Is anyone else anal with their snakes?

Oh, I would be LIVID. No one has touched my snake without me supervising, and NO ONE get's her out of the enclosure but me. What your roommate's girlfriend did is blatant disrespect and I would make that VERY clear.

Nah.. I don't get into the kinky stuff with my snakes.. ;)

Of course I wouldn't want anyone handling one of my herps with me not around. Luckily my house is my own and I don't like having people over so I don't have that problem. If I do have someone over and they want to see a snake I just take it out for them to hold. Either a BP, the Boa, or the African House. Never the Retic. Anyone who isn't experience could be trusted to handle her. She's a flighty handful who only trusts me.

I'd probably have to lock myself away for a while to cool off if I knew someone was getting into my snakes, and it would be a -very- real possibility that I'd make it clear that they were not welcome in my home anymore. Admittedly, I'm very protective of my snakes, it's hard for me to let some people hold them who don't have respect for the animals as my pets (rather than a novelty item, as they are to some). I've given permission to one other person in my house to get a particular snake out, and that's only after he checks to see when the last feeding day was. He's an ex of mine so he has the general idea of how to handle the snakes, and the one snake I've given permission for is a doll. Other than my current boyfriend, I just don't trust anyone else to not hurt, lose, scare, or otherwise compromise my animals. -I- alone am responsible for their care and well being, and it's a serious matter for me personally (as it is to many keepers here, I'm sure).

In the end, you're not being "anal," you're being totally reasonable. It would be totally unacceptable for people to go through your personal things, why would getting your pets out without permission be ok?

I DO NOT let anyone handle my snakes besides myself and my boyfriend. My snakes were in a particularly bad mood today so I was the only one doing the handling and even then it was only because I had to clean their tubs. I do not want some random person to just come here and put their hands on my animals, I mean what if my snakes were pissy like they were today and took a strike at someone? Then they will claim that my snakes are blood thirsty killers. I don't even let starngers or anyone in my house ever, period.

My rules for guests, no matter who they are:

1. Ask me first.
2. Wash your hands, preferably use some Purel.
3. I take it out of the tank and hand it to you.
4. You handle it the way I tell you to handle it.
5. You only handle it while I'm watching.
6. When I say it's time to put it back, it's time to put it back.

Most of my friends and relatives are respectful of this, but I've had some trouble with younger kids.

That's why you tell them you have one that is cage aggressive and bites you EVERY time you open the tank! Don't tell them which one....they'll not mess with them! My son would take mine out. So, I laughed when the one I told him is mean bit him! Now he ONLY messes with his BP!

Besides the problem of animals getting hurt, or sick, or out, or bitting someone (and causing legal issues)...

My question is Who Does That? Seriously? Who does crap like that? How about I go down the street and go into my neighbors house and rummage through the frigidair and check out her shoes....Its ok, because I met her kid once getting the mail. Doesn't fly does it?! I must come from a very rural area because if some one did that to me I would go ape $&!% on them. Buy a good lock and give that roommate a solid piece of your mind. He's responsible for bringing her in- therefore responsible for her actions.

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Originally Posted by shorty54

That's why you tell them you have one that is cage aggressive and bites you EVERY time you open the tank! Don't tell them which one....they'll not mess with them! My son would take mine out. So, I laughed when the one I told him is mean bit him! Now he ONLY messes with his BP!

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While it serves the purpose, if the people don't really understand snakes, it only spreads the "snakes are nasty, aggressive animals that will automatically try to kill you" stigma. So I don't recommend that XD

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Originally Posted by SpartaDog

While it serves the purpose, if the people don't really understand snakes, it only spreads the "snakes are nasty, aggressive animals that will automatically try to kill you" stigma. So I don't recommend that XD

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Ok....tell them your snakes are REALLY EXPENSIVE and if they hurt them or lose them. They could't afford to replace them!

**Shudders**

Lord. My worst nightmare. I mess with my snakes. No one else? GOT IT? I know when everyone eats, I know when someone's stressed, I know when someone just needs some time alone. Not that I never let anyone hold my snakes. :P But I'd better be there. And you'd better listen.

My dad will occasionally check on my snakes, but he never holds any unless I've given my express permission. He's paid for most of them, so I suppose he's entitled...:rolleyes: