"...the notorious kingsnake lectures..."
Ahh, Beth, you know that everyone's an expert. Ha! Ha! We're all experts at one time or another, about something or another. (That's not a punch at "dadspets" either, so please don't anyone take it that way.) I know it’s hard not to take things personally sometimes. Sometimes it depends on who’s saying it or it could depend on how they say it. Sometimes, regardless of who, what, when, where, we take it personally. We’re human.
First, let me thank you for sharing those pics, I appreciate it & I'm sure others do, too. I also thank you for trying to inform, educate, the general public as events like that can go a long way toward helping combat the fear that's threatening the captivity of these beautiful creatures as well as promote responsible pet ownership. That’s a nice lookin’ Burmese python, by the way.
Each situation is different. The way I may act/react in certain situations may be different than the way someone else acts/reacts under the same circumstances except with our own snakes. There are many factors that are involved and no matter how hard we try it's nearly impossible for us to be the same. The main thing to keep in mind is that most of us here are in it for the same responsible reason. Just about anyone can find fault with someone else's situation. That's life, even though sometimes I don't like it myself.
As for the nose-rub, you might want to consider putting the snake in a burlap bag or some other type of cloth bag and then placing it in the tank. Those things happen sometimes, though. None of us are perfect.
I like the procedures you mentioned about having kids sit down & the snake’s head between your husband’s legs, away from the kids. Those are good precautions.
I’d like to just share some concerns I have and not lecture you. The photo with the little girl whose face is just above the snake’s head makes me a lil’ uneasy about the circumstances. You said you’ve had the snake for many years and know it well, and I can pretty much relate to that. My concerns are:
* Snakes are still undomesticated animals, and all animal types have unpredictable moments.
* Even though your husband is standing just to the side, he is standing upright and couldn’t possibly keep the lil’ girl from getting bit in the face.
* I see a cat in close proximity. Did you know for a fact that the lil’ girl had not been cuddling a cat or some other animal and have the scent on her face?
I realize that I’m viewing things after the fact and not during the moment. It’s like looking back.
About the belly scales – unless the snake had just come out of blue, which you said it hadn’t, they should not be peeling off. You said you think ya’ll messed up those scales by dragging the snake around and getting it in/out of the cage. I think you’re right. A Burmese python that size shouldn’t be dragged around. There’s too much weight distributed to the points of contact, resulting in damaged belly scales and could possibly cause other damage, including muscular.
I don’t consider this a lecture and I hope you don’t either. The way I see it is there’s most likely not any difference between this and what you say/do at those events, the information you share with people.
Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
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