Loved ones don't like your herp friends ???

:angered: Ok here something to do..


How many of you have loved ones that don't like your scale covered friends. Or even better didn't like them and now love them more than you do now.




I'll start. My Girlfriend talked me into getting my first herp a male leopard gecko that we loving call spot. He was a runaway that Petsmart had let get out and later caught he was living under his tank and eating escaped crickets. I was hooked. I had spot for over a year before I even thought about getting a snake. After reading about balls and playing with them at a shop a breeder had here in Jackson I bought one.My girl is deathly scared of snakes so I made her name him so she would have some connection with him. She called him Orpheus, its greek for "the darkness of night". She thinks he's good looking for a snake but want touch him or even be around when I feed him. But I told her that he would be here for a long time and she has like 40 years to get use to him so to take her time and not rush things and when shes ready I would let her do what ever

My father thought my ball pythons were going to eat my kids. Last Sunday, he brought the kids home and brought a wild-caught scorpion with them (live at the time, now deceased and pickled). I won't even pick up a wild scorpion!

My mom hates snakes with a desperate passion. I had an ex once who swore that he'd kill my Ball if she so much as looked at him funny....he became an ex about 10 minutes after saying that.

Uhh Ball Pythons don't live for 40 years.

wow, it took a whole 10 minutes? you must be a better person than me. :wink:

Well she hasn't gone that far yet but she keeps her distance

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Originally Posted by Blink

Uhh Ball Pythons don't live for 40 years.

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they do sometimes live for that long. the longest lived bp on record was about 48 years old at a zoo here in the US

EDIT: "Ball pythons are a long lived species, averaging 20-30 years in captivity, with the oldest being 48 and residing at the Philadelphia Zoo. They received it as a juvenile so it could very well have been nearly 50."

I know they don't live that long its a sarcastic exaggeration. I was just letting her know that she had time to get use to him

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Originally Posted by mlededee

wow, it took a whole 10 minutes? you must be a better person than me. :wink:

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Took me a minute to find the baseball bat. ;)

.....hah. No, not really, I'm not that mean.


(it was a wiffle ball bat.)

:mrgreen: :D :wink:

My ex-girl told me she wouldn't come over as long as I had them in the house (My Snakes) So she never did, Till I told her that I got rid of them and told her to come over. She had a little surprise they were wait on my bed Carmen and Charlie just sittin on my bed. :twisted: When she say them she screamed and ran out I've tried calling her since then and gonig to her house. Well I havent talked to her really since the last few words she said to me that day " I HATE YOU, DONT YOU DARE TRY SPEAKING TO ME EVER AGAIN!" I thought it was a funny joke but I guess it wasnt oh well I am happy with what I have now. Plus my girl now LOVES snakes and all of my other animals!

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Originally Posted by mlededee

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Originally Posted by Blink

Uhh Ball Pythons don't live for 40 years.

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they do sometimes live for that long. the longest lived bp on record was about 48 years old at a zoo here in the US

EDIT: "Ball pythons are a long lived species, averaging 20-30 years in captivity, with the oldest being 48 and residing at the Philadelphia Zoo. They received it as a juvenile so it could very well have been nearly 50."

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But what are the chances of yours living to the age of 40, let alone 48 lol.

Now now children no need to fight about it. You were both right because given the right oppertunity they can live that long according to Mledee and Blibk was right in that normaly they want live to be 48 but they have.

My father and stepmother won't come to our house anymore. Dad's not that put off by it - he's surprised at me, but it wouldn't keep him from coming over - but my stepmother is psychotically afraid of animals - even our CAT!

normally they will live 20-30 years in captivity, so that really is still a good long time. not a short term pet for sure. :)

how can you be afraid of cats!? that's too bad for her really.

I know. Cats??? They're so mellow. She's also afraid of my 8 pound Maltese puppy. That's just unnatural.

weird.

I am afraid of umm wait it will come to me.....................(To Be continued)

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Originally Posted by Podo

I am afraid of umm wait it will come to me.....................(To Be continued)

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400 pound men in thongs ...

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Originally Posted by mlededee

normally they will live 20-30 years in captivity, so that really is still a good long time. not a short term pet for sure. :)

how can you be afraid of cats!? that's too bad for her really.

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Cats are pure evil.
My aunt had a pure white cat a long long time ago ...
She also had dinning chairs with mesh seats ...
I couldn't sit for two minutes without getting clawed in the ass.

i used to think that cats were evil too. but then i got one and i changed my mind. :D

If I ever get a cat, I'll always nibble on his tail.

I have a co-worker who's afraid of cats -- even tiny kittens -- because her brothers used to throw cats on her when she was little. I saw her climb up on a table and scream when a stray kitten wandered into the warehouse. She's not bothered by my getting shipments of snakes and geckos at work, though.

And step-mothers are odd critters too. My stepmother was terrified of this huge beast:
http://www.happyvalleyasylum.com/rat...s/maxbeach.jpg
who was my ex-roommate's 45-lb. mutt. For years we had to shut the poor dog in a room or the yard when she was in the house (not often or long fortunately). Then, the next thing I knew, she and my father got two huge, drooly, untrained boxers who like to put their paws on your shoulders. And Max was scary? Sheesh!

my parents are getting alot better with the snakes (mostly my mom) my dad was never really scared but he just isnt crazy about em (he hasnt seen my corn yet,he is on a TDY) my mom actually held the baby at the breeders hows and was TALKING TO IT telling it how cute she was, it was funny,ever since that snake show she has seen them in a differnt light and last night when ruby was eating she actually WANTED to come and see but before when i used to feed roxy she would make sure she was a couple hunded miles away from my room.

The only one who is actually afraid of my snakes and doesn't like to come over to the house is my mother in law. :D

But to everyone else I am just the creepy/nerdy snake/computer/Mac guy. :D

Just thought since we got lots of new members I would get their input. And alos see if anyones answers have changed.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Just thought since we got lots of new members I would get their input. And alos see if anyones answers have changed.

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:) I think my dad doesn't want to admit to me that he's a little scared of my snake. Anytime talk about it on the phone he goes "aaagh!"

At first my boyfriend played it cool about the snake, but now he loves him. He talks to him and calls me at work "I was talking to orey and he said he wants to come play! can I take him out?" :P Just like I figured, when they meet him they'll love him!

Once people see that there is nothing to fear they normaly warm up to them and get to likeing/Loving them as much as we do.

P.S My dad is sacred :cens0r:less of them

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

She thinks he's good looking for a snake but want touch him or even be around when I feed him. But I told her that he would be here for a long time and she has like 40 years to get use to him so to take her time and not rush things and when shes ready I would let her do what ever

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Karl doesn't love mine either, but is very supportive of my love of them. He did hold one on a dare (which he proposed, actually) but he had a very difficult time with it. He's making baby steps though, one day last week I had one out and without any prompting from me, reached over to touch it - I almost dropped the snake out of shock! LOL

Well lets see, my dad, niece and nephew are by far the more accepting of the family. My dad loves them and usually talks about them all the time after I show him the progress of how they've grown. The kids can't get enough of them and my mom after a slow start will now peer at them through the tank and inquire if they're eating and what not. My mom will absolutely never hold one but has touched my female once and for a second, thats it. My aunt and some of my moms friends will start to scream and run if I bring out the snakes....spanish woman love to exaggerate.

at first my parenst didnt really want me to get a snake, but they let up and let me get one. then another, then monitor lizard. lol. my parents are actually ok with the snakes. my dad always compliments on how beautiful they are and how he loves their pattern and my mom like too pet and talk to them while im holding them. my grandma, on the other hand, is terrified out of her mind of any snake. she's ok with lizards but she will not go into my room for anything at all because she knows there's snakes in there.

I thought you were talking about "herp friends" as in other people you know that are in the hobby, as opposed to other friends you have who are not.

Some of my non-herp friends ask, "Who's this Adam dude you've visited a couple of times?" I tell them he's this mad scientist I know that breeds python mutations and then they usually stop asking questions after that.

But in the context of how the thread has gone so far, my family is pretty accepting of it...I was always bringing home critters when I was younger so they are kind of used to it.

My girlfriend was deathly afraid afraid of any and all snakes when we first met. Now she'll hold them while I clean tubs and she names all of the new ones I get. She's come a long way. Her family still thinks I'm nuts, though.

;) And how do you all think I keep my EVIL mother in law out of my house permanently? :D

Yep, I have snakes, thats it! She would not step one foot on my property when we lived close to them. She is scared to death of anything bearing scales. :sweeet:

my mom is so scared of them she wont let me have a snake lol. she said if i bring one home she will kick me out of the house. but what mom doesnt know wont hurt her lol.

my kids are fine with their parents addiction to snakes and frogs and lizards and fish and and and... and most of my friends are as well. i do have one student who has decided to not come to anymore of my classes cause i got another snake. funny thing is she was fine with my ball and hog island... it was a hatchling cornsnake that made her say... "nope can't come into your house... i'm too scared" LOL

the tarantulas tend to freak people out more than the snakes... but i keep the Ts in my room so no one sees them unless i bring them in to show them.

Wowee; this thread is from 2004!
My relatives don't overtly hate our snakes, but they just kind of look at them and move on, when they come over. My gramma will shudder and make a comment, but that's just how she is. Any kids that come over are always so interested in them; my little niece ( just over 18 months) is astounded by them and will stare and point all day at the snakes/fish tanks if she were allowed to!

Yea a two year old post still going strong

I think my dad is actually scared of all my reptiles because he will refuse point blank to hold them. My mum and my sister are ok with them, but are scared of my beardie and dont particularly like my corn snake. They love the crested geckos and the leopard gecko though.

my dad would cut my snake into pieces if he caught him roaming around the house.

my boyfriend hates my geckos, he's thinks their stupid; and i think he's stupid for thinking so. thats our compromise

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Originally Posted by daniellec

my boyfriend hates my geckos, he's thinks their stupid; and i think he's stupid for thinking so. thats our compromise

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well at least you can meet in the middle

Here's how I can break it down in my family.
Wife - Hated him at first, but now loves him and can't wait for the handling sessions.
Mom and Dad - Scared at first sighting, but warmed up after realizing he wasn't so bad. They even held him for about 30 seconds each.
Mother-in-law - Scared to death and totally avoids the upstairs since that is where he lives. Good, keeps her out of my room.:D
Sister-in-law - Talked smack, at first, about killing him if he ever came near her, but now every time she is over she wants to handle him (she likes him).

Dad: doesn't like snakes or spiders. He was scared with repeatedly as a kid (pushed at him, thrown at him etc). Dad had a caimen when he was younger though, and we often caught turtles as a child. Dad thinks my geckos are pretty neat as well.

Stepmom: not really sure. She wanted to see all of my animals and she took pictures, and she did hold one of snakes though. She likes animals anyway.

Mom: listens to me talk about them all time. I have no idea what she'd think if they were in the house. I don't think she'd mind the snakes at all. I don' think she minds the spiders either, but you never know.

Stepdad: Had a igggy for a quite a while (was my stepbrothers pet). Doesn't mind the snakes or the spiders at all.

Ex-bf/close friend: is phobic of the spiders. After making the invert room escape proof. He has insisted if one is loose (like during feeding or something and I"m running around trying to catch it), he will lock himself in the batheroom until i find it. He's okay with the spiders as long as they're in the enclosures. He doesn't have any problem with the snakes or other herps.

Robin just loooooves them and can't wait until she can have a couple more (or we start breeding) once we have more ROOM!


I don't know if it was my stepmother or my dad making the email comment, but snakes aren't their idea of a "pet" but "whatever floats YOUR boat" is okay.

I don't think my mom has an opinion one way or another. My sister's not thrilled, but since she lives in Seattle, and I live in Oregon, it's a non-issue.

My best friend, her BF, and their roommate all think we're crazier than loons, and the only good snake is a dead snake. In fact the roomy swore he'd kill my snakes if he ever saw one....but since he'd NEVER step foot in my house, we're safe. Patty even made the snide comment about why am I taking our pet rat, Smudge to the vet when all we're going to do is feed him to a snake if he dies. ??? :mad: :angered: :fork: IDIOTS! *%%&&%&^$&^$&$*%(%() Keep the snakes away from her. She who doesn't care for her stupid, untrained, disobedient Newfoundland dog she can't control........Some friend, but I just consider a handful of salt with it.

As for any future beaux, I've talked to one and he's not thrilled, but figured he could deal with it if he were to visit. Any future BF/husband would have to deal, because the snakes are NOT going away, and I'm starting steps to establish a rescue and breeding business. :D :D :love:

honestly, once people learn about them and open their minds... they love them :)

my mother and grandmother and dad hate snakes but my brother and sister love them

Karen wasn't scared of them, but she was apathetic and kinda "Oh, well that's neat" till Gomez then Ma-tsu. :love: Now she loves them as much as I do and is uber supportive of my obsession! She's the only local loved one aside from our best friend Amarin who we consider family and has a baby snake of her own!

My Mom was very "EWWW" at first, but she's also slowly gotten used to them from a distance via my LJ and my babbling on about them. She knows how passionate I am about them and how much I love them so she's calmed down about them a lot, and plans to visit this November. I'm hoping to really win her over then. She says she'll always still come over to visit as long as I never get into tarantulas. ;)

Paternal Grandma: is morbidly curious, but disturbed. I dunno which disturbs her more, the snakes themselves or that she and I have had a 15 minute discussion about Neptune's bowel movements, as I was on the phone with her the first time he had one with us, LOL.

Paternal Grandpa: "Neat!"

Paternal Aunt: "EEK!"

Maternal Aunt: "Tell me everything! That's so cool!"

Brother: Not sure yet, I guess I'll find out what he thinks of them in November too. He seems more interested in the bunnies.

Sister: Wants to meet them! Thinks it's awesome.

In-Laws: Polite humoring bewildered occassionally slightly forced smiles.

My mom doesn't seem to mind, but my dad wants me to get rid of any animal I get insisting its going to kill me... lol.

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

honestly, once people learn about them and open their minds... they love them :)

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I agree, but unfortunately some people, no matter how much you encourage them to be open minded, will remain ignorant to how they are. Oh well.

My three closest friends were not to bad. No one had a problem with my tortiose, my friend Judi had some initial problems with my tarantulas, but got over it, she didn't have a problem with the snakes, but didn't want to touch them (she finally held Toby, the baby cornsnake last week) and she said she was drawing the line when I told her I was getting baby emperor scorpions, she came over, I showed them to her (they are about 3/4 of an inch) and she squeeked out "Oh, how cute!". So now no problems at all.

Most of my friends adore my snakes since none of them can really own any at this point. My brother loves them too since his wife won't let him have any ^^ My mother....well, I'm planning on moving out soon, and she still thinks that tank in my room is for "desert toads" :D And because if anyone else in the family other than my brother knew I had snakes in my room, I would be ratted on, so no one else knows just yet.