Reaction of family/friends to your snakes

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Originally Posted by halfnakedlife

Then a friend told me in serious manner: 'don't let the snake wrapped itself around you, coz it's a sign that it's sizing you up to eat you. if you don't believe, google it, the story is everywhere. a girl is so worried about her snake not eating for months and got it checked to a vet. the vet was asking if the snake ever wrapped itself around her, she said yes every night when they sleep together. then the vet said to quickly get rid of it because it's sizing her up to make a meal out of her.' [emoji28]

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i can't even begin to count how many times people have regurgitated this story to me...

It's funny, I get a lot of the "not lady-like" BS too. And not just from family. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i can't even begin to count how many times people have regurgitated this story to me...

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Apparently it's a famous one. My other friend also told me more or less the same thing, only this time it wasn't a vet but a zookeeper who deals with snakes. smh 🤦:cens0r:♂️

I don't really advertise it. My family knows and it's no shock to them because I've been into reptiles since I was a child. They don't ever leave my house and when we do have guests I don't bring up the snakes.

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Originally Posted by cletus

I don't really advertise it. My family knows and it's no shock to them because I've been into reptiles since I was a child. They don't ever leave my house and when we do have guests I don't bring up the snakes.

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Usually guests notice my reptiles since they are in the middle of the family room, but I try not to bring them up unless I know that person will be interested.

I love how people who know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about snakes will give that well meaning warning. I grew up on a river bank running around in the woods, and I like biology. I've also worked on farms, and kept numerous pets and types of livestock.

As pets, snakes rank fairly high in terms of reward to expense and effort. Easy keepers, once you get parameters right. Lurk for a bit on a parrot forum: people end up in tears trying to live with some of those birds. There are of course happy exceptions, but a 'too, say, bought on impulse is likely to involve a sad outcome. I enjoy my farm, and the the current collection of dogs, pet rats, goldfish, and canary and budgies, but the snakes are the easiest and cheapest. In terms of injury, I think I'd rather be bit my most small/medium sized snakes than any dog. A cat scratch is more likely to get you an infection that needs medical treatment, and again, some of the larger parrots can do serious damage.

I keep rabbits outdoors, but house rabbits are very high maintenance, They need out of cage exercise, but will chew cords, rugs and wood work. Their urine stinks. the bigger Parrots too, need out of cage time, but will destroy everything they can get at. I love fish and big aquariums, but an exploded (or just leaking) tank is no joke. It happens. An escaped snake needs to be found, but it won't cause property damage.

It's a hearty mix of unnecessary fear, ignorance, curiosity, and people being happy for me or thinking it's cool

My mom was/is terrified of mine. She named him Green Beans as a joke and the name stuck. I think she picked it so he is less scary. My dad doesn't want me to have ANY pets (so now I have 2 crabs, a fish, a snake, and a dog, and I had mice and rats as well as stick bugs before) and I occasionally catch him peeking into GB's tank because he DOES like animals secretely.

I've noticed visitors either love him and want to hold him (depending on when he ate last) or they're terrified and move to the opposite side of the room.

My MIL and Uncle-in-law were both terrified of snakes, but since I got mine, my MIL has absolutely fallen in love with them. She thinks they're cute now (which they are)! Most people range from morbid curiosity and a sort of distant "well I'm glad they make you happy," to actually wanting to know more about them. My friend at work, upon hearing I just purchased two more after getting my most recent, laughed and said I'm addicted, until I told her that the 12-ish snakes I plan to keep is a tiny collection for most people who breed.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I'd say the same as you as regards reactions from others .

Sadly , I'd say a few are intrigued even impressed , the rest are probably split evenly between the shocked /horrified / disgusted / disproving and the rest who stay quiet which kinda ' suggests ' disapproval or possibly a natural unwillingness to show approval in front of so many 'disapprovers' ( if that's even a word lol ) .

Oh and that's all before somebody asks what I feed the names on !!!

I've recently started a thread - Snakes & Celebrities to find as many people in the spotlight who own or are photographed with snakes - I'm just thinking the more non- reptile people who see those images the better .

I've sent a few of the already featured celeb & snake photos to some friends and family and their reactions were rather surprising ... Some who aren't really bothered that I have 20 amazingly beautiful and interesting snakes were really IMPRESSED to see people like David Beckham , Beyoncé and others were happy to be seen holding a snake ..... ....

Here's the thread I mentioned if you want to copy a few images and "impress" your friends and family :)

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https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ies-and-Snakes

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Forgot to mention this point as well .....

One funny thing I've noticed is that when we have visitors to the the house I'd say that 95% of the adult males are either completely uninterested OR terrified of the snakes whilst the adult females are interested OR positively intrigued ( wanting to handle ) ...

I'd say 90% of all under 18 were really positive and interested - the lads especially not so much the girls .. but hardly any children are terrified or disgusted or anything . Generally kids are dead keen but I don't let any of them hold the snakes ever ...


So what goes on in people's minds as they grow older ... ??


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