big snake and friends small kids....

[Nightmare]

Just a 'generally wondering' topic.

We have quite a few reptiles including a very big python (Miffy). Lots of friends have brought their offspring round to see/play with the lizards etc...and look at Miffy.

A few have small children (6 and under) who would like to play with Miffy....which i have no real issue with. She hasn't bitten anyone since very small (I poked her whilst she was asleep, she wasnt best pleased) and she's totally relaxed and we let her roam the house a lot of the time - but a 6 year old is much closer to prey size...and its a snake; with the best will in the world I haven't a clue what goes in her head (if anything) so I dont feel I can guarantee safety here.

Obviously there wouldn't be anything unsupervised; but she can move faster you you can see if she needs to....so it would defintiely be damage control rather than avoidance if worst came to worst.

I know I would have been gutted as a kid if someone had decided something was too dangerous.

Im just waffling now....anyone got any views?!

[Rick101]

Aye,keep it in the tank!

Don't imagine it would be much fun explaining what that lump in the middle is to the parents.

[Adenauer]

Nightmare said:

with the best will in the world I haven't a clue what goes in her head (if anything) so I dont feel I can guarantee safety here.

I think that answers your question.

[ali_kat]

Yeah, does her pattern inspire jewellery designs?

In all seriousness, I'd be letting the kids get up close, which you stood between them & her head. If you aren't comfortable with that, then... Well your gut instincts are the right way to go

[Jasandjules]

How often would she feed? If just fed the day or two before I would imagine she wouldn't bother attacking.

[hedgefinder]

wasnt there a case recently where a big constrictor got out of its tank one night and went upstairs and choked both the owners 2 kids to death whilst they slept?

[paintman]

Simple question and I expect it will have an equally simple answer.
If it did go wrong would you be happy to have your snake destroyed?
Better safe - for all concerned - than sorry.

[rosie11]

hedgefinder said:

wasnt there a case recently where a big constrictor got out of its tank one night and went upstairs and choked both the owners 2 kids to death whilst they slept?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23583116

[Muzzer79]

Snakes are a bit too unpredictable for small kids IMO

They're predators at the end of the day

By all means let them near the tank and stuff and touch it whilst you're in full control but I wouldn't let it out on its own

[Nightmare]

thanks for all the feedback - i think that answers any vague doubts i had! i'll stick to holding her and them petting her..should still be fun for them i hope

i honestly do think the chance of her striking is incredibly remote - i definitely think big snakes are safer then med size ones just because they don't feel remotely threatened by anything, and as a result you really don't ever get defensive actions at all which is the only time people usually get bitten by snakes.

i personally still think there's something very off about that Canadian story....

Ali -she occasionally inspires a new belt and boots design considerations Actually if you could mimic her pattern on a mokume ring it would look truly awesome

[ali_kat]

I think that's the best plan for the kids

We're on the same wavelength there then Ooohh, shoes & handbag for weddings

Ps - what do you know about watches? There's a thread I started in the forum...

[BarryP]

Nightmare said:

Just a 'generally wondering' topic.

We have quite a few reptiles including a very big python (Miffy). Lots of friends have brought their offspring round to see/play with the lizards etc...and look at Miffy.

A few have small children (6 and under) who would like to play with Miffy....which i have no real issue with. She hasn't bitten anyone since very small (I poked her whilst she was asleep, she wasnt best pleased) and she's totally relaxed and we let her roam the house a lot of the time - but a 6 year old is much closer to prey size...and its a snake; with the best will in the world I haven't a clue what goes in her head (if anything) so I dont feel I can guarantee safety here.

Obviously there wouldn't be anything unsupervised; but she can move faster you you can see if she needs to....so it would defintiely be damage control rather than avoidance if worst came to worst.

I know I would have been gutted as a kid if someone had decided something was too dangerous.

Im just waffling now....anyone got any views?!

If it's a Burmese it will probably be ok, I used to own one which weighed six stone and was about 15' long. She regularly went into schools and did a lot of tv and film work, I wouldn't trust a large Retic or African though, they are much more temperamental and more likely to strike without warning.

[BlackVanDyke]

If Miffy is REALLY big, would you holding her head end and letting her body rest across the kids lap(s) be an option? I experienced this at a few birthday parties as a young kid - there was a local guy that did an assorted-exotic-animals visit - and it's stayed with me as a deeply cool experience.

PS I think her name is ace, mostly cos it's so incongruous for a snake!

[Nightmare]

ali_kat said:

I think that's the best plan for the kids

We're on the same wavelength there then Ooohh, shoes & handbag for weddings

She's bright yellow; so you'll need to select your dress with care for correct accessorising darhhling!

ali_kat said:

Ps - what do you know about watches? There's a thread I started in the forum...

me...next to bugger all...but we have a watch specialist at the shop so I'll ask him what a rotary should cost and email you the answer. My limited knowledge does suggest that watch servicing takes the p*ss in general, so I think that's probably going to turn out to be a fair price you've been quoted.

Barry - shes a burmese...i wouldnt even vaguely be considering it otherwise! frankly I don't know why people keep ARs, but heh. she's a bit bigger than yours was though.....

great idea Bex I think thats the thing - i have lots of very cool memories from when young - things that have stuck with me - and i want other kids to have the same thing. admittedly it would probably be best if their cool memory wasn't watching little Johnny become a unusual shape bulge.

[ali_kat]

Snake skin can be dyed

I'm now thinking more knee high boots based on her size

Ta

[BlackLabel]

Do you have any pictures of your snake? Would love to see some.

Snakes fascinate and equally scare the st out of me at the same time (irrational I know).

[Nightmare]

you could have a whole bodystocking Ali!

i'll take some pics for you later BL...here she is from last year letting herself out for a roam....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rFjyvDlRsQ

[Shaw Tarse]

Nightmare said:

you could have a whole bodystocking Ali!

i'll take some pics for you later BL...here she is from last year letting herself out for a roam....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rFjyvDlRsQ

I agree with BL, scary, but cool...

[HonestIago]

How on Earth do you handle a thing that size?!

What does she weigh?

[BarryP]

Nightmare said:

Barry - shes a burmese...i wouldnt even vaguely be considering it otherwise! frankly I don't know why people keep ARs, but heh. she's a bit bigger than yours was .

I've had big pythons for many years, got home from work one day and met a 4m African Rock coming down the stairs!
We currently have one a similar size which we rehomed after it was taken in by the RSPCA, the police did a drugs raid on a place in Birmingham and the dealer used to keep his stash in the snakes vivarium.