"Mmmm has that new viper smell"

September 24, 2018 9:40 PM

Unwrapping a viper: Twitter | Threadreader | reddit (no sound)

Another Twitterer asserts that it's a Boelen's Python (Morelia boeleni) from montane regions of Papua New Guinea.

posted by Johnny Wallflower (31 comments total)

Gah




Uuuuhhhhuhh

gah
posted by GuyZero at 9:48 PM on September 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Deeply satisfying, thank goodness it goes all the way to the tip of the tail. Like being able to peel an apple in one piece, or wind a ball of yarn without any tangles. If it had looped in an infinity of snake-shedding I would find it super annoying, but there's an endpoint and that's very nice.

Also, what can you do with the shed skin? It has such an interesting texture, but I'm sure it's super fragile.
posted by Mizu at 9:57 PM on September 24, 2018 [6 favorites]

This is going to haunt me for a very, very, very long time.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 10:00 PM on September 24, 2018

Those ASMR videos just keep getting weirder.
posted by ejs at 10:04 PM on September 24, 2018 [13 favorites]

WARNING ACTUAL SNAKE
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:26 PM on September 24, 2018 [6 favorites]

Wow, what nice shiny iridescent scales!
posted by dhruva at 10:41 PM on September 24, 2018 [4 favorites]

this is a subgenre of unboxing video i can get behind
posted by halation at 10:55 PM on September 24, 2018 [7 favorites]

mmm I love a freshly shaved snek. good snek. hissssss.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:42 PM on September 24, 2018 [10 favorites]

Now i want to do an rpg where adventurers have to brave a cave system...and bargain with the dragon for its shed skin.
posted by happyroach at 11:43 PM on September 24, 2018 [3 favorites]

Then they adorn it with red bows and ribbons and
sell it at the viper vixen negligee shop.
posted by quazichimp at 1:06 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I watched this with Vince Guaraldi's version of Autumn Leaves playing; weirdly relaxing and deeply satisfying at the same time.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 1:26 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Was expecting a fighter from Battlestar Galactica, left disappointed. Also needs a NSFB(Breakfast) warning.
posted by Rob Rockets at 2:31 AM on September 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

I don't want to get too deep on the woods about this and take away the joy, but genuinely curious. Is that safe for the snake? To have its skin shed that way? Some comment I read about this video on imgur mentioned how that's dangerous or painful to the snake. That it should happen naturally.
posted by Fizz at 3:16 AM on September 25, 2018 [4 favorites]

At least it’s not a Boolean Python, which sheds its skin by applying a NOT operator.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:32 AM on September 25, 2018 [12 favorites]

That looks even more satisfying than peeling the plastic off a new mobile's screen.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:34 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Is that safe for the snake? To have its skin shed that way?

I'm not a herpetologist, but I'm friends with some. It's probably the best advice for the casual snake owner to let the snake do it on its own but every snake is different and some will need help. Most snakes get moody when they are shedding and will not want to be handled even if they are trained to comfortable with it usually. The snake in question looks happy and cooperative and not distressed by the experience. Looking at the background of the video there are a bunch of custom snake enclosures (you can see a big albino Burmese python in the last 8 seconds), I'm guessing this a professional snake wrangler or a serious hobbyist or breeder who seems to know what they're doing.
posted by peeedro at 5:44 AM on September 25, 2018 [6 favorites]

That was not a cute puppy, Johnny Wallflower. No, not at all.
posted by klarck at 6:15 AM on September 25, 2018 [6 favorites]

Yeah, I owned a small Indian Python for a bit and was told not to help with shedding because there are frequently bits that aren't ready to come off yet. But this guy seems pretty content and it was all coming off nicely, so I figure all was good. Such pretty scales.
posted by PussKillian at 7:21 AM on September 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

I had a Burmese python for a while. You get to know when it could use help and when you should let it be. Sometimes there are patches that are ready to go and she just missed them. Then I would help. Never, never peel the face. That could get you a bite. I always kept a nip of vodka near her tank. If she clamped on I'd trickle a bit near her mouth. Snakes hate alcohol, instant release. Then you use it to clean the wound.
posted by Splunge at 8:35 AM on September 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

That was both beautiful and horrifying at the same time. I am both happy and unhappy about that experience. I think that video might be the definition of frisson for me. Thanks!
posted by SonInLawOfSam at 8:58 AM on September 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

Those brand new scales are just gorgeous.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:29 AM on September 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

Those ASMR videos just keep getting weirder.

What's the opposite of ASMR? Because this gave me it. RMSA? Run! Move! Snake! Ahhhhhhhhhh!
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:35 AM on September 25, 2018 [6 favorites]

There's a Rifftrax short where two young boys tour a Hormel plant, and at one point a machine skins an entire pig in one piece, the last bit being the tail in which it pops off.

The viper video is not as disturbing for me, but it's in the same zip code.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 9:45 AM on September 25, 2018

Man, PornHub is getting some niche stuff.
posted by misterpatrick at 10:06 AM on September 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

I liked it! It gave me the same satisfying feeling I get when peeling my own skin after a bad sunburn. Is that weird? (I'm ok with being weird)
posted by Popular Ethics at 10:46 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

It looks like it would feel amazing. And the snake's not trying to avoid it, so I don't think it's hurting the snake.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:36 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I am so confused.  That is clearly not a dog.

Cool though.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 11:52 AM on September 25, 2018

It gave me the same satisfying feeling I get when peeling my own skin after a bad sunburn. Is that weird?

Not weird at all, I've accidentally peeled too much and exposed very raw skin before, but it felt so good.
posted by numaner at 12:56 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I’ve accidently peeled too much and revealed the iridescent scales that lurk beneath my human suit, too, but it’s an occupational hazard. No one who would be missed saw, so it’s all good.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:00 PM on September 25, 2018 [11 favorites]

So THAT'S how you take the socks off a snake!

Beautiful snake. I would imagine that's quite a satisfying feeling for both snake and handler. Good job.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:39 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

Such a very nice snake. I wanted so badly to gently pet... ooooooh lovely new shiny scales!
posted by kinnakeet at 9:29 AM on September 26, 2018