Girls!? Ever feel like a snake-loving freak?

I never feel uncomfortable, but then maybe its because I'm a biologist too. So liking reptiles and other animals isn't just a hobby for me, its my job and life.

Almost everyone at work thinks I am crazy for owning snakes. I don't really care. My mother hates snakes and won't spend more than a couple of minutes in the house at a time. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a freak for having snakes, but then I've felt like a freak all of my life for other things. Better to be a freak and have the things that I love than to try to conform and be miserable.

Ha! I am a 40 year old woman that is absolutely obsessed with snakes and rats. I have kept ball pythons since 2008 and I wouldn't have it any other way. When my mother found out I had snakes she freaked and said that hoped one of them got out at night and strangled me to death. So much love! My mother is old school and about as ignorant as a person can get. I also have had friends that think I am insane for keeping snakes and rats as pets. To be honest, I don't really care what anyone thinks of me anymore. I love my animals more then I love most people.

^^^feeling the love lol! My mom is absolutely pissed over me having snakes. She spent the better part of my first year as a snake owner sending me "articles" on how snakes were dangerous. She's convinced my snakes are gonna escape and kill my whole family.

Yes. I'm sure they will. *eye roll*
During a FB debate once where my mom insisted that everything that the media said about snakes was gospel, my friend who was a vet tech piped in, stated her credentials and then said, "an adult ball python couldn't harm Leyla if it wanted to"... My mom has been fuming ever since.


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I used to have five snakes(three boas and two balls) and people thought I was crazy. A few people didn't have a problem with it until they realized that I didn't have a single snake under five foot. Most people just thought I was crazy. When they learned I had a rat colony, three ferrets, two parrots, two bearded dragons, and a sulcata tortoise, some people(including most of my"friends") just started avoiding me completely, I didn't care though. If they don't like me, my animals included, then they don't deserve an awesome friend like me. People seem more accepting of my pets now but that could just be because I only have the tortoise and a sub-adult ball python. All my other pets are pretty normal now. Some people still think I'm crazy though because I go out and find slug eggs once a year and raise up a LOT of them for my friends garter snake who won't eat anything but fish, crickets, and slugs., but whatever, it's my life, not theirs.

I can't say I've ever felt like a freak, although I'm sure that's what some would think of me haha.. As for talking about them, I usually don't bring them up, it's my fiancé and his mom that tell people. Sometimes they are curious and ask questions which I love any opportunity to educate. Others times it's just a weird look and no further interest after that. I'd say it's a 50/50 split on reactions positive/negative. As for FB, I post pics every now and then when I get a new addition or take a really kool photo. But I keep it to a minimum because I don't get a lot of interest out of friends and family is usually the ones that think it's gross lol and I never post feeding pics on there because I respect some not wanting to see that. That's why I love this community, and other reptile related groups, shows, etc because I really truly get to be me :)

Boy or girl, everyone on this forum is a snake loving "freak." ;)

No, but apparently my husband feels a little freaky when he has to explain that, no, he's not the person with pet snakes just lives in the house with them. My eldest technically 'owns' Atlas and will probably take her when he leaves home (he's 15). Herc? Herc is MINE. LOL. My husband is completely apathetic, and kind of aggravated that people keep assuming they're 'his thing'.

Growing up, my dad taught me to love all animals and I quickly decided they were better than most people. My parents also taught me to do what makes me happy and not try to worry about what others may think. Luckily both of those things stuck. I've had friends go away because I will tell them simply that if they don't like my pets, they can leave. They don't have to understand my love of them, they don't have to like them, but they will be respectful of them when around me. If they aren't, I don't need them on some friend's list. I also game and hunt so between those 3 things, I have been labeled as a freak/outcast/weird for as far back as I can remember and I can't think of a moment when it's made me feel uncomfortable. If I were a guy, that wouldn't be a problem but because I do wear dresses when it's warm out, have long hair, and occasionally wear makeup, it makes me different. I'm ok with that because we only get one life to live and I fully intend to enjoy mine the way I see fit.

With that being said, I am very conscious of how my friends/family feel around my reptiles. I don't post feeding pics (as much as I'd like to sometimes!) on my Facebook and the reptiles have their own room upstairs. Yes, there are pictures of my animals on my wall but if someone is uncomfortable around them, they aren't forced to be near them. My husband, as he puts it, doesn't think but knows I'm nuts and has learned it's easier if he doesn't know how many snakes are in the house. His daughters both now have their own snakes who have a place in my rack because their mother outright hates snakes. They have developed a deep appreciation for reptiles in general but I know it's not for everyone. When we have gaming sessions, the couple of guys that like my snakes go up to my reptile room to see them because we have a couple who literally have tripped over each other just seeing one from 10 feet away (they wanted to see what a ball python looked like in person). My coworkers squeal and run away everytime they see a pic of one of my scale babies on my phone. So while I'm surrounded by a mix of feelings, when you realize that you need to live your life your way but be respectful that there are those out there who may not agree, you can enjoy your reptiles in peace. Not to mention, when you get that great shot of your snake gulping down a rat or had a horrible mess in a tub to clean up and need to vent, these forums are here so you can share all that fun stuff without being concerned that it will turn someone else off of snakes. If they are offended by it, they are in the wrong place here. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dracoluna

... I also game...When we have gaming sessions...

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What do you play?