Hey guys,

my name is Samantha, an i'm a semi-new reptile enthusiast. im going to be 21 in a few months and ever since I was 10 years old I knew I wanted a snake as a pet ( i saw the most awesome looking little snake in a pet store window when we were purchasing a new hamster for my sister after hers had passed away ). To this day I have no idea what kind of snake it was, maybe a garter or a ribbon but I knew I loved them. unfortunately, not everyone in my life shares this same view which is why it has taken me so long to get one. i still dont own a snake, but I plan on purchasing a ball python sometime in the near future. as well as a gecko. my boyfriend is not a snake enthusiast..in fact he's very scared of them. does anyone have any ideas on how to ease that fear? my mother is the same way.

i look forward to reading a lot of information here and getting to know some of you nice reptile keepers!

-Samantha

Hi and welcome to HC!

I can tell you my hubby does not like snakes either and I ahve 6 at the moment, lol. The one thing I can tell you is dont force it on him, he will hopefully eventually get used to it just living in the same house as him, then from there it might and hopefully progress! Mine has actually held a couple of my large red tail boas, but this has been a couple of years of him "just living" in the same house with them, lol

Good luck!

Hello,

Welcome to the HC Network. Kudos to you for reading and educating yourself before purchasing.

My girl is not a snake person either and I own 3. As stated, it has simply been a process of her living with them that has helped her succomb to her fears.

If I am holding the head away from her, she will occasionally "pet" the snakes. I own 2 Ball Pythons and a Snow Corn.

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good to know some people can overcome their fears even if its just to live in peace with them. i hope my boy gets to that point.. poor thing, he's afraid to even see a snake. ( this one time we were at the national zoo in Washington DC and there was a black HOSE on the ground, a little kid said "look mommy a SNAKE" and he just about lost it. )

Angie would freak at the mere sight of a snake when she first met me. Now though, she will just avoid them but her reaction is much less dramatic.

I recall showing her a garter snake I had encountered many years back and she literally broke into tears when she saw me holding it. She was THAT afraid of snakes.

So long as your enclosure is secure, he should be able to overcome his fears. Just ensure to all degrees that the enclosure is escape proof. If the bp were to get loose, he would likely never overcome his fear as he would always be anticipating it somewhere in the house.

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Welcome to HC Network.....Enjoy!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

oh that would be aweful! for him AND the snake!

excape proof cages are a must for multiple reasons haha

Hi Samantha!

Welcome to Herp Center! We own quite a few snakes and do presentations, and I always run into people who are afraid of snakes! I always ask them why they are afraid. I ask them to pet my snake. I ask them if they are afraid of dogs, and that they are less likely to get bit by a dog than a snake. But as Nicole said, don't push ... he will come around!
Hope you enjoy the site!

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Smile and the world will think that you are up to something!

Steve

Welcome to Herpcenter Samantha

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Welcome to HerpCenter Samantha!
There are many reasons that people fear snakes. Sometimes it has to do with something that has happened to them as a child such as having a snake startle them or some idiot used a snake to scare them. Some have had it ingrained in them that all snakes are dangerous and some just seem to have, what to us seems, an unreasoning fear of them.

First and foremost you must have respect for that fear! As has been said, don't push the issue. Let them come around on their own time. If they don't want anything to do with the snake then give them that space.
Ball pythons are great snakes for overcoming the phobia IF the person wants to overcome it. Being slow moving and deliberate it tends to put people more at ease than the rapid movements of a colubrid.
I have used mine to work with people who had never thought they would even touch a snake and ended up with them actually holding mine.
Good luck! At least he is open to the idea of having the snake in the house!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!