If it were me, first thing I'd do if take roll of the wisea$$'s that have a key to your shop and know you don't like snakes. Or could have been a tag team, two guys in the shop, one talks your ear off, other "checks out" cool projects in the shop. Least that's how I've done it....errr would do it, if I was to play a joke on someone who didn't like snakes.
Bill