Pet of the Week
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Five Myths About Constrictors
They seem, at first glance, to be unusual pets. In fact, calling them “pets” seems a stretch to many people. But, if you enjoy reptiles, you will find that a boa constrictor or a python, can be wonderful pets that involve little care. There are some definite issues involved in the keeping of these animals, however, and a little knowledge goes along way to keeping these animals safe. Human safety must be considered as well.
I became interested in “alternative pets” when I developed asthma. Having had a virtual zoo about me since childhood, this was just not a happy thing for me. Then I discovered reptiles.
Reptiles are wonderful for anyone with allergies. They are totally hypoallergenic. They are clean and they are quiet. The bedding they require is also not a trigger for allergies. And what I found, after I had amassed quite a collection, is that reptiles are very rewarding pets to own. I found the snakes that I owned were my favorites in my collection and I eventually concentrated on them. My choice for a snake was always a Royal Python, otherwise known as a Ball Python, and mentioned in this blog by his name, Decaf.
Many people have preconceived notions about snakes, and in particular about constrictors. Both boas and pythons are in the constrictor family, although they come from different regions of the world. Throughout this series of articles, I will be describing various sub-species of both the python and the boa, but for right now, let’s lump them together in one category.
Let’s start with dispelling some myths about these creatures. This does NOT apply to all snakes, since some species of snakes are venomous, and are not suitable for pets. So keep in mind that we’re just discussing the constrictor family.
Myth #1. Snakes are slimy. This is probably the most common myth about snakes, and has been handed down from generation to generation. The boa constrictor has a skin texture that feels very much like silk. It is very soft and very dry. The python’s skin feels exactly like leather and is also very dry.
Myth #2. Boa constrictors and pythons are poisonous. This is ABSOLUTELY not true. They do carry a fluid in their fangs, but this fluid is not toxic, unless you have a particular allergy to it. I personally have never heard of anyone who had this allergy, but I presume there could be someone, somewhere who is.
Myth #3. They bite a lot. Pythons are extremely reluctant to bite. They will avoid biting unless they are cornered. A boa has a bit more of a tendency to bite if taken by surprise, but if it is aware of your presence, it is not likely to do so. As a side note, as rare as the bites are, they are not painful and they are not dangerous. Like any animal, caution must be taken to avoid startling a constrictor.
Myth #4. Pythons and boas are stupid and can’t recognize people. Both of these snakes do know their handlers, and they are very comfortable with their normal handler. A python, in particular, will respond to an individual.
Myth #5. Other household pets are in danger from a snake. This is really half-true. If you don’t provide proper housing, with a lock-down lid, this can be an issue. These animals are escape artists and would thoroughly enjoy having “Tweety Bird” for lunch, but then so would your cat. The typical behavior of a constrictor if it does escape is to hide. They are usually scared to death, and only want a safe shelter from the activity of a normal household. They can be found in odd places if they escape. I once had a cage that was not properly locked down, and I ended up moving three dressers to retrieve him. His escape was caused by not locking the lid down. With proper housing, escape is not an issue. As a side note, lock down cages do not cost any more than ones that don’t lock.
Now that you know that the snake is not something to fear, but is something to respect, I would like to introduce you to this wonderful world of pet keeping. In the future, I will be discussing health issues, housing issues, safety issues, and of course, many different species of constrictors. I’ll be talking about purchase prices of different species, availability, and just exactly how big that little 10 inch baby you are bringing home is going to get. I hope you’ll enjoy and benefit from these articles, and come away with a new respect and understanding of these misunderstood pets.
