No yard's complete without one!

[The Snark]

Just a little tyke.

And a maximum frustration snake. A little ratter, blazing fast. I'd have loved to have caught him and got rid of those ticks.

 

[Entomancer]

You know, making a fake python/boa out of plaster and hanging it somewhere in your yard would be a pretty funny lawn ornament, even if just for producing reactions in passerby.

 

[pitbulllady]

That's a gorgeous little 'Tic there, really nice pattern! That Rat Snake looks exactly like the one I had. I really hate that that snake died, just out of the blue. I don't know if I'm lucky or what, but I seem to wind up with exceptionally sweet specimens of species known for being flat-out nasty, and my Ptyas was no exception. My best "PR" snake now is my White-Lipped Python, a species famous for being unrepentant face-biters. If ever there was a snake that loved to be held and to be with people, it's her.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

That's a gorgeous little 'Tic there, really nice pattern! That Rat Snake looks exactly like the one I had. I really hate that that snake died, just out of the blue. I don't know if I'm lucky or what, but I seem to wind up with exceptionally sweet specimens of species known for being flat-out nasty, and my Ptyas was no exception. My best "PR" snake now is my White-Lipped Python, a species famous for being unrepentant face-biters. If ever there was a snake that loved to be held and to be with people, it's her.

pitbulllady

I wish someone really knowledgeable in keeping animals, someone like PBL, would do a study on what causes a snake to have a certain disposition. I realize they inherit certain traits but those traits can be modified. So like in, the common Asian ratter, Ptyas, is a pure hell biter, but why? What environment, handling and circumstances can change it to friendly? A typical example is a ratter identical in age and size to the one pictured here. She's completely docile and laconic. Pick her up anywhere from head to tip of tail and she just dangles limply. Then the one pictured here took a couple of credible bites at my hand and the camera before scooting off. The same is with our Tokays. If they get cornered and your hand gets close enough, expect blood. Yet I see them being handled all the time.

PS That python has been trying to figure out how to get at the birds nest in the eaves of our house for a couple of weeks now.

 

[pitbulllady]

I wish someone really knowledgeable in keeping animals, someone like PBL, would do a study on what causes a snake to have a certain disposition. I realize they inherit certain traits but those traits can be modified. So like in, the common Asian ratter, Ptyas, is a pure hell biter, but why? What environment, handling and circumstances can change it to friendly? A typical example is a ratter identical in age and size to the one pictured here. She's completely docile and laconic. Pick her up anywhere from head to tip of tail and she just dangles limply. Then the one pictured here took a couple of credible bites at my hand and the camera before scooting off. The same is with our Tokays. If they get cornered and your hand gets close enough, expect blood. Yet I see them being handled all the time.

PS That python has been trying to figure out how to get at the birds nest in the eaves of our house for a couple of weeks now.

I'd love to know myself how much of a snake's personality is due to genetics and how much is due to conditioning via gentle handling. My Ptyas was freshly wild-caught, one of a few hundred imported to mainly be used as feeders for captive King Cobras. He never, ever tried to bite, but several in the tub containing them struck repeatedly at me as I went though the batch to pick out the one I wanted. My first White-Lip never tamed down, and while not especially bitey, clearly did not want to be handled. He'd poop and thrash around every time I had to pick him up. The one I have now is an import, of course, and has scars to prove it, but she has always been a very docile animal. I've got a CORN Snake which is still a biter in spite of having been in captivity for several years, and my worst biter is a big Green Ghost morph Ball Python.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

You know, making a fake python/boa out of plaster and hanging it somewhere in your yard would be a pretty funny lawn ornament, even if just for producing reactions in passerby.

(The cynics reply). In the U.S. I'd suggest this for tree branches you want trimmed for free. For large trees you want removed, just place a massive one in the upper branches and ignore the sounds of midnight shotguns and chain saws.