Snakes round necks: yes or no?

Just a discussion for you all to sink your teeth in to I've been wondering, what are your views about handling snakes around your neck?

I ask because lately I've heard a lot of people saying, never put ANY snake around your neck and I feel it's one of those personal things, but I'm curious to know how you view it. Personally, I am quite comfortable having a corn or royal around my neck, but I would never allow anything over about 6 foot to get around my throat.

I'm asking more about safety issues here over the 'coolness' factor. So what do you think? Is it irresponsible to let a snake get around your neck, or acceptable?

Really depends on the snake, but my overall view is, not advisable.
I once let a 5' king wrap around my neck for a pic. When I had enough, I had a heck of a time getting him loose. I think they can detect a pulse and their natural instinct is to squeeze tighter until they no longer feel it. A small corn would pose no problem, but I still feel it is not a good idea :wavey:

Never do it or let others do it with my snakes - not so much the risk of constriction - but it seems that it is invariably the time they decide to relieve themselves. Nothing makes a stronger impression than snake poo running down your shirt!! Just on principle I think it is a good idea to avoid putting snakes around your neck - it is not as secure for the snake as being supported on your hands.


mary v.

I wouldn't put anything more muscular then an average sized adult corn around my neck, and I don't do it much, only when I need to free up both of my hands for something. I like to be able to see my snakes when they're out and about.

mbdorfer said:

Really depends on the snake, but my overall view is, not advisable.
I once let a 5' king wrap around my neck for a pic. When I had enough, I had a heck of a time getting him loose. I think they can detect a pulse and their natural instinct is to squeeze tighter until they no longer feel it. A small corn would pose no problem, but I still feel it is not a good idea :wavey:

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Indeed, but in that respect, would a snake not also detect a pulse in our wrists when held on the hands?

Keep the comments coming... this is very interesting :wavey:

never had a snake wrap around your wrist??

Anyways, I do try to avoid it. Course, most of the snakes I have are arboreal and wouldn't stay long around a neck. Not to mention the temptation of massive heat emissions - eyes, ears, nose, mouth... Snakes are hardwired, even the tamest will eventually want an ear to munch on or something to that effect...

The Nothing said:

never had a snake wrap around your wrist??

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I've never had a snake REALLY squeeze on my wrist, like it was trying to "kill it", lol. They just grip to hang on most of the time. Unless you count a feeding response bite I had once... but that had nothing to do with necks.. :grin01:

I would have the corns round my neck for a few mins if i was doing something, eg cleaning water dishes. However I prefer not to... I have long hair which they insist on getting tangled in every time. Also recently a friend was holding scarlett round her neck and the snake decided to poop alll down her neck. Very unpleasant.

As for the boas, Ill drape the bigger ones over my shoulder but NOT around my neck. I have had my columbian girl wraped round me a few times, not even trying to squeeze and I was gasping for air, I suggest you never do it with the bigger boids... They are like ticking bombs with the power to kill at any time.

As for the smaller snakes, why bother... They are too shot and your more likley to lose them

Tula_Montage said:

I would have the corns round my neck for a few mins if i was doing something, eg cleaning water dishes. However I prefer not to... I have long hair which they insist on getting tangled in every time.

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Yeah, I have the hair problem too.

I rarely deliberately put the snakes on my neck, but if they crawl that way of their own initiative I tend to let them do as they please. Although I draw the line at my python reaching towards my face, as he invariably does.

Plissken said:

Yeah, I have the hair problem too.

I rarely deliberately put the snakes on my neck, but if they crawl that way of their own initiative I tend to let them do as they please. Although I draw the line at my python reaching towards my face, as he invariably does.

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I kiss my big columbian girl... I let her crawl into my mouth... This is a completely different subject I know but its the same priciple - "Trust"

I have some sort of close relationship to our biggest female boa... If she decides to crawl round my neck shes soooo gentle. She will crawl round the back of my neck, over my head and down onto my face... And ill kiss her on the nose etc. She doesnt pull back at all... Shes never beeen head shy with me. I can sit there and stroke it all I want but she wont let anyone else near it.

However back on topic, I know she has the power to crush my neck therefore I dont let her wrap round me... But I WILL let her near my face. I may not if and when I get bitten But I honestly believe theres not a nasty or vicious bone in her body :shrugs:

I understand the trust you have in your snakes Elle, but the gentlest snake in the world can suddenly bite, seemingly at no warning. Hence why I do not let Chester near my face, even though he is the gentlest snake I've ever met. Like you with your boas, I don't think he has a mean bone in him, but he's still a predator and I respect that.

Btw, not meaning to be hypocritical here... some will say my having snakes round my neck is irresponsible too... but for some reason it freaks me out having a powerful snake close to my eyes and mouth. Plus I'm paranoid about the whole germs/salmonella thing as far as kissing snakes goes.

Plissken said:

I understand the trust you have in your snakes Elle, but the gentlest snake in the world can suddenly bite, seemingly at no warning. Hence why I do not let Chester near my face, even though he is the gentlest snake I've ever met. Like you with your boas, I don't think he has a mean bone in him, but he's still a predator and I respect that.

Btw, not meaning to be hypocritical here... some will say my having snakes round my neck is irresponsible too... but for some reason it freaks me out having a powerful snake close to my eyes and mouth. Plus I'm paranoid about the whole germs/salmonella thing as far as kissing snakes goes.

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I completly respect that shes a wild animal and would much prefer to be roaming about in a junlge somewhere... But Im sure shes got a much better life with me.

I kiss the boas all the time, they are just so gentle and cute especially the babies!! Maybe its sheer stupidity but I do feel comfortable with them close to my face, despite seeing the size of her fangs on various occasions I wouldnt recommend others putting them near your face - hypocritcal statement on my behalf.

Tula_Montage said:

I completly respect that shes a wild animal and would much prefer to be roaming about in a junlge somewhere... But Im sure shes got a much better life with me.

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Isn't this slightly contradictory?

I don't know, I just think snakes+face=bad idea. :shrugs:

The biggest snake I've let around my neck is a baby BP. She did squeeze a bit, but not enough to hurt.

Wow, I'm kinda surprised at the number of "don't do it" responses. This is one of the best aspects of having pet corns, IMO, is that they can hang out with you. I have quite a few who are "neck snakes" and will hang out on my neck, in my hair, etc. for hours while I am working at the computer. I have one female who knows exactly how to get to the "hide box" on people and will head straight for a sleeve or collar to climb in. She loves to curl up on my belly inside my shirt and "bask" in the warmth.

Yep, I've been crapped on, and bitten, on occasion. But it's not like some traumatic experience that would keep me from doing it again. I also occasionally get "clawed" by the cat if she jumps on/off me, and that's much "worse" than any corn bite. :grin01: I wouldn't do this with a powerful snake but my corns don't fall into that category.

Plissken said:

Isn't this slightly contradictory?

I don't know, I just think snakes+face=bad idea. :shrugs:

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It is yes... But I just feel comfortable enough to do it... Im silly I know

Its not like I force them near my face, they just like to crawl about on it lol

I don't even mind getting scratched by our playful cat - mind you, it's always in play. I figure having cat scratches on me is another subtle clue for people that I have cats - if they don't notice all the cat fur.
(I suppose the scratches could be from something else - it's best when there's a couple in parallel.)

Serpwidgets said:

This is one of the best aspects of having pet corns, IMO, is that they can hang out with you. I have quite a few who are "neck snakes" and will hang out on my neck, in my hair, etc. for hours while I am working at the computer. I have one female who knows exactly how to get to the "hide box" on people and will head straight for a sleeve or collar to climb in. She loves to curl up on my belly inside my shirt and "bask" in the warmth.

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I've only had one corn that liked to hang out. That was Ska and she died not long after I got her. I probably would have let her wrap around my neck, but all the others are just to active for me to trust them where I can't see them. Every time I've done it they end up trying to crawl down my back and behind the couch or onto the floor or whatever.

It had never occurred to me that one shouldn't. As a kid I had a nice big BP that hung out there all the time. If he started getting squeezy, I just unwrapped him. But he never squeezed so hard I felt in danger. And he never bit my face. Why would he? With a 12 foot constrictor, no I wouldn't do it. But then again, I probably wouldn't hold a 12 foot snake without someone else around just in case it decided to get wiley on me, and having it around your neck wouldn't be comfy anyway. I don't put the baby corns there because they'll call off and disappear. But any of the snakes that won't run off get put there anytime I need to use both hands. Like when I need to type a post to the cornsnake page. Yes, I've had snakes poop inside my shirt, but it's actually an easier clean-up than if they poop over the carpet. Just take off the clothes, throw in laundry, wash skin with washcloth and you're good to go.

I don't really let the Ball Python on my shoulders all that much. He's a sweety, but I have seen him get spooked once and strike to do sudden movment. With him, everything is dandy as long as you move nice and slow. Then he'll explore you, let you pet his head, anything. As long as it's slow. I like to imagine he talks like eyore...until you move fast, then he talks like Tweak from South Park...hahahaha. He does take alot of interest in faces though...stretching his little neck out to examine them. I let him do that to an extent...but am cautious of all his movments.

My corn always makes a B-line right for my shoulders, hair and head. She's never been an aggresive creature in anyways, and I wouldn't worry about my safety...buuuuut, it's strange. She'll poop or pee almost EVERY time I take her out, yet my other two snakes NEVER have when held *knocks on wood*. And it's because of that, I never let her on my shoulders until directly AFTER she's just pooped...she has to be safe then...right?

And I more or less let my leucy do whatever he wants right now. I just want him to be as comfortable as possible on people...because I think he's gonna be a big boy...and since texas ratsnakes have such lovely reputations...hehehehe. I think I tend to hold him the most often because of that as well. Allthough he's always been more interested about exploring hands, bra straps and couches than necks or faces.

I dunno...for small snakes I don't see it as too big of a deal...just don't forget that they are still wild animals. For larger snakes...well, I don't even think it's a good idea to handle a burm or retic alone period.