Snake In The Toilet: Myth?

Well, I don't speak for everyone but the idea of snakes showing up I'm people's toilet have been going around for a while, and people actually believe it happens. Trust the Nigerians to make a beautiful joke out of anything, even a situation as bad as having been bitten to death on your ads by a snake while trying to relieve yourself.

There were all sorts of meme made out of it, with some recommending different ways to safely use the cistern without been bothered about the potential presence of a snake in it. So, let's attack this myth, is it true that snakes can be found in the toilet, specifically the water cistern?

Well, to answer the question, we have to know a little something about these sneakycreeping animal. For starters, they are carnivorous reptiles with limbless and elongated bodies. They have a tail and are cold-blooded, hence their body temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment; hmm, maybe your toilet is the right amount of warm? 😂 just kidding.. Or not. Interesting, of the thousands of species of snakes on our planet earth, only a small fraction can actually do you any harm, but you really can't guess which one now, can you?.

People generally hate this creature and most will not want to have any encounter with it whatsoever, even though some people choose to take this animal as a pet ( I wonder the kind of mind such people have), reason being that, just one bite from most of the venomous one is enough to inject enough toxic substance into one's system, that can lead to death (if left untreated) from anything within minutes to a few hours depending on the species you're dealing with.

Snakes can live in the most weird and unimaginable places, and unfortunately, the sewage/septic tank is no exception. While the septic/sewage tanks primary purpose is to store waste, snakes can live there, howbeit temporarily. Due to the activities of microorganisms acting on the waste, there's usually low supply of oxygen in such places and that makes it not ideal for any long term stay for snakes. Even then, they still have to leave from time to time to feed as they wouldn't want to die from starvation and exhaustion.

There are multiple ways snake can find their way into our houses. They can enter through, the door, through the ventilation system, through the roofing structure, as well as through the sewage system. A broken sewage line of exposed septic/sewage tank can serve as a means of entering.

As stated before, a snake cannot stay in a sewage tank for long, hence when the possibility of asphyxiation sets in, it has to find a place to get air, and unfortunately for us, it can navigate it ways through the pipes and voila! It's in your toilet. So, there's your answer: a snake can indeed be found in the cistern of your toilet and the most likely it got there is through the sewage line. It could possibly also be through the ventilation duct system, as that also connects to the toilet.

A snake in your toilet or your water cistern is not an experience you want to have, take it from me. Those who have experienced it can tell you how traumatising it can be and how it leaves you wishing for things you can't have, like not having to poo or pee. A snake in your toilet system is a type of r*pe in itself.

How To Prevent It

The responsibility to prevent this from happening falls to us. To do so, we have to be vigilant and make sure every possible entry point is blocked.

1. It's important to cut off any tree that's resting on the roof of your building as they can serve an helicopter, commando-styled entry for reptiles including lizard and of course snakes. Any branch extending towards and over the roof should be removed as snakes can use these to facilitate entry, intentionally or by accident when they fall off the tree.

2. Always ensure your sewage tanks and pipes are not damaged or exposed. Be on the lookout for defective or damaged pumbling or pipes and replace as soon as possible. A broken or exposed sewage system is a recipe for disaster as a snake can stay there for a long time due to adequate often supply from atmospheric air. It will only go out for food and return to the abode you've given it. It would also be wise to let sewage professionals do the inspection and cleaning of your sewage system as at when due.

3. It's important to also apply general hygienic practices as a dirty place serves as an habitat for rodents which is a perfect meal for snakes. Most times, having too much rodents in your house or environs, is a direct invite to snakes.

I hope with this few words of mine, I've been able to educate you on this matter. I would also like to use this avenue to say a big thank you to @GarrethGrey07 for the sponsorship. Being my first sponsor on this platform has so much sentimental value than you know. I promise not to let you down.

Thanks for reading.