Misconceptions Of Reptile Keepers..

[Kesslers Kreatures]

I am doing an essay for my english class and the topic is misconceptions about yourself. I want to do it about peoples reactions about me and keeping snakes. I dont want to use my own only though, I'd love for some of you guys to let me know what people say or think about you when they find out you keep or breed reptiles.

Thanks!

[p3titexburial]

Something like "Uh, excuse me, can you repeat that?"

and then "You keep the mice in the freezer? Like, next to YOUR food?"

My parents don't let me talk about it in front of family friends, business associates, or grandparents, but anyone else is fair game. My parents are pretty tolerant of my eccentricities, but they're still very traditional and I respect their wishes since they respect mine--snakes are not considered lucky animals and my parents seem to think it hurts my chances of ever getting married. Like that's my biggest fear. -_-;;; (sarcasm spasm) However, I do keep it on the DL because I know there are people with phobias and there are people who just don't like them--do unto others. =)

People who notice I peruse this site a lot (sometimes in class ^^;; will ask why and I'll tell them--they're usually incredulous and curious but I haven't met anyone ever reacted really badly to it. Then again, I haven't told my neighbors yet. >=D

[blackcrystal22]

Many people misconceive that they are messy and space consuming animals, as well as problematic to care for. Once you get the basics down, they're really easy animals to take care of, unless your afraid of dead rats.. which most people find weird and nasty.
Others also perceive me as a hypocrite because I feed rats but am a vegetarian.. another misconception because my rats live good lives, and I'm a vegetarian because of mistreatment during LIFE.
Another misconception is that they will all get huge and EAT ME. And I also get "how do you deal with the ones that are poisonous".

Petite, don't worry about the marriage thing. It shouldn't really matter. My boyfriend loves my snakes (I may give him his favorite eventually), and my best friend Joe has some snakes of his own.
Most guys aren't afraid of them either, so no worries!

[Swingline0.0.1]

"Snakes are slimy!" "What if they escape the cage and kill you?"
Also my favorite one "what if it eats my dog?"

[Christina]

How can you kill poor defenseless rats??

They are so gross and slimy and carry diseases!

YOU have a snake?!?!?!

[luna13]

i have had all of that....but by far this is my fav...."that animal represents the devil" or "it is the devil"....sometimes i tell people yes and i say at night it has little horns that come out...some people are so ignorant and act childish so i act childish in return, now if they are just not educated about the subject i will spend a whole day with them educating them...

[p3titexburial]

Many people misconceive that they are messy and space consuming animals, as well as problematic to care for. Once you get the basics down, they're really easy animals to take care of, unless your afraid of dead rats.. which most people find weird and nasty.
Others also perceive me as a hypocrite because I feed rats but am a vegetarian.. another misconception because my rats live good lives, and I'm a vegetarian because of mistreatment during LIFE.
Another misconception is that they will all get huge and EAT ME. And I also get "how do you deal with the ones that are poisonous".

Petite, don't worry about the marriage thing. It shouldn't really matter. My boyfriend loves my snakes (I may give him his favorite eventually), and my best friend Joe has some snakes of his own.
Most guys aren't afraid of them either, so no worries!

Woah, I'd like to know what guys you hang with--the ones around me are more scared of them than the girls! Sometimes they literally shriek with fear. Two-three years ago when I was still in high school, my girlfriends and I were at a handball game practice and it was garter snake breeding season so a few slithered onto the courts. The boys FREAKED THE HECK OUT--10-12 of 'em shrieking and jumping and OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO GET BITTEN. I ended up shooing them out into the grass. Now, get this, my girl friends didn't scream when I began to move them, they just shook their heads and sighed and they're, like me, are about as girly as you can get.

Even now, the girls that I meet are less afraid than the boys.

Ah... see, the problem with the marriage/relationship issue is that it's not just the potential partner but his parents as well--and boy, do asian parents give it to you.

-_-;;;

Gee, the devil, huh? I would've told them I'm sure the big bad devil has more important things to do than play pet snake, like, oh I don't know, world domination? =p

[wolfy-hound]

Most commonly I get "You just have them loose in your house?" And "What about your cat/dogs?"

Less common "You feed them mice and stuff?" "Where do you keep them, not in the house??" "You have HOW many?" "Rodents in the fridge/freezer???" "Are they poisonous?" "They'll get 20 feet long".

Usually I tell people I'm more concerned about my 20 lb lizards injuring me than the harmless ball pythons. That usually snaps their brains, and they stop asking.

[Vypyrz]

"Do you keep anti-venom in case they bite you?"

"You are wierd for not having a "normal" pet."

"You can't love a snake."

My personal favorite, from a woman in the vets waiting room...
"Excuse me Sir! How do you get the snake slime off after you hold them?"

[JLC]

I've gotten some silly questions about snakes....but as far as misconceptions about myself personally as a keeper? None, that I know of. Folks are often surprised, but so far as I've ever been able to tell it doesn't change how they think about me as a person. Well....I take that back. It seems to increase the "cool" factor for a lot of folks....and I'm anything but "cool".