Finally!

I finally found a way to keep some ball pythons in my house without my mom knowing just until I move out. So with that idea set in motion I am starting to save for my breeding stock. I am going to pick up a male and female butter in the hopes of producing some super butter bels in a couple years. My plan is to make a roll out under bed "cabinet" to hold my tubs in. I have to do some measurements to see how many I can fit. My question is if they are sandwhiched right next to each other in my "cabinet" do you think there will be enough air moving through their tubs To keep them with fresh air? I am going to draw up some plans tonight and put some pics up later. I'm really excited to be getting my first ball pythons. I may even get a pair of bci also. Thoughts on my breeding plans and possible answer to my question? :)

Kevin Bullis

I don't think hiding pets from your parents are a good idea at all actually...

what if your mom goes under your bed for some reason and discovers your snakes?
not gonna be very easy explaining that one.
as for air circulation under a bed, i dont imagine there'd be much...

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I don't think hiding pets from your parents are a good idea at all actually...

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:gj:

If you're planning on moving out in the near future, why not just save your money and purchase them when you've moved out?

Yeah...This has BAD idea written all over it! Save you money and just buy the snakes when you move out.

Because waiting another year sucks. Plus I have already been hiding two snakes from my mom for months. The only one who has issues with the snakes are my mom. My dads all for it and says I can have as many as I want. My mom think that my little ball python is going to escape and kill her in her sleep. She assumes it gets huge because its a 'python'. If I could move out now I would. But I can't without my girlfriend helping with rent and since she is just a bus girl and still with one year left of high school its impossible. I just hate my mom's rules. I pay her rent and pay for all my other bills. I even took out a $1,200 loan for her so she could pay her loan since she didn't pay it and they repossessed my car because of it. She should be greatful that I do that stuff for her. Because I could be a real a$$ and just tell her to shove off. I don't understand Why she wont let me get them I even said I Would give her a percentage of the money I make off the babies. Just grrrrrr.....!!!

Kevin Bullis

I guess it's a matter of her house, her rules. Even though you're paying rent, you're living under HER roof, and if she doesn't want snakes in her house then I guess you shouldn't have snakes.

Honestly, another year waiting to move out is nothing. I had to wait close to that until I could move away from a psychopath useless roommate, and I moved in May (thank GOD)! --> That was an ACTUAL problem! I almost turned into a murderer.

Anyways, just enjoy the snakes that you have right now. Compromising snakes overall well being (I don't know how they'd fare in a drawer under a bed) for your "want" of getting more shouldn't be an option.

Just wait it out...It'll go by faster than you think.

Not really a good idea..it'll only make it worse when you get found out.. Sorry.

Well she will be mad to find out I didn't get rid of the last snake I said I got rid of....I don't really care to be honest she is more of a dictator than a mother and only wants to associate with me when she needs some cash Because they can't live off $1,800 a week. When I can do it for $240 a week. So yeah she can shove it. There are many reasons why I'm moving to Texas....the main reason to get as far away from my "family" as possible.

Kevin Bullis

Kevin Bullis

Have you tried educating her a little more? Maybe show her some literature or go online with her to assure her of their relatively small size and docile nature.
As stated above hiding things from your parents is not a good idea. You don't want to lose her trust, not when you'll be moving out soon leaving only more reasons to worry about you. Try to teach if not try to wait, the snakes, as cool as they are are not worth lying to your mother.

Hope you man up and make the right choice brother.:colbert:

Seems like a domestic problem/situation and not really something random forum members can solve?:weirdface

From the sound of it, you aren't ready to have any more pets. Take care of the ones you have and wait to get any more until you move out and can care for them properly. I understand the desire to have what you want "now" but growing up means learning patience and making responsible choices. Hiding it from your mom and putting the snakes in less than desirable conditions is not being responsible and is a really bad idea.

Though I have a feeling nothing we say is going to make a difference and you will do what you want anyways. We've all been young and impulsive at some point.

Sometimes we all don't end up with the best/most supportive parents. And yeah, sometimes they aren't the nicest people in the world. Regardless, they have raised you, cared for you and provided for you for your whole life.

Even though your mother seems to be a "tyrant", she deserves to say what comes and goes inside her own house. If she doesn't want you to have a snake, respect that choice and just wait for one short year to get as many snakes as you want.

Lying and sneaking around to keep and hide something you have been told you can't have are not very good qualities for a future reptile breeder. It shows a complete lack of respect. It doesn't matter if you give her money and pay rent. She owns the house. She has set rules for you to follow. I find it very disrespectful for you to say "So yea she can shove it" when you speak about your mother. What are you, five?

Again, these are not good qualities and your dishonesty and lack of respect will not earn you many customers for your reptile breeding. I say wait the year, save up your money, and start your reptile breeding adventure in an honest manner.

Well so all you know I was planning on taking the advice not to get them in the first few replies. As for the respect of my mother....if she showed me some then I Would return it but she doesn't even try. Every night its the same thing....I need $5,10,20,50. "Well What do you need it for?" "Your dad needs cigerettes" its never can I borrow and pay you back. Because j never get paid back. If I had all the money she said she Would pay me back I would be like bill gates. I just don't really repsect her anymore she causes all this drama and talks crap about my gf who has depression issues. She acts like she's two and gives me the silent treatment daily for stupid stuff like not wanting To pay for my dads addiction to cigerettes because I know he doesn't need them. I quit he can too. I just don't understand how she can treat me like crap in a daily basis and expect me to repsect her and help her out. Sure she raised me. But if I count the Times I had to bail her out with cash its like I'm raising a child myself. Sorry if this disrepects anyone but I speak my mind and I'm not going to hide how I feel about my home situation.

Kevin Bullis

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Seems like a domestic problem/situation and not really something random forum members can solve?:weirdface

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^^^This.

No animal deserves to be in the middle of a mess like this. Sorry.

I doubt there are many people in the world who have perfect home situations, but that doesn't mean you should be hiding things. I had to wait 4 years to get my first snake because my landlord when I was in college wouldn't allow pets of any kind, including reptiles. I didn't hide them, even though it would have been easy to.

Also, while breeding snakes might seem like a good idea, have you thought everything through completely? What happens if you don't sell the babies? Can you care for all the babies for the long term? Have you thought about how much work everything will be?

One year won't make much of a difference. In face you could save up more in that time and buy older snakes so you wouldn't really be affected by waiting a year.

I agree with the above as well.

But, to clarify, in my last post I never said that SHE deserved respect from you. I said that her choice to not have these animals in her home should be respected. I'm sure if you had a child that wanted a pet that you didn't want, you'd want them to respect your decision of what goes on in your house, too.

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Well so all you know I was planning on taking the advice not to get them in the first few replies. As for the respect of my mother....if she showed me some then I Would return it but she doesn't even try. Every night its the same thing....I need $5,10,20,50. "Well What do you need it for?" "Your dad needs cigerettes" its never can I borrow and pay you back. Because j never get paid back. If I had all the money she said she Would pay me back I would be like bill gates. I just don't really repsect her anymore she causes all this drama and talks crap about my gf who has depression issues. She acts like she's two and gives me the silent treatment daily for stupid stuff like not wanting To pay for my dads addiction to cigerettes because I know he doesn't need them. I quit he can too. I just don't understand how she can treat me like crap in a daily basis and expect me to repsect her and help her out. Sure she raised me. But if I count the Times I had to bail her out with cash its like I'm raising a child myself. Sorry if this disrepects anyone but I speak my mind and I'm not going to hide how I feel about my home situation.

Kevin Bullis

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I'll answer you in order of the bolded text.....

1) I had a rough relationship with my mother growing up. We fought constantly. And I'm not talking just verbally. We didn't trust each other. We didn't have much of a parent child relationship. I had that with my grandmother, who pretty much raised me from the time I was born. I used to spout off to my friends that if she'd show me some respect, I'd respect her. But it wasn't until I put on my big kid pants and started acting like an adult, that I began to get the respect I'd longed for from her. I made the decision to be the adult in the situation and you know what, my mother and I have a good relationship now. I love spending time with her. You just have to grow up a little.

2) Do you know how much money that woman put out to raise you? It costs a looooot of money to raise a kid. My husband and I are about to start a family and just looking at the costs of everything a baby would need, then school, extra=curricular activities, etc. That is a loooot of money. But you know what, she's expected to pay that money to raise you. That is her job. I understand it gets tough when your parents ask you for money. Heck, my mom asked me for $5000 to pay off a car loan. Never saw that money again. I let her borrow close to $1000 to pay her bills one month. Never saw that again. I've bought her food for her dogs even. And I used to complain about it. She's my mother. I figure she brought me into this world. Its the least I can do. And she hasn't borrowed from me again. In fact, she's done a lot recently to help me while my husband and I are trying for a family and getting our own place again. She's giving us furniture. She took us in for a few days while we were dealing with a horrible house guest. Have a sit down talk about your money concerns. Let her know that while you love helping her out, you do work hard (I assume you do anyway) for your money and would not like to spend it on things like cigarettes and such.

3) Addictions are hard to overcome. And its even harder for those who enable the addicted. My mother was an alcoholic and she was a big smoker. I can tell you it is very hard when someone you love asks you to go to the store for something they are addicted to. My mother recently went to the hospital for a problem the doctor says is possibly linked to her smoking habit. We were really scared for her. (I can't for the life of me remember what its called, but basically the doctor said it had something to do with the blood supply to her intestines) She was terrified. She quit smoking cold turkey and was doing really well. Then just last week I caught her smoking again. It is a battle and while you might think its stupid, for them it is a very real addiction that often enough, they just don't have the willpower to control.

4) While I am not a parent yet, understand that raising a child is more than just giving them money. Often enough I had to play mother to my younger sister. I had to be the mature one. I had to mother her and be there for her. Yes it sucks that your parents are being immature, but you are no better in the way you react to their behavior. It sounds like a house full of five year olds. Man up and be the adult here. Sit down with your parents and explain how you feel. They may not come around to seeing things your way yet. And no, you may not be able to get snakes until you are out on your own, and yes that sucks, but I'd work on repairing the relationship with your mother before worrying how many snakes you can fit under your bed. The relationship one has with their parents should be a wonderful one and I'm so glad I could repair the one I have with my mother. You should try. Even if it is just little things. Cook dinner for her. Offer to do some housework so she can relax. Sit down and have a chat. Let her know you want to have a good relationship with her and you are willing to put forth the effort.

Just my 2 cents. :banana::banana:

Not to play devils advocate.......but when I was growing up, my mom was not an animal person, though she never denied us having pets, so long as she didn't have to see it, feed it, or smell it lol.

After many cats, rodents, snakes etc. my brother & I decided we wanted a dog :rolleyes:, so we saved our monies, and adopted a red nosed pit bull, mind you we didn't think to ask my mothers permission (we knew the answer would be no), so we kept this dog hidden in my brothers room, well one day mom decides to go into brothers room, and what does she see.....this adult pit bull staring her down :O, needless to say, there was hell to pay when we got home, and after much pleading, crying, & bargaining, Ruby was allowed to stay :dance:.

After my brother went into the army, and I married and left home, my mother cared for Ruby, her lil guard dog.

I don't agree with keeping things from your mother, but I can certainly see why you do.
Just keep this in mind, if you do get the snakes, and keep them in your room, you have to ask yourself this:

1 .If/when she finds them, and throws a fit & demands you get rid of them on the spot, do you have somewhere/someone else to keep them?

2. When you move to TX, are you driving or flying? If flying, how will you transport the animals?


I would have a talk with her, or simply write it out in a letter to her, along with an info sheet on the Balls. If you are paying her rent etc. I would not loan/give her extra money, just tell her you're broke.

I know it's hard, and feels soooo frustrating right about now, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I have to agree with everyone here. The way I see it is if you know you are moving out in a year then you have a year to save up, you can save the money you were going to use for your "cabinet" and after a year have enough money to mabey get you the Butters you want along with a display cage for each of them. hiding them under your bed might be good for you but the animals will suffer from it. Just 1 year and you can have them in your Living room in some decked out displays :gj:. Sounds like a better plan IMO. :banana:

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Originally Posted by DemmBalls

^^^This.

No animal deserves to be in the middle of a mess like this. Sorry.

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Wasnt saying that any animal deserves to be involved in this situation. Anyone can see it's pretty clear that its best for the OP to wait.

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Originally Posted by DemmBalls

^^^This.

No animal deserves to be in the middle of a mess like this. Sorry.

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Me and my mom do have the occasion when we are civil and like being around each other. Most of are arguments are based off the fact that I'm older and I hate sticking around home. I like hanging out with my girlfriend and her family. My mom has told MD straight up that she doesn't want to loose me that's Why she makes all these extra rules that my sister doesn't have. I do love her as she is my mom, but it can be so infuriating to have her sit there and tell me what to do and when to do it. I took the prerogative when I got rejected from my dead set college to get a job and make a life until I can get into a different school. She didn't seem to see that as me growing up and constantly tells me how I should be doing things when she does the complete opposite....hence the money situation. If I can't convince her....which I wont be able to. I will just have to wait...and chances are it wont be till 6-7 years down the road before I get a ball python since I doubt any land lord Would allow me to have them...which sucks even more. But whatever. Life sucks that's How it is. As for my animals suffering in my house...its quite the opposite. They live Like kings and queens. They eat better than I do for chrissake. I spend atleast $300 a month on food for my 3 snakes, 3 Leos, 4 fish, and my salamander. More than I ever spend on myself in 6 months. They have appropriate caging and spot on temps. So no they don't suffer from my crappy home life. And thank You for the offense.

Kevin Bullis

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Originally Posted by kevinb

Me and my mom do have the occasion when we are civil and like being around each other. Most of are arguments are based off the fact that I'm older and I hate sticking around home. I like hanging out with my girlfriend and her family. My mom has told MD straight up that she doesn't want to loose me that's Why she makes all these extra rules that my sister doesn't have. I do love her as she is my mom, but it can be so infuriating to have her sit there and tell me what to do and when to do it. I took the prerogative when I got rejected from my dead set college to get a job and make a life until I can get into a different school. She didn't seem to see that as me growing up and constantly tells me how I should be doing things when she does the complete opposite....hence the money situation. If I can't convince her....which I wont be able to. I will just have to wait...and chances are it wont be till 6-7 years down the road before I get a ball python since I doubt any land lord Would allow me to have them...which sucks even more. But whatever. Life sucks that's How it is. As for my animals suffering in my house...its quite the opposite. They live Like kings and queens. They eat better than I do for chrissake. I spend atleast $300 a month on food for my 3 snakes, 3 Leos, 4 fish, and my salamander. More than I ever spend on myself in 6 months. They have appropriate caging and spot on temps. So no they don't suffer from my crappy home life. And thank You for the offense.

Kevin Bullis

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Completely off topic, but my advice is go to school while you still can. I got pregnant very young and didn't get the chance to go to school full time and get a degree as quick as possible. I am now working my ass off, full time mom, full time 911 dispatcher, and can only attend 1 class at a time towards my degree. It sucks, and you never know when life will throw a nice big fat heavy wrench in your life. So I'd take advantage of it while you can....

<end mom speech>

In responce to that I am going fall 2012 for my degree in biology. Then off the university of Texas for my Herpetology masters.

Kevin Bullis

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Originally Posted by kevinb

In responce to that I am going fall 2012 for my degree in biology. Then off the university of Texas for my Herpetology masters.

Kevin Bullis

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good for you and good luck.