# Reptile people, and snaker-lovers unite! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894 "2017-11-17T19:40:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894/21 "2017-11-19T02:58:02Z")
I love Pretzel! I saw a grown female ball python last summer and she was quite a bit larger than Raphael. He shows his recognition of me by willingly sitting on me in my lap or around my neck. He doesn’t try to get away. Often he will tuck his head under my chin. He boops me quite a bit and lets me pet his little head, which he didn’t permit when I first got him. My husband teases me that he just loves me for my body heat, but nope. Not true. He’s such a calm little creature, very soft and relaxing to have around. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894/22 "2017-11-19T03:20:08Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > He shows his recognition of me by willingly sitting on me in my lap or around my neck. He doesn’t try to get away. Often he will tuck his head under my chin. He boops me quite a bit and lets me pet his little head, which he didn’t permit when I first got him. My husband teases me that he just loves me for my body heat, but nope. Not true. I had a California king snake like that. (Not as beautiful as your python!) I think pet snakes need to have something to do, since they don’t have to hunt, and being with their owner provides them activity. Can you imagine how boring it would be otherwise as a pet snake? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894/23 "2017-11-19T03:39:49Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I had a California king snake like that. (Not as beautiful as your python!) I think pet snakes need to have something to do, since they don’t have to hunt, and being with their owner provides them activity. Can you imagine how boring it would be otherwise as a pet snake? I am not sure snakes are capable of boredom. I like snakes fine, but what I really like are TURTLES. It probably has to do with the aquatickness; I used to keep a few hundred gallons of tropical fish, back in the day. Unfortunately turtles are not truly indoor pets, since they need pretty vast amounts of water and sunlight to be happy. Even a bathtub is a bit cramped for an ordinary red-eared slider. ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894/24 "2017-11-19T05:45:56Z")
I’ve been owned by a couple of Burmese pythons in the past. Zeus was acquired after an friend relocated elsewhere that didn’t allow the snake. About 7 foot long, he was photographed at a local “Santa Paws” event (with prepermission granted by ‘Santa’) for a few years running, gaining about a foot a year. Orion was donated by his ex-owners as they were going to have a kid. The soon-to-be grandparents wern’t thrilled with a 12’ critter around. I had to transport him to the vets when he’d reached over 14’ - ever try to smuggle a big ol’ snake on a city bus?? He rode coiled up in a wheelie duffel bag that took up a wheelchair slot and the passengers were told it was a heavy load of laundry… ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894/25 "2017-11-21T16:32:08Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > You are so cute! > > I’m afraid of snakes and very interested in how your Raphy expresses love. Does he recognize you? Seek you out? I was fishing back through my Instagram and found this one that sums up the ol’ snaker love pretty well. [Raphael ‘n’ me](https://www.instagram.com/p/BFP6UeoqDok/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptile-people-and-snaker-lovers-unite/801894.md?page=1)