Reaction from friends and family

Hello everyone, I'm curious about reactions from others regarding owning snakes.

Most of our friends and family reaction to our new BP is over the top.

We have have a golden retriever, presa canario and a pittbull and THAT'S okay but boy, we crossed the line when we brought a BP into our home. :snake::taz:

I realize their reactions are a result of lack of education regarding the breed (even we are still learning),but it is almost like we are now being ostracized.

Looks like we wont be having much visitors any more!!!! :rolleye2:

Anybody else have have similar reactions from friends/family?

With the exception of my children, my family has not only never been supportive of my BP hobby, they have gone out of their way a few times to make as difficult as possible.

Most of my non reptile world friends think I'm crazy, and I'm batting about .750 with girlfriends.

Most of my family just start ignoring me when I start talking about the snakes... They will look at a couple of the pictures then just be like "Cool, now just keep them at your house".... They try to be supportive but you can tell that they don't like them or even care to try.

My brothers and mom are reptile people though, so at least I have some that understand...

My fiance and little one like them, but they just have a couple that are their favorites and could care less about the rest of them.

my family went mad but its my house and if anything saves me from unwanted familyvisits espc as ive stuck a tarantula near the front door none of them pop in any more haha :taz:

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Originally Posted by Moggy86

my family went mad but its my house and if anything saves me from unwanted familyvisits espc as ive stuck a tarantula near the front door none of them pop in any more haha :taz:

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Too funny!!!!!':gj::rofl::rofl::gj:

It irritates me a little when people get all over dramatic about it. You know the ones, they run out of the room with their hands in the air screaming. You can tell their reaction is mostly over exaggerated. While they are making this big show, my 3 year old son is snuggling the snake next to his face or my daughter is giving it a kiss:) usually though, if you can get them to chill out, they will usually touch the snake and some may even hold it... My Mom on the other hand is truly afraid of snakes. When I was in high school, long long time ago, she wouldn't come in my room for fear of my snakes. She still fears that my ball pythons can eat my children, lol:rolleyes:

I am almost 34 years old. Married with three children 13,9,6. Luckily my husband and kids love the snake as much as I do. As for friends....a few said "why would you buy a snake that can kill your kids"? Or "that is the nastiest thing ever"! some thought it was pretty neat....but the majority think I am crazy....I tried to explain that these snakes get nowhere near big enough to kill anyone...but it didn't go over well. Even my father wasn't too happy with me buying one. To each their own I guess....I like him and that is all that matters! We also have 2 bully breed dogs and a Jack Russell mix in the house.

Im lucky that i have several cousins and my brother that like my snakes. But only to look at them. They get bored to death when i talk husbandry or genetics. Whenever my dad comes to visit he might ask about them but wont ever touch them. So i guess its a mixed rewction i get from friends and family. One question I hear often is "why do you need so many?" Thats funny to me because i have 5 and they think thats an entire zoo.

My mom has only recently been able to enter my room, since i got rid of the tanks and now have them in much more discreet tubs. She's still not interested in seeing them or pictures of them, but as long as i keep rats in my freezer and out of hers, she doesn't much care that they're here. My dad will show occasional interest, but again, doesn't go out of his way. He watched Nessie's first feeding after I brought her home, but I think it grossed him out a little.

My sisters, grandmom, and most of my extended family is pretty skeeved about it, although my aunt, the one I'm closest with, has helped me out with purchasing rats and has firebelly toads* herself, so I get good vibes from her. (Also, she will antagonize my grandmother about feeding them at every possible opportunity, so I think she's amused at how grossed out my grandma is.)

My mother is deathly afraid of snakes, always has been, and is horrified that I have them now. "There's something WRONG with people who feed animals to other animals!" (Forgetting that she's an animal that eats other animals, ignoring that I don't feed live, and refusing to see that feeding frozen to a snake is no different than picking up a frozen entrée for myself at the grocery store.)

My husband is the one that got me interested in the first place, so naturally he's supportive.

I'm a priest, and so people at my church joke with me a lot, but when I post pictures on Facebook, many of them remark on how pretty they are. One woman has even gotten to the point where she thinks they're cute!

I try to be an ambassador for them. Scales are just as loveable as fur!

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Originally Posted by mehitabel74

I'm a priest, and so people at my church joke with me a lot, but when I post pictures on Facebook, many of them remark on how pretty they are.

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You could use them in church and it will be much safer than rattlesnakes, jk...;)

Today, 06:30 AMMoggy86
my family went mad but its my house and if anything saves me from unwanted familyvisits espc as ive stuck a tarantula near the front door none of them pop in any more haha

I'm so getting a tarantula. :)

My parents have been very supportive of me and don't really care as long as I have the money to take care of them. My other family members not so much. They were fine with two snakes. But I jumped up to 9 in only 6 months lol. My grandmother on my dads side is terrified of snakes so we still haven't told her yet and its been a year since I got my first lol

I got pretty lucky with my friends 90% are cool with. I have one friends thats afraid of wild snakes but shes cool with captive ones. With my parents thats a different story. But im going to try and coax them into it whenever they come and vists.
A dog improperly trained is more dangerous than a snake but know body sees that as if a snake is pure evil and can do no right



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I'm a priest, and so people at my church joke with me a lot, but when I post pictures on Facebook, many of them remark on how pretty they are. One woman has even gotten to the point where she thinks they're cute!

Has anyone joked about how the devil used the snake as a vessel before?



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Sorry my "quote" didnt work in previous post


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If any of my friends have a major problem with my snakes, they've kept their mouths shut. Their attitude is "That's your thing", whether or not they like snakes.

Most of my family keep their mouths shut too. They realize they won't get anywhere with convincing me not to do something. The few opinions I have heard are "snakes are gross" and unnecessary concern that they'll get big and eat my cat or dog. Keep in mind the biggest snakes I have are ball pythons! ;)

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Originally Posted by CheebaChris420

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A dog improperly trained is more dangerous than a snake but know body sees that as if a snake is pure evil and can do no right



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This is exactly my point. Pretty much all my family/friends accept our 3 dogs (golden, presa & a pittie) because they are well trained/balanced but their attitude toward our BP seems so misplaced.

Hopefully over time, my family will become more educated and then perhaps accepting... But if not there is not much I can do about it because I love all my pets and they are part of my family. :snake::gj::P

Except for my husband and daughter, the rest of the family on both sides thinks were nuts for owning snakes.A few days ago my BP gave me my first (and her first) ever clutch of eggs. I'm thinking about emailing it to everyone in both our families, with the subject line "WE'RE EXPECTING!!!!"... just because I can.

Last week I had a "monstrous" 110 gram ball python shipped overnight and delivered to my work. Normally I don't have them delivered there but circumstances made it necessary. I told our receptionist I was expecting a small package and to let me know when it arrived.

Now, in the past the boxes have been labeled "Perishable Handle with Care" so shouldn't have been a big deal right? Wrong! I got a call from the panicked receptionist telling me "I don't know what is in this this box, but you need to come and get it off my desk immediately"! I went there and found this box was clearly labeled "Live Harmless Reptile"! She asked me later what was in it and I told her. She said she was afraid of snakes and thought if there was one in there it could get out.

I need to bring a couple of them in some day to maybe show her and a couple other co-workers that they are nowhere near as bad as the hype. Of course they think I am crazy, with one jokingly threatening to call child protective services on me.

None of my friends or family will say a word to me about any of my animals as they are all well aware that it would put them on the receiving end of a lecture about how misrepresented and misunderstood they are. The family I care about understands and accepts my hobby even if it's not for them, the one who don't arent the ones I want around anyway. They do work nice for keeping unwanted relatives away.

Most of my family probably thinks they're gross, but my uncle agreed to let me use his basement as a base to raise/sell the babies I produce, so long as I involve his son in the project (which frankly, is just a nice bonus for me.)

And I'm fairly recently single for the first time since having snakes, but my ex was into them. So this should be fun. So far I've had a few dates where I'm like, "So I'm a crazyperson who is trying to make multicolored snakebabies, is that a problem?" and their reaction is off, but I'm handsome enough to make up for it.

I have never really had any opposition from those around me. My parents and siblings think my snakes are cool (although they won't agree with me when I call one cute) and I have even gotten a few other people who have always been afraid of snakes to touch (and even hold) my pinstripe girl. Hey, just the other day Loki decided he wanted to try and get to the couch by crawling over my mom first, and when I tried to stop him from winding around her arms she told me to just leave him. She won't watch them eat (even F/T) because she feels back for the mice/rats (we raised rats for a few years about 13 years ago), though.

I did have one coworker who thought my ball python was dangerous (back when I only had her) and thought I was weird/creepy/insane for keeping a snake. He would go off on the "it will eat you in your sleep" tangent sometimes, but I think that was more so as a joke than anything else. :P

My family thinks im nuts,My mom tells me one of this days that's snake is gonna escape and wrap himself around your neck.my bro just ignore anything I have to say about snakes. my sisters same reaction and my grandma just think they are the devil.I explain to my grandma and she says I don't care that snake is poisonous..LOL!!When I post pics on facebook my friends and family tell me I have to be very careful.But they're a few girls who inbox me,when are u gonna show me your snake?! after they have told me that they are dangerous or to be careful.. :)

My mother, uncle, coworkers all think my snakes will kill me or my dog. I have a corn snake and a ball. I recently got a baby boa but I try not to mention him because the word boa can lead to huge ideas in someone's head. Like Titan boa. Lol

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Family reaction? I have always been the weird one so they are not really surprised, plus they leave 4000 miles away so it does not matter and even if they were close it would still not matter.

Friends? Lots of my friends around here are have the same interest, the others they are intrigued.

My girlfriend was very troubled by the fact I was getting a python at first even though she doesn't live with me. We went together to the pet shop when I was looking for the right morph . Well when I ask the guy if I can see the albino she pretty much ran out of the reptile room . After holding him for 5 minutes she saw how he was just hanging out and how relaxed it was she comes in and says ok it's my turn lol. Needless to say I was shocked . She still doesn't like the feeding part though . I think most people have this idea that they are killing machine devil spawn which is the farthest thing from reality .

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Originally Posted by PufferManMike

I think most people have this idea that they are killing machine devil spawn

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I think you just gave the perfect description for a house cat :P

Here's the way I look at this topic, most people out there will look at you like you have two heads when you tell them you own snakes (for me 30+). I've had a woman at the vet clinic freak out over my having a snake (BP) in a tub (locking lid) telling me they are the devil's spawn and that they are dangerous. I calmly told her that her dog was 100 times more dangerous than my snake. She still carried on over it throwing the bible and devil about until one of the vet techs politely informed her that snakes are God's creatures also. My mother also thinks I am nuts but generally does not bother me about them anymore because I would point out the fact that her cane corso mastiff (who is now deceased) was more dangerous than all of my snakes combined every time the topic arose. My point is, snakes are no less "Pointless" to own (as some have told me) than fish, or birds for that matter (both of which are acceptable pets to most people). All three live in cages (tanks) and generally spend the majority of their time in said cages (tanks). Also, snakes are beautiful and calming just like fish. I've been told that fish are calming and they just enjoy watching them swim around, well I put my snakes in that same category. And like birds, you can take them out and handle them. And when asked "aren't you worried they will bite?", of the two, I'd much rather get bit by one of my snakes than by a bird. Once you start getting into conures and some of the larger birds, those beaks can really do some serious damage!

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Originally Posted by PghBall

She still carried on over it throwing the bible and devil about until one of the vet techs politely informed her that snakes are God's creatures also.

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Yep, on the very rare occasions when someone has pulled that on me, my reply is the same.

I've also had people say "But they're incapable of giving affection and love!" And I say "But I'm not!" with a big smile. :D My snakes may not recognize my feelings about them, but they add a lot to my life.

I guess I was lucky growing up. My whole family are nort very fond of animals but they still supported my passion. My grandparents took me herping everyday when they watched me to catch turtles, snakes, and anphibians. And my mom let me own many species of herps without any trouble. My dad even took my to reptile expos and reptile shops. But ask any of them to touch them and they will not be happy lol. My family just thought that my passion would keep me out of trouble growing up so they supported it.

Less visitors less mess :) .... funny story my roommate hates snakes and rats .. I breed both and told him to deal either one will not kill him unless I give the commands ...... lmao

My wife was terrified, then uneasy, then ok with my snakes. Then my mom found out and was like a kid on christmas. Shes looking forward to coming to stay with me to see the pythons in person and she even made me send her pictures of them and my rodent breeding set up! :D God i love that women lol. The rest of my family think its cool and want a free one. Side not im pretty sure scripture says the devil possessed a serpent to speak to Eve and not the other way around sooo that doesnts even work in there argument ;)


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My mom wasn't surprised when I got my first ball python years ago. I was always catching snakes when I was a kid so she was used to it lol. Can't say she was exactly happy about it though. My husband knew I loved snakes since I had one when we got married. I can't say he was crazy about them at first but they didn't bother him. Now he's got a few of his own. So he's been converted :P. The rest of MY side of the family is pretty ok with it except for my aunt who thinks they're gonna kill me in my sleep lol.

Now my inlaws on the other hand think I'm a complete loon. They tend to be more against it for religious beliefs. You know the whole snakes are evil thing etc etc. My friends some of them think they're neat and others are ok with them as long as I leave them in the enclosures when they come over lol. I'm at a point in my life where I really don't care what anyone thinks. I'm going to do what makes me happy. :)

At first I did with my family,untill they seen them and even my little 4 and seven year old niece hold them and love it. But then with what happened in California all of my co workers and stuff who know I am a snake keeper tried giving me an ear full, and my reaction was I told them about how many " dog breeders" and the like treat there animals terribly and have sick and dieing animals all the time, and that was only a big deal becuse it was snakes.

My daughter is head over heals in this with me. She's the one that started it. Hubby likes the snakes, but doesn't love them like I do. Mother in law warmed up quite nicely to them. I wouldn't say she "likes" them, but she understands they are our pets and we love them. She has even been caught holding them... My mother, however, is terrified of them. No matter how much you explain to her, or how many pictures of them and my daughter I send her. At my daughters b day party, she got one of the snakes out to show her friends. My mom was plastered against the front door, as far away as she could be. She won't even sit on the one end of of the couch, because it's too close to the boa cage. Was hilarious one day when he yawned. Now she always says "he's gonna open his mouth at me"... My friends are split. A couple do not like. A few are in different. Maybe one or two actually interested. My grandparents don't understand why "we have to have so many animals". Oh, and my mom is terrified of the tarantulas too. Mother in law thinks they are cool. Yeah, I have an awesome mother in law. :)

Surprisingly all my friends are super curious. My mom always said if she finds the snake out by herself she was going to put it in soju (alcoholic beverage) and drink it. But that's always been a joke. My mom absolutely hated snakes but now she's kind of warmed up to twinkie. She's always asking if twinkie is alive (since she doesn't really move) and that's about it. She's used to having 60+ rodents in the freezer which is amazing. She hates rodents more than the snake

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Most of my friends think they're pretty cool. They like to see all the different kinds and color combos. Most everyone is pretty cool with the bp's, but there are very few cool with the red tails and burms. Which is understandable. I got my mom and grandmother to go to the Arlington Expo with me so I could get my belated Christmas present and pick up a few females I'd paid off, and they were truly impressed with how many people were there (the line getting in was ridiculous!), and very impressed with the price ranges.

But my mom will never be happy about the snakes. When I lived at my old house a few years ago I had to work days and couldn't sign for deliveries of live arrivals. She worked from home so I would ship them there and have her sign for them. The first time she got a shipment that said "Live Reptiles" she called me at work and told me she was going to watch the box until I swung by on my way home from work. I came in and she was sitting at the table with it in front of her with a spatula at the ready. She told me she'd been watching it since 9 when it arrived. It was too funny. I had promised her it was very secure, but she wasn't taking any chances. I did get her to pet a bearded dragon at the reptile expo though!

My family has been pretty supportive. My mom is really fascinated by them, my sister says hi but won't touch my ball python, and my dad allows me to have them but doesn't really care what I have to say. Everyone will listen to me rant on something new I've learned about. My Poppy hates snakes but gives me money to help pay for them something. :) My aunt was terrified but ended up loving my ball python, shaking, but holding him!

My friends on the other hand are different. They will look at the snakes, maybe poke them. My one friend was just screaming at my corn snake while he was touching her and fell to the ground haha! My boyfriend first became my boyfriend when I only had my corn snake. When I started talking about rescuing a baby ball python, NO! He's gonna eat me and kill me! Well, my collection is now up to 5 along with fostering and he loves all my reptiles and considers them his, too. He really likes the bigger sakes that actually could hurt me now and helps feed and care for them.

The snakes are usually skimmed over...it's the geckos that are the real heart stealers!

I live with a military family and the hubby, wifey, daughter.. Love my snakes.. The hubbys family(his mom mostly) cant stand them, so when i had my T8 it was in the front room of the house.. Takin the ball out made her leave within an hour... The wifey is too nice, the mom is a pita and bossy as :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:... So i hear her voice, i unlock the T8... :D:D:D

Boyfriend doesn't mind them (he just hates the rats). He just didn't realize just how many snakes I would aquire/planned to acquire. Roommates think they're neat, one will pet them but not hold and the other will hold them no problem. Friends all except for one think they're cool and will hold them. Most coworkers think I'm nuts. :P When they ask how many their jaw drops and then "Why?!" usually follows.

I have been super lucky, I guess.

All of my close family members like my snakes. My grandmother is especially interested and goes with me to the expos when they come around. I also have video of her feeding my boa, and she has "claimed" one of my ball pythons as her own. Sometimes I'll wake up at night and she's in my room checking on the racks with my heat gun.


She wasn't too fond of the asfs at first. Norway rats are illegal here, so when I mentioned asfs are rats, she immediately thought Norways. She likes them now and saves all her leftover veggies and stuff for them.


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As your husband and life mate. I can appreciate and respect anyones opinion but when it is unfounded, uninformed and judgemental then those people need to get in touch with nature and reality. We are care taking for our snake no less seriously then we do our dogs. You are Aces in my books. :)

Well my husband is the one who got me into reptiles. But I was the one who got into snakes first. He followed a day later after my first ball python arrived. :D So never had issues with him. His daughter, my step daughter, takes after her dad and loves all animals. She actually named her dads first ball python Lily.

I have one sister who while doesn't want snakes/reptiles in her house but doesn't mind that we have them. Her son would love to have one but sadly she says no every time. My other sister likes snakes. I'm sure if her two sons wanted a snake or reptile she'd get them one. My mom likes them and will even hold them and doesn't mind conversations about them. My dad, well he could care less for them. If I brought one out he wouldn't run, but he definitely wouldn't hold it. Of course I respect him and the fact that not everyone is comfortable around them so I don't bring them out when he's around. I just usually take my mom into the room. :gj:

Hubs doesn't mind a bit. Anyone else doesn't matter.

I love with four guys who are scared of them:rolleyes: My girlfriend doesn't care as long as I still have money to get her something nice every now and then, but a new addition is always in tha back of my mind

My parents and in-laws all agreed my bp would kill our two cats, our two 30lb dogs and any children we ended up having.

My most annoying reply was I told someone and said 'I'm sorry' like I had just told them a relative died. Next time anything good happens in that family I've got an I'm sorry all ready for her :/

Getting a snake was actually my girlfriend's idea so she's fine with it. 90% of everyone else....not so much.

When we went on vacation last year I asked my mom if she would come over and check on him every day or so. Her first response: He's going to eat me! So what I did was have her come over for dinner a few weeks before we left and after dinner I got him out without telling her. It took about five minutes before she was asking if she could hold him and that was the end of it. Now she refers to him as her Grandsnake. With most people, all it takes is one good experience and a little education.

I don't normally tell people, but one person thought it was awesome.
If I told my Granny she would never come to my house (she hates snakes).. I have to tell people that they don't get HUGE man eating monsters. I don't know where they get that idea. But my family doesn't mind, my sister begs to hold them.

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Originally Posted by Wheatley

I don't normally tell people, but one person thought it was awesome.
If I told my Granny she would never come to my house (she hates snakes).. I have to tell people that they don't get HUGE man eating monsters. I don't know where they get that idea. But my family doesn't mind, my sister begs to hold them.

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I had to explain to someone recently that, no, they only get somewhere between 3 and 5 feet long - for some reason they were thinking 15? I don't know what they thought he was.

That said - I own my own house and am middle aged. I kind of figure it's mostly my business what I have. If it's relevant and comes up, I tell. Except my mother, who will never, ever know because she will, like your granny, stop coming into my house. She's petrified of snakes.