see the appeal when there are a multitude of animals who can share much more involved interaction....
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Wed 20 Apr 2011, 23:14, closed)

Temperament seems to vary wildly from one individual to another. My three Royals were always pretty placid, but my Burmese was an absolute mare. She just about tolerated me after a while, but hated everyone else with a passion. I've heard of people having nasty Royals and placid Burmese. I think it's either luck of the draw, or possibly down to the treatment that they've received from previous owners.

People can think what they like, but I've felt a bond with all of my snakes over time, which is more than I can say for any mouse, gerbil or budgie that I've ever had. I cried when I found my Burmese dead under next door's floorboards. She's buried at the bottom of our garden.
( Horatio P Lemming, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 10:33, closed)

I tried to get our royal to bite me
Just because I wanted to know how much it would hurt. Got my hands smelling of gerbil, waited until she was hungry and my Mum wasn't about and even then it still took a nifty bit of mime to convince her that my hand was worth a bite.
(Brambly Slag is strangely attracted to Steve Buscemi, Wed 20 Apr 2011, 16:48, closed)

'Survive. Kill-eat. Breed'.
Seems to be the thought processes of a large number of tracksuited UK residents, to be fair.
( Michael Ellis contributes nothing, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 7:20, closed)