Thread: Snakes alive!!

Originally Posted by Redback

Maybe you should hang the cloths out.

I was already told I was bringing the washing in, so hanging them out will be the next order!

Tell me, Is it a myth or is it true, that while you have a python around, you are not going to get other snakes around?

We're in sunny downtown Melbourne, so I don't think we'll ever see one in our back yard, but wouldn't a 3M Python be capable of giving a pretty severe bite, & what would be the chance of one doing that?
Pickles.

I know is hard and your wife may be adamant that she does not like them, but if you can slowly sow the seeds to get her used to them it can work. I would find out if there is someone in your area that has pythons as pets and does familiarisation.
When ours got out he cleaned up the mice around the house for the 3 months he was missing.
You will likely find it wont go too far as pythons can be territorial and don't move to far from their own territory. For it to be out like it is it seems pretty comfortable with people.
Since having our little fella we have changed a lot of peoples opinions on pythons, to the point people will now give him a cuddle.
Not seriously suggesting you actually pick it up unless you are comfortable, but it is a good idea to get used to them as they can be an asset.
Attracting possums and birds will of course bring with it snakes. Possums are usually too quick for them though, but they love baby birds and cats.
We had pet possums as kids too, they can be interesting.

Very rare, almost to the point of being non existent. There is only a real chance of being bitten by a python if you handle it and that is even rare. Pythons don't generally strike at all anyway as such.
Even if they do bite they are not poisonous, but you do need to be aware of infection and clean the wound.
The bigger the snake the more painful the bite due to the size of the fangs.
I have been bitten once and that certainly was not the snakes fault but mine (Don't feed snakes when inebriated). They can draw blood, but once again usually when handled. They are no real threat as a constrictor except maybe to infants and the infirm and that is only really big snakes plus 4m.
A friend of mine has a lot of snakes and she is only about 5'2" and has around 20-50 in the house at any one time. She has a couple of 3m Womas. This one did bite her and wrap around her arm. She had to hold it under water in the pool to make it let go. But she still loves them, though Womas can get a bit narky from time to time. I have had this particular woma up close for a cuddle. She did send me pics of blood pouring down her arm as this snake has big fangs. She still loves him though.
A dog bite is far worse.
The only people I know of being bitten by pythons have been either feeding and the snake strikes incorrectly or the person has food in their fingers (snakes should always be fed with tongs so they learn the difference between feeding and handling) or handling them and then it is rare.
Cheers
Craig

Originally Posted by Pickles2

We're in sunny downtown Melbourne, so I don't think we'll ever see one in our back yard, but wouldn't a 3M Python be capable of giving a pretty severe bite, & what would be the chance of one doing that?
Pickles.

Thanks for that.
A friend of mine had a pet python. I have no idea what sort it was, but I do know that He kept it inside, & he used to let it roam around the House. I think He used to feed it dead mice that He bought from a shop.
He only ever once had a problem with "Her" as He called it. He used to place her in a tree (she obviously liked that?), & on one occasion He reached up to get her down, & she bit him. He didn't have a problem with this as He said that he approached her incorrectly, from the side, and when she caught sight of his hand, she thought she was threatened, so lashed out? it wasn't an issue to him at all at the time.
However, he eventually gave it away, as it was getting too big!
Pickles.

wife had one that size curled up on her ironing board in the house one evening..

youngest daughter and the guy next door got it into a plastic container and they took it to a bush location a few kilometers away..

it was back 4 days later from memory

this year we have already had one visitor that was eyeing off my new shed

didnt take much to get it to move on but it will be back i am sure...

Originally Posted by drivesafe

I was already told I was bringing the washing in, so hanging them out will be the next order!

Tell me, Is it a myth or is it true, that while you have a python around, you are not going to get other snakes around?

That's a myth, if there are no other snakes, then he/she is well fedPythons eat other snakes, actually all snakes eat other snakes, size is the winner.

Pythons are harmless and approached correctly and handled correctly are not aggressive, they are more scared of you, than you are of them.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

We're in sunny downtown Melbourne, so I don't think we'll ever see one in our back yard, but wouldn't a 3M Python be capable of giving a pretty severe bite, & what would be the chance of one doing that?
Pickles.

In sunny downtown Melbourne you will be much more likely to see a tiger snake, copperhead or a brown than I python. I'd much rather a python!

I heard something on the radio last year about the increase in snake numbers in suburban Melbourne! I'm in Kilmore and there are loads of them around here. You can't worry about them, they get out of your way. I just hope that the kids don't surprise one that that hasn't had a chance to clear out.

DriveSafe Spectacular looking python!



B