How To Get Someone That Does Not Like Snakes To Like Them?

Okay, I'm going to represent the other side of things for a second...

My now-wife had a bunch of cats when I met her. I don't hate cats, but I don't want my house smelling like cat poo, and I certainly do not want any other things that might ride in on the cat.

Long story short, I let her bring the cats. They reproduced, made more cats, and it smelled like poo all the time. Things got scratched, marked, etc. as well. We moved into a place that doesn't allow cats anyhow, so she ended up getting rid of them. Later on the landlord caved and after a year of begging she got another #$%$%#$ cat. Six months in the cat ran away, but not before smelling up the place and bringing in fleas, which I'm still fighting with even as I type.

So if you can address the major concerns he has (mine would've been 'I promise to change the litter every day' and 'the beast will never leave the house, so no fleas'). He might be more willing to work with you if you let him know up front what's involved. :)

Also, my wife hated snakes when I talked her into getting Milton. Now she is crazy about him!

Baby snakes will do the trick ;)

show him a little babie hoggie and be like who couldnt love a face like this lol

For 7 years my husband said he hated snakes and would never have one in the house. Last Christmas he lost a bet and WE went down and picked out the BP. after watching me handling George he started and everything was fine. Since then I have acquired 2 RTB babies and he has handled and fed all. Has your BF ever watched you with your snakes? Funny thing is he can't stand touching the f/t mice!!

The problem is NOT the snake. This person also says you may only have ONE animal. That is a control issue. Being an animal lover is like someone who wants a ton of kids, when you are ready to settle down find someone who likes, or at least will loving tolerate, what you love.

I used to be into Doberman rescue, and as a rule I would NOT place Dobermans with single guys unless they were very settled (I realize you are not a guy) because I was not going to have the guy hook up with some female that didn't want a dog in the house and then abandon his dog. That is just wrong. One should never abandon their kids or pets in favor of a new lover.

Well, pets are a BIG thing. I'm lucky my S.O. likes my snakes. He's not totally comfortable handling them by himself, but he enjoys the happiness they bring me.

However he is not so lucky I hate cats. He had a cat before I met him, I moved in and let me tell you it's going to be a long 10 years before that cat moves on to a better place. I found out I'm allergic to cats after I moved in. We've been living together for 2 years, (and many cat arguments later) I've come to the point where I tolerate the cat. I still don't like it and personally feel cats are satan's gift to domestic pets.

If the cat disappeared I wouldn't miss it, and it probably would be days before I realized it was gone. Meanwhile, not only is he enamored with the cat...he really is a cat person, and thinks everything cat is adorable and funny. I tolerate the cat because he loves the darn thing so much.

I don't get the cat thing, then again not everyone gets my snake thing.

I keep saying once this cat goes, no more mammals. (okay maybe a dog, I like dogs, but only big dogs. No yorkies in THIS house, lol)

Anyway, my point is if your S.O. comes into the relationship and
has a VERY strong opinion of your pet they might "soften" their view to base tolerance but may likely NEVER like your snakes even though they don't shed on the couch and cough up strategically placed hairballs.

It's up to both of you to figure our where your priorities are, and working out the snake/pet issue. Pets are a long term commitment, relationships are a long term commitment, you have to be able to mesh the two.

My :twocents:

Why doesn't he like the snakes? Has he ever held one? I don't understand this irrational fear of animals. It's a snake for gods sake. Not some demonic face eating monster from the legion of doom.

If you want the snake and love it, keep it. There are ABSOLUTELY no guarantees you two will still be together in 4 years, or that he will still feel the same way! That's life!

I went through this with my GF (now wife) Shes the one that got me turned on to reptiles. She loves Leopard geckos. So I got a Leo and after keeping my Leo for a year or so I stated to hunt for a new reptile and I wanted a snake.

I got one and she "sort of" like my very first one. Now that I have 20+ snakes I was told they were not to be in the house. so we came to a compromise. we renovated a room and turned it into my herp room. Its great I can do anything to that room I want with no questions. I am putting down tile and installed AC for our hot summers.

The main thing is that you are not going to "make" someone that doesn't like snakes like them. Your only hope is that they care enough for you to be understanding to allow you to have your hobby.

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Originally Posted by Siarah

Ok so say that you are dating some one that is not particularly fond of snakes. . . But you have one. You are not living with this person yet but you 'plan' on living with this person once you are done school. This person has already basically told you that there is no way they are going to live with the snake in the house and has told you that you can build a little house outside of the house that they are in to keep the snake. (Which is totally crazy and a waste of money) Hell they even told you that you could own just 1 animal just 1 and it cannot be a snake, and you are an absolute animal lover who one day would like a couple dogs, 2 ferrets, some snakes, and many more animals. What do you do? Lol I know stupid post but I want to get peoples ideas.

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Sounds to me like the person that you are dating is trying to use your animals in a way to control you. Sorry, thats just what it sounds like to me. If they really love you, then they should compromise, not tell you that you can't have them, or that you have to build a reptile house to keep them in.

There are a lot of people that are not going to like snakes. People like that are not ever going to like them, there is nothing you can do about it. On the other hand, if they are just afraid of them, then you can help by having them handle snakes. Make sure the snake that they are handling is used to being handled, and is very docile.

Either way, hope everything works out for you.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

demonic face eating monster from the legion of doom.

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Where do I get one of those? LOL