preconcieved notions, and ooooh scary python..

I know how it is to have a family that have all these ideas about snakes. I'll admit, I've got three tattoos (all hidden) and an industrial piercing, but that doesn't mean I have to love snakes, or that having a snake means I have to have tats when I have a snake.

To tell you the truth, my first snake was when I was in 5th grade. I loved my ball python and red-tailed boa and I was in 5TH GRADE. I'm pretty sure I didn't have tattoos and piercings then.

My mom is not terrified of snakes but still has that old fear that so many people have. Basically, she'll look at them as long as they are caged. My brother is terrified and won't even look at one. (He's almost 18) and my grandmother will look at my snow corn only when its behind glass. My grandfather doesn't even know I have my snake, otherwise, he'd prolly kick me out for having one. I'm the only one in my family that likes snakes, and no matter what I do, I can't convince them that my snake is not a mindless eating machine and that he is not scary. I tell people he's cute and they look at me funny.

I have no piercings, no tattoos, and don't come from a low class family. At the moment, I am fighting my way through nursing school and someday hope to have a masters in anesthesia from the Louisiana State University Health and Sciences Center (LSUHSC). Hardly low class lol! My family does not like my snakes but they do not give me the criticism that you seem to be getting. Very few like em, most dislike em, few HATE em. They just are ignorant to things about snakes and do not understand they are not slimy man eaters. Kindly explain you intend to breed and how much money a single pied can sell for and how cheap it can be to house and care for them properly.:)

Herps are actually similar to tattoos, if you think about it. Every type of person has tattoos; from hardened criminals to politicians, movie stars, plumbers, religious clergy, bill collectors, prison wardens, CEOs, business owners. Same thing with herps.. anyone who sees reptile keeping as low-class or low-dollar need only look at breeders' sites, suchas NERD or Greg Graziani.. nothing low-class about them!

Recently I was talking with a guy who asked if our snakes were "dangerous". I just looked at him and burst out laughing. This guy builds custom motorcycles! Some of them are very very fast bikes. After I stopped chuckling I just asked him to tell me honestly how many folks die yearly on a motorcycle compared to how many are killed by snakes of any sort. He sort of thought a moment and then laughed too, admitting that actually he works with far more dangerous things than I do.

I'm a suite and tie banker with an office and the whole bit. I have 7 snakes and 5 tats. So if that tells you any thing.

A few weeks ago I actually brought in a few of my snakes to work...A few people were a little afraid of them but after seeing how docile and shy the ball pythons were they actually opened up to them quite a bit...People who claimed to have a phobia over them were now asking to hold one and later on said they wanted one... I have now turned 3 people from my work alone onto ball pythons and they're wanting to buy one from me as soon as I get lucky with a healthy clutch...:)


It's funny how some people perceive snakes, especially ball pythons. But you have to think about how the media portray's snakes in general as slimey, filthy killer attack animals. It doesn't help when irresponsible herper's make mistakes resulting in injuries or even death to the animals or themselves...

That's why us responsible herpers have to do our part in helping people understand that these animals aren't what they're made out to be.

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

Unfortunately in my town there is still a taboo on keeping reptiles....I've gotten really bad looks from people if they have overheard me talking about my snakes.

By the way Amy I thought you said in another thread that your dad liked snakes now, and wants a Green Tree Python or other snake of his own?

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Thats what i thought too. lol. i asked him about it, because im not going to get a pet without telling him, and he was like, "uhm. F no...i just said they were pretty". So, apparently i took him the wrong way, and he still thinks i'm weird, and i'm still out of an idea of what to get him for the holidays/his bday. lol.

well my hubby and i have very visible tats. my nose is pierced... has been for almost 18 years... and we have snakes. so... HERE I AM :partyon:

of course... we do have money coming in... we need to buy the snakes, feed them and care for them LOL - so we aren't poor to begin with but they do make us poor! :P

but... I'M STILL HERE *waves*

Lol. My boyfriend isn't too keene on snakes, but it is because he doesnt see them as intresting as i do. he is always supportive in whatever i do, so it isn't 'a problem, but i just hate when people think down upon people with tattoos or piercings, or things like that.

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Originally Posted by Amy05

Lol. My boyfriend isn't too keene on snakes, but it is because he doesnt see them as intresting as i do. he is always supportive in whatever i do, so it isn't 'a problem, but i just hate when people think down upon people with tattoos or piercings, or things like that.

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Luckily these days tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable than they once were...that's why all of a sudden you see shows like "Miami Ink" and "Inked" which portray all types of people getting tattooed. While tattoos may never make their way into being visually acceptable in white collar jobs, you know there are lawyers, doctors, etc.. with their own ink.

I can definitely say with the one tattoo that I have I appreciate the art in the craft, and once I figure out what I'm going to do career-wise I very well may get full sleeves.