Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard that reptiles can be sensitive to cigarette smoke (nicotine in particular). My boyfriend smokes a lot around our flat - I'm worried it may affect my corn. He never smokes in the room he is kept in and washes his hands before handling him.

Do any of you have any thoughts?!

That's a good idea to not smoke in the snake's room.
You asked if "reptiles can be sensitive to cigarette smoke".
Even a person used to smoking is being harmed by it.

to be on the safe side, have him not smoke in the house at all. This way you are not being harmed by second hand smoke either.

Sounds like you have a problem with your boyfriends habits.Just dump him and find a non-smoker.

EVERYONE is affected by cigarette smoke. Snakes only have one functional lung I believe, so I assume they'd be more affected by it than humans, and far more sensitive to it than someone like myself, who's smoked for 20 years. BUT.....If he doesn't smoke in the snake room, and washes his hands before handling, I'm pretty sure your snake is fine. I have 14 snakes right now, all kept in the dining room. I and my guests do smoke in the house, and on occasion in the dining room, but not when the snakes are out. I haven't had any problems with lung infections or breathing difficulties in my snakes at this point, and don't really expect to. I know it's bad for me and my cats and snakes, and especially my daughter, but what can I say, I am addicted. I think your snake will be fine and I'm sure they're are other "smoker" snake owners out there than just me
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Your not the only smoker here. I think everyone here knows that smoking is harmful, the smokers included. I doubt very much that the original poster has to worry very much, seeing that no smoking is going on in the actual snake room. As for smoking in the actual room, I don't think there have been any studies yet of the effects of smoking on snakes so it's hard to say for a fact, but I'm sure it's not good for them . I know that there is a disease that affects plants that are around smoke but I doubt snakes are affected by a plant disease (I can't recall the name of the disease right now though.) One of the above posters mentioned that snakes have one functioning lung and while this is true with many species of snake, some snakes do have both sets of working lungs (once again, I can't think of which species right now, it's late.) Take care, Scott.
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws.
But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
—Martin Luther King Jr

Your children are not only going to have terrible lungs for the rest of their lives but they are going to have to see you in the hospital dying because of your habits. Also you are increasing the chance of your child smoking... and I feel sorry for the poor snakes too.
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Steve
2.0 Corn Snakes
2.0 Ball Pythons
0.1 Veiled Chameleon
1.1 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Rudis Chameleons
0.1 Giant Day Gecko
0.0.3 Red Ear Sliders
0.0.2 Sulcata Tortoises
1.0 Central American Banded Gecko

I am well aware of the dangers of smoking. I am also very aware that smoking could kill me, but it would be a faster death than the one i face with multiple sclerosis. My daughter is healthy and happy and thinks smoking is awful, and will likely grow up feeling this way. This is not your place, telling me how she will suffer for my bad habit. She will suffer from life, as we all have to, and from having a mother who is physically disabled, but she will not suffer for my bad habits. And I am seriously offended that you felt you had the right to say what you did, and this certainly isn't the place for you to have done so.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents