Pets Discussions

Well I dont thinks snakes are good pet around little kids. I think there are kinda not safe.

Well everyone has their own opinions about pets around kids.  Think of that crocodile guy and how he would dangle his baby in front of them!  Personally I would say NO WAY to snakes or anything that could kill a baby in seconds flat... including some dogs.  

A snake or wolf-like dog may be perfectly fine around the adults, but babies are a different story.  They may cry and scare the pet, or to a snake they might look like a tasty meal!  I think people are too trusting of animals as if they are people.  Animals may be smart, but a lot of them still have natural instincts that they turn to when they feel threatened.

I don't see why you couldn't simply say "aren't you worried that snake could turn on your kids?"  and if she shushes you or says she's not at all worried, at least you made your comment.  It's sad but I think there's very little you can do to change a person's mind on this type of issue.

It might help if we knew what type of snake your friend is keeping as a pet.  Most species of snake are harmless.  But then of course there are those that aren't.  Do you know what type of snake it is?

Unless it is a 6 foot boa constrictor or a Burmese Python, I seriously doubt that the snake could harm a child.

Ummm, no, IMHO.  Our pup Jacky found one over the weekend and again I said ~ ummm, no.  I'm really not sure what I would say to a friend who has a pet snake AND has human kids...

dilemmas dilemmas...

Poor snakes!  They'll never live down that one Garden of Eden misadventure.

I would be more concerned the child might hurt the snake. Young kids are hard on small animals.

No! Snakes are ok pets for a single person but I really would not have one around a baby or small child because they can get out and they can squeeze the life out of an infant or child in a matter of minutes and even though they may be a good pet they still have wilderness instincts which cnnot be controlled no matter how close you are to them.If your single then maybe ok but not inside with kids.

Where I live some people had a pet snake who the Mother ended up having to kill because it was attacking her child.  Now because of that the parents are in trouble with the law. I really can't say how to tell her except that you could bring up the legal ramifications.  So she doesn't think you are telling her she is a bad parent.   

I vote no

I don't think snakes are appropriate pets especially around children. One never knows how a child and the snake will react to each other. Besides kids have a habit of getting into things and that could cause big trouble. What if your child accidentally released the snake? Besides I'm very paranoid of reptiles so perhaps my opinion doesn't mean much to others. But again this is just my honest opinion.

There are all kinds of snakes and the overwhelming majority are safe and not aggressive in the least.  In all likelihood, the snake would be kept in a tank, so I'm not sure I see much of a difference between keeping a snake and a goldfish.

One advantage I see about keeping the snake is so the child doesn't grow up with an irrational fear of snakes and other reptiles.

In a word, No!!!  No wild animal makes a good pet, period.  Some of the smallest snakes in the world can kill a human being with one bite. 

I like animals of all kind but when it comes to the wild you just always knwo they can never be tames and it would scare me to have a snak around.

Even a non-poisonous snake can inflict a nasty bite from the bacteria in their mouth. I still say the snake is the real loser when left alone with a small child.

I agree.Snakes are fun but truly belong in the wild or the zoo.

I don't get snakes as a pet, I guess.I wouldn't want them around children either. I don't think it would be safe for the kids or the snake. Take care everyone!

Snakes shouldnt be in tanks to begin with they need lots of crawl room and most tanks dont provide enough.Snakes dont have to be necessarily provoked to bite wether they are poisonous or not.Snakes have been known to escape their tanks and they can pose a real threat if they accidentally get out.Snakes love to wrap tightly around things including infants.Imagine a snake getting out and your baby  bein gin a crib fast asleep and the snak climbs up the crib and enters the bed.Now the child is asleep and the snake is drown to the body heat which they are and it wraps around the childs head or neck and squeezes.The child is asleep and so are you so the child cannot scream or hollar for help and is accidentally killed all because a snake is using it's instincts not purposely.AAlso the child or person may startle the snake by accident inflicting serious injuries.I just dont really think it is a good idea unless you are a trained vet or Croc Hunters wife.