Need help convincing parents! Any ideas.

Well after hours and hours of research i think its finally time to get my first ball python :banana:

The problem is both my parents refuse to let me keep a snake. Its not a responsibility issue because i already have 2 leopard geckos and a water dragon that i care for myself.

Well how did some of you guys convince your parents to let you keep snakes??

Or any ideas on how to show how beautiful these animals actually are??

Thanks alot!! anyone who reply"s and i also hope i posted this in the right section.

I'd bring them to see an adult, and see how really small and friendly they are. My parents made me wait to get a snake, and although my mom just tolerated them at first, she loves my BPs just as much as a do, and goes as far as calling them "cute." :P Talk about them a lot; show your parents that you've done the research, and you know exactly what they need. Tell them why you want one, not just because "they're cool," and be logical. Don't get angry or upset when they say no, it'll just make them want to say no more. But bringing them to see an adult is definitely a good idea. Good luck! :)

Will do ill take them to the pet store this weekend. But what if something goes wrong and lets say the ball python at the pet store is well "Agressive" that would mess everything up for sure.

And yea i wrote my parents a 3 page essay saying while ball pythons make great pets.

What is your parents in disagreement about?

LOL...i guess you could say its fear. Maybe another one would be the feeding of "Rodents"

Maybe go to the pet store before you bring them and check it out, that way if it's aggressive or anything they won't be there for you to find out. Or maybe there's a breeder nearby that's willing to help out? They'd know which animals were the friendliest, and their animals are most likely a lot healthier than the pet store's.

Any one on here know of any breeders close to Queens NY??

5 ball pyhtons at one point and probably 5 leapard gekoes in sight. under the bed was another two breeding colonies of probably 20 leapord gekoes! you can always keep it in a tub under the bed! my spelling blows today.

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Originally Posted by musicalKeyes

I'd bring them to see an adult, and see how really small and friendly they are. My parents made me wait to get a snake, and although my mom just tolerated them at first, she loves my BPs just as much as a do, and goes as far as calling them "cute." :P Talk about them a lot; show your parents that you've done the research, and you know exactly what they need. Tell them why you want one, not just because "they're cool," and be logical. Don't get angry or upset when they say no, it'll just make them want to say no more. But bringing them to see an adult is definitely a good idea. Good luck! :)

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yeah the more you annoy them about it the more they'll give in! :) and my moms the same way. she wanted me to only have one in her houshold. then i brought more and more! and she names them all herself now. not that i go by those names....

It really depends on your parents, and what their issues are with the idea of you having a snake. Some parents will give in if you bother them about it long enough, while others will react very negatively to the nagging and that would seal the deal that you'll never be allowed to have one under their roof. You know your parents, so you'll have to consider the advice you are given, and what will work with them.

My advice would to be ask them to set a time when you can have a family meeting about it. This allows them to pick a time when it is good for them to talk, and also gives them time to think about it when they aren't under the immediate pressure of you standing there asking for a snake.

When the time for the meeting comes, resist the urge to make a sales pitch. You've already done that in the 3 page essay you say you wrote. Instead, use the time to listen to them. Write down a list of the reasons they have for not wanting you to have a snake. Some of them may be easily resolved, for example if your mother doesn't want live rodents in the house, you can get a snake that will eat f/t. But others may not be. If one of your parents is afraid of snakes, it may not make any difference to them that BPs are a harmless species. Be accepting of their reasons, and try to see their side of it.

Also bring up the idea of something you can do to earn the right to have a snake. Do not pressure them for an answer right away, but a few ideas would be to bring up your grades to a certain level, mow the lawn all summer, or other things like that.

In the meantime, continue to show your parents that this is not just a whim on your part. Let them see you reading books about snakes, surfing the forum, and other stuff like that. If you can pull it off without seeming like you are nagging, share with them interesting things you learn, so they'll see your enthusiasm, and perhaps get intrigued themselves.

You might be able to find an adult to enlist on your side. If there is a teacher at your school that keeps a snake in the classroom, make friends with that teacher, and offer to help take care of the snake. If your parents are willing to talk to him/her, it might help bring them around. If not, at least you get a snake you can interact with, even if it is not your own.

It is also important that you continue to show them that you remain interested in your leopard geckos and water dragon, and are very responsible in caring for them.

You could tell your parents that your house in not the everglades and they would never survive if they got out. J/K, good luck getting permission though. My mom never let me have snakes.:(

I couldn't have a snake when I was younger. I tried the bothering them technique and I almost got the stuffing beat out of me. After that I bred pitbulls lol.
I got a pac man frog tho. Good luck I know how it is with parents.
I'm 25 now and I'm bout to get a couple ball pythons, I had to wait til I moved out

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Originally Posted by bman123

I couldn't have a snake when I was younger. I tried the bothering them technique and I almost got the stuffing beat out of me. After that I bred pitbulls lol.
I got a pac man frog tho. Good luck I know how it is with parents.
I'm 25 now and I'm bout to get a couple ball pythons, I had to wait til I moved out

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Don't do it! Look at me, I'm addicted. I have many years to make up for.

well my mom is against all pets i bring to the house but once i have them she loves them!

now when i got my corn snake she was angry with me for like a day haha now she's like whatever


but tell them that snakes aren't as evil as portrayed in the media they are lazy garbage disposals lol they eat and sleep no time to bite!

just show them that its more afraid of them than they are of it

take them to a breeder of really nice colors so they get attracted to the prettyness of it mabey it will persuade them a bit!


Good luck!

let us know how it goes!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Theartisticgemini

Well how did some of you guys convince your parents to let you keep snakes??

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I moved out :D

Sorry about my language on my earlier post, it is tough growing up with close minded parents. All you can do is try

I would say that you know your parents. I think everyone can at least know if pushing the issue with their parent is either going to be a complete neg. experience or if its a possibility to push them into getting it.

I understand the whole "feeding the live animal to another animal" thing. Some ppl just can't handle it or the thought. I always wanted a bp and worked up the stomach to do the deed, so to speak. 9 snakes later and I'm still not at ease at doing it, but I do not regret getting them at all.

Sometimes parents can't comprehend some of those things. I know my dad was easier to try to push over. Since its a snake, I would talk to your dad and see if he can win over your mom on the idea. You might not be able to feed your snake when shes home, but hey you would get what you want. lol.

YouTube - SnakeBytesTV-Kids and Snakes!!!!!

Hope this helps, courtesy of BHB/SnakeBytes.TV ;)

I see that you said you lived in Queens. There is a nature center in Scarsdale (The Greenburgh nature center). They have tons of snakes all incredibly tame from being handled and used for education purposes. Take them there and have them show you their snakes (they take them out and you can pet them) they will also give you pointers on husbandry and where you can find a snake without pet stores. It's a bit of a drive but if your parents are open minded this will help to convince them if not wait until you move out and enjoy the pets you have leo's are great.

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Originally Posted by Theartisticgemini

Any one on here know of any breeders close to Queens NY??

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there a pet store on staten island new york its called animal kingdom and this guy can get you anything you can think of thats were im getting my first bp from or you can wait untill april and go to the whiteplains reptile show its april 18th they have ball pythons.

I bought a BC from a reptile pet store in Queens called NY Reptilia and IF they are still open, because I'm talking about... maybe...10-15 yrs ago, but at the time they were very friendly and knowlegeable. You might want to take your parents there but check in the yellow pages to see if it's open. WOW this brings back memories, i remember the first pet snake that I sneaked in the house was a pair of garter snakes in a 10g tank that i traded for some turtles that i had. I think i was 13 at the time. I'm not recommending that you do that.

Casey makes her point well (oh and you totally sound like a mom!)

I'm in college but if I was living at home there is no way my mom would ever let me have a snake she freaked out when she found out I had one! Even though my dad thinks it's cool and is kinda jealous cause his mom never let him have one.

Okay sorry for the story here is my piece.

Definitely continue to show them your care and appreciation for your current pets. Find out there concerns and see what you can do to help ease them but not in away so as to have an argument for their issue with it. Most importantly share your passion by sharing what you learn and tell them why you are so intrigued with the animal.

My girlfriend who "isn't afraid" of snakes has never liked the idea but I have had to break through moments both after talking to her about my snake and all I have learned about her.

One while showing her sister a video of ball pythons (who kinda freaked out) my girlfriend said, "they aren't that bad they are actually pretty nice."

Two when showing her a video of a freshly hatched pastel my girlfriend said, "aww it's so cute!"

Moral of the story don't give up but don't push either. If they still absolutely won't go for it you have your other reps to keep you company until you move out!

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Originally Posted by seclark

I'm in college but if I was living at home there is no way my mom would ever let me have a snake she freaked out when she found out I had one! Even though my dad thinks it's cool and is kinda jealous cause his mom never let him have one.

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See lean on your dad. Dads think its cool.

My dad is actually the one whos most afraid :D my mom is a little laid back.

And he thinks i have an "addiction" and a serious problem because i keep 3 reptiles. I want him to see me when i move out. My collection will expand nicely.:gj:

not that i suggest this method, but i hide mine! snake is the one thing iv never been allowed to have. weve had tons of dogs, birds, fish, iv had 20+ turtles, multiple frogs, lizards. i had a pet mouse, weve had a tarantula for a while. but the ONE i couldnt have was a snake, which is my favorite and the one i wanted most. well i have 2 large closets in my room, one for clothes one for storage. i keep him in a plastic tub in the storage closet. parents never go in there, and even if they did, you cant tell anything looking at the front. the wires and holes and what not are buried in the back! i keep the frozen mice and my g/f's house, and just grab one when i need it. works perfectly for me. good luck, i tried for 19 years and it never worked, so finally i found a way

What are your grades? Make a deal with her on grades.....follow thru...study hard.

Look, it's simple:

1) Kick in the front door
2) Proudly display your new snake
3) Profit



Okay, so it isn't that simple. lol

Honestly, if your parents are against it.. then they are against it. I know when I was a kid, begging/whining/pleading/bargaining/etc didn't get me anywhere but in more trouble lol. Your parents may be different, I was raised pretty strict lol. My old man was career USAF, so it was a strict military household :D

If their rule is no snakes, then it is no snakes. Don't try to sneak one in, hide it from them, etc. It is their house, and they can choose what they want brought into it. As much as you probably don't want to hear that... it is what it is. Wait until you are all grown up and out on your own. Then you can make your own rules :gj:

Hi,

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Originally Posted by Theartisticgemini

Any one on here know of any breeders close to Queens NY??

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I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but apparently BP's are illegal in NY so you will not be able to get one. :(

And before anyone tries to suggest ways of circumventing the law in this case please bear in mind it would fall afoul of this section of the T.O.S and lead to possible infractions.

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Originally Posted by T.O.S.

8. No posts promoting illegal behavior will be tolerated, including but not limited to warez/pirating of copyrighted material, illegal drug or alcohol usage, and illegal ownership or trafficking of species.

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dr del

Illigel in NY?? Are you kidding me?

How is it that ball pythons are sold in NY reptile expos every year.

Hi,

Don't ask me I'm on a seperate continent.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...legal+new+york

http://www.nycacc.org/nychealthcode.htm


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but apparently BP's are illegal in NY so you will not be able to get one. :(

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how can they have the white plains reptile show every year then? that doesn't sound right.

Hi,

Is that held in one of the five boroughs? The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island?

Genuine question by the way as I'm foreign. :oops:


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is that held in one of the five boroughs? The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island?

Genuine question by the way as I'm foreign. :oops:


dr del

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Dr. Del, That link is for New York City proper. So yes, apparently they are illegal in New York City, but not the entire state of New York...

Wow, makes me wonder if I should look up what is and is not legal here in St. Louis.

I had no idea so many things could be considered illegal, even tarantulas are not allowed!

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

Wow, makes me wonder if I should look up what is and is not legal here in St. Louis.

I had no idea so many things could be considered illegal, even tarantulas are not allowed!

Gale

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No kidding. According to that link, *all* marsupials are illegal as well. This includes sugar gliders.

Pretty interesting.