Is there really a huge controversy over reptile ownership??

I just recently got my first ball python. I owned a skink as a kid, never thought of owning a reptile as "weird." How is it any different than owning a hamster or gerbil? Particularly the snakes... it didn't occur to me that people would be so critical/passive aggressive over someone owning a ball python, but I'm kind of picking up on that. I'm failing to see the issue with it?? Is it merely a phobia thing? Religious? Who the hell goes around judging people for their pets, of all things? Please tell me if there's a legitimate controversy here or if it's just an overblown myth, because I've never blinked an eye over owning a reptile and it seems absurd that anyone would be bugged by it.

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Originally Posted by Maymay

I just recently got my first ball python. I owned a skink as a kid, never thought of owning a reptile as "weird." How is it any different than owning a hamster or gerbil? Particularly the snakes... it didn't occur to me that people would be so critical/passive aggressive over someone owning a ball python, but I'm kind of picking up on that. I'm failing to see the issue with it?? Is it merely a phobia thing? Religious? Who the hell goes around judging people for their pets, of all things? Please tell me if there's a legitimate controversy here or if it's just an overblown myth, because I've never blinked an eye over owning a reptile and it seems absurd that anyone would be bugged by it.

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You sound exactly like me a year and a half ago when I got my first ball python... It surprised me too and I went through the same thoughts! That people were still so critical/quietly judging and totally misinformed if you get a snake for a pet- I couldn't believe. I thought people were smarter these days.

Main actual controversy going on is with the large constrictors. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong at all with ball pythons. Just overblown myths and beliefs that are so ingrained. Phobias mixed with extremely ingrained myths.

Only thing I'm aware of is fanatics like Peta and SPCA and those places which if they had it their way, any ownership of any "exotic" critter would be banned. From what I have seen, ownership of reptiles has grown a TON since I was a kid. Back then there was no Herpstats, VE or any PVC cage companies. A fancy cage was using 2x2 studs to make a frame and then nailing sheets of plywood to make the walls. Then using glass on tracks for the door. Heat was heat lamps surrounded by wire caging. That's when I had my Nile Monitor, Savannah Monitor and my first ball python. Much easier nowadays to keep reptiles with all the fancy stuff lol. There always has been and always will be those people who judge you on pets you own and who condemn certain pets. I personally cant see the point to owning spiders but hey, if someone wants one, go for it and more power to you lol. Just don't let it crawl on me or I might have a heart attack and die lol( i'm scared of those things).

I've had religious backlash, as well as creepy and weird and why would you do that stuff.

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Originally Posted by Ptshay

I've had religious backlash, as well as creepy and weird and why would you do that stuff.

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People don't outright say it to me, but I can kind of feel the thought from certain people, if you know what I mean. :\

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

People don't outright say it to me, but I can kind of feel the thought from certain people, if you know what I mean. :\

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Like that look they give you when you say you have a pet snake. Where they kind of look at you for a second and get really quiet, and you can see a slight hint of "I didn't know you were like that."


Herp Derp

Everybody I've ever physically introduced to pet reptiles ends up accepting them at the very minimum. Most end up fascinated and want to take selfies to show their other friends/family. The people most adamant against them tend to be those who have no experience with reptiles whatsoever. My ex GF forbade me from getting a snake (not the reason for the ex thing btw, :P). She absolutely refused to let me introduce her to one and would become irrationally angry any time it was even mentioned.


I guess for some people it's just one of those things that's ingrained into them.

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Originally Posted by KingWheatley

Like that look they give you when you say you have a pet snake. Where they kind of look at you for a second and get really quiet, and you can see a slight hint of "I didn't know you were like that."


Herp Derp

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It's totally unfair, but I think for you ladies a part of it is gender expectations. When I was a kid and catching lizards and mantids to put in a jar people never batted an eye. A female friend in elementary school was told it wasn't good to join me because only boys do that.

I've never had an issue. There have certainly been people that were afraid of reptiles and didn't understand why I would want to keep them, but never anything amounting to judgement. I was just the weird stoner kid that kept snakes. Nobody judged. As an adult not many people know. I don't talk about it much other than to my friends.

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Originally Posted by KingWheatley

Like that look they give you when you say you have a pet snake. Where they kind of look at you for a second and get really quiet, and you can see a slight hint of "I didn't know you were like that."


Herp Derp

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LOL "I didn't know you were like that." They act like you just told them you're into tentacle porn or something. It's just a pet x)

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Originally Posted by Ptshay

I've had religious backlash, as well as creepy and weird and why would you do that stuff.

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Religious? Like how?!?! I'm a Christian as is my family and I've never heard one religious objection to snakes!

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Originally Posted by Sallos

It's totally unfair, but I think for you ladies a part of it is gender expectations. When I was a kid and catching lizards and mantids to put in a jar people never batted an eye. A female friend in elementary school was told it wasn't good to join me because only boys do that.

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No way!! That poor girl. I used to catch spiders and let them crawl all over me as a kid. I developed a phobia only after I saw that everyone else was afraid of them. This stuff is learned.
I really think exposure helps, people are probably just misinformed. c: a friend of mine was afraid of my ball at first but now always wants to see her. He's a hip hop dancer, and says watching her movements has been a huge source of inspiration. Interesting stuff. I'm just glad to be converting people muahaha

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Originally Posted by Sallos

It's totally unfair, but I think for you ladies a part of it is gender expectations. When I was a kid and catching lizards and mantids to put in a jar people never batted an eye. A female friend in elementary school was told it wasn't good to join me because only boys do that.

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I actually never thought about it this way before, but it's totally true! If one of my dude coworkers owned/bred snakes, I don't think people would think it's out of norm at all. Or even better, they'll most likely think he's the cool wildlife guy.
Whereas owning snakes would make a girl "weird".

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Originally Posted by Maymay

I developed a phobia only after I saw that everyone else was afraid of them. This stuff is learned.

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I developed more of a spider phobia when one too many spiders dropped an inch in front of my face while I'm just minding my own business... And they JUMP and run fast and have too many legs. Like dang. LOL

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

I developed more of a spider phobia when one too many spiders dropped an inch in front of my face while I'm just minding my own business... And they JUMP and run fast and have too many legs. Like dang. LOL

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Way too many legs, scurrying towards you like they're coming to consume your soul LOL. I don't have to worry about too many legs with my ball python :-)

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Originally Posted by Maymay

No way!! That poor girl. I used to catch spiders and let them crawl all over me as a kid. I developed a phobia only after I saw that everyone else was afraid of them. This stuff is learned.
I really think exposure helps, people are probably just misinformed. c: a friend of mine was afraid of my ball at first but now always wants to see her. He's a hip hop dancer, and says watching her movements has been a huge source of inspiration. Interesting stuff. I'm just glad to be converting people muahaha

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When my kids were little my daughter was all about snakes and bugs. Every time we would catch a snake in the yard she would play with them and my boys would be spazzing. lol You are totally right. My daughter was never taught to be afraid of them. My sons on the other were taught by their mother to be afraid of everything she is afraid of. So I ended up with 2 boys that are afraid of anything that crawls and a daughter that to this day isn't afraid anything.

To be brutally honest, i am intentionally secretive about being a snake-owner. I dont own a giant (or even a "big") but there is definitely a stigma attached to keeping snakes that i just dont care to be assaulted with. If someone flat out asks what kind of pets i have i dont lie about it, but i must admit i do sort of deliver it with this "this is totally crazy, but..." tone, as if to voice my own disapproval with myself, not proud of it, but i do. Then i base my follow up on the reaction; sometimes i get a positive reaction at which point i turn into a kid on xmas morning. I was talking with an old college friend recently and the pet thing came up and i mentioned Irwin and then my friend lit up and told me he had a bearded dragon with this delighted relief in his voice, like we were two lost tribesman who had found each other in the wilderness. But more often i get shock and thinly veiled judgment and i'll assure them that its just a little snake and really its b/c my kid wanted one; shameful.
Snakes are just not regarded positively. You have all sorts of cultural and religious bias, and i'm not even talking about, "god says you're gross for liking snakes", but when the best known snake in all of western literature is satan himself, its no wonder there is a collective aversion to serpents. So when someone sees you have an affinity for something they regard as bad/gross/evil, it creates dissonance that has to be dealt with, sometimes by reassessing and then restructuring their own constructs, but more often by quickly establishing a moral hierarchy between the two of you with themselves on top.
I think the "true" controversies involving giant snakes, either their danger to people or to the environment are just fuel for these preexisting biases, i've yet to meet someone who truly thinks snake are great but admonishes snake owners out of a genuine concern for the everglades.
-sorry for the rant, i guess i just feel guilty for being a self-loathing snake owner.

Ahhh... the societal norms and gender norms questions. Always fun ones. I'm a female motorcyclist and I have a very buttoned up kind of job (Director of Development for a nonprofit), in which it benefits me to present myself in a traditional, conservative way. So, people are typically quite surprised when they see me running a gala in a fancy dress and high heels and then changed into my gear and helmet to commute back home on my big bike. It's the same when people hear I have snakes. They're just kinda surprised. For both, I usually smile widely and show that "kid on Christmas morning" enthusiasm and express how great both are to me. e.g., "Riding motorcycles for me is freeing and it's something I'd always wanted to do. I can't imagine not riding. I LOVE my bike." [At this point I usually pull out a picture of my bike.] and "I didn't think it was possible to love snakes as much as I do. My boa is like a big, friendly puppy and my ball pythons are shy and curious." [At this point, I usually pull out my phone and show pictures, especially the cute ones like my crystal ball Duncan -- see my avatar -- or the story of Clifford, my boa who was found in a parking lot.] I try to take time to answer questions, no matter how many times I hear the same one and no matter how off the wall they seem. I think showing your enthusiasm and interest can go a really long way. It also opens the door for teachable moments when the questions start coming -- "How do you ride that thing?" "Do they bite?"

Re: the religious bias -- After a few enthusiastic conversations about Clifford, I had the little old ladies at church asking why I didn't bring him when they did the blessing of the animals service. :)

TD;LR -- It's good to be an ambassador! Wave your herp flag high! Take time to answer questions and break down gender norm biases.

I have never experienced any of those things... Ever.

But..let me say this... Frankly, I dont give a crap about other peoples opinions on my pet ownership... Its like this... I dont have time to worry about what others opinions are. So maybe because I am like this, I dont have some of the experiences you guys have had in regards to your choice of pets w others. And I have learned one important thing..when you quit caring what others opinions are, you end up worrying less about what someone may be thinking, enabling you to be free of tht crap and enjoy life more.

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

Religious? Like how?!?! I'm a Christian as is my family and I've never heard one religious objection to snakes!

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Same here- but there are always some unreasonable people in the world, and use their religion as a reason for their bias.

The funny thing is that (I mentioned in another thread recently), the "serpent" in the genesis story isn't stated as a snake. God actually "took away the serpent's limbs and cursed it to crawl on the ground forever" or something or other only after the fact, which means it had limbs. Which means that the serpent was not a snake. These people need to stop using the serpent=snake excuse! LOL

I got in the habit of not talking about my pet snakes in college, because a professor that I worked with very closely for the whole time (and who is still a friend, colleague, etc, years later) was/is a super veganazi PETA type, who would go off on animals being kept in cages if I wasn't careful to avoid the subject. It wasn't snakes in particular, just caged pets in general. And I'd had the same snakes for years, since way before everyone had a phone with a camera, etc.
But then when my old guy died and I got my first new baby in almost 20 years, I was grieving for the old guy and excited about the new guy and started talking about and posting about it. Mostly, the reactions I've gotten from people who don't like snakes are along the lines of, "I don't like 'em, but whatever floats your boat". I've had a few people respond with questions who were receptive to learning something.
But what has really surprised me is how many people unexpectedly turn out to have had snakes themselves in the past, or had housemates/friends/relatives who did, or various other positive snake stories. My landlady told me a story about a group house she lived in for a couple of years where the previous occupants of the house moved out and left behind a boa constrictor. No one moving in had any experience with snakes and they didn't really know anything much about this one, but were gamely taking care of it because it was already there. They found out it was female when one day they found a pile of babies in the cage!

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Same here- but there are always some unreasonable people in the world, and use their religion as a reason for their bias.

The funny thing is that (I mentioned in another thread recently), the "serpent" in the genesis story isn't stated as a snake. God actually "took away the serpent's limbs and cursed it to crawl on the ground forever" or something or other only after the fact, which means it had limbs. Which means that the serpent was not a snake. These people need to stop using the serpent=snake excuse! LOL

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My friend's mom actually won't let her get a snake for religious reasons and calls them "the representation of Satan". And I always follow up with the same argument that the "serpent" actually got its limbs taken away by God so it wasn't even really a snake to begin with. It hasn't gotten me really far but she's also afraid about my ball python breaking out of a padlocked cage at night and strangling me in my sleep...

I really think it's the fear of the unknown, lack of knowledge, and general unwillingness to learn is what makes people so mean sometimes.
People don't even WANT to learn about snakes and reptiles and how amazing they are. It's pretty sad. Doing all my research about reptile care and different kinds of snakes, chameleons, and lizards was honestly a huge part of the fun of getting my ball python. And I'm always learning something new, even though I actually have one. Buddy makes every day so much fun for me!

I'm female, and I love my reptiles.

I'm a science teacher, and I get questions about why I keep them all the time.

A lot of it has to do with the lack of understanding of these animals, mainly the difference between a 'wild' animal versus a domesticated one. People have a lot of misconceptions. The way I see it, its better to address their questions as a science teacher and as an experienced hobbyist, rather than allow the gossip and misconceptions roam free and brew.

Usually, when I get a bunch of people enthused about my reptiles (giving them a chance to take care of them, interact with with), the love for exotic animals spread like wildfire. The expectation that ALL ANIMALS MATTER holds ground, and people, kids and adults alike, simply just accepts my reptiles as norms in the community.

.... one of the reasons I fell in love with BPs is that my son was born in the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac calendar. My first interaction with a BP just reminded me of my son - friendly, cute, inquisitive.

So you can say that I have a soft spot in my heart for snakes... not that I BELIEVE in that zodiac stuff, but being that my family is Chinese American, and the Chinese Zodiac hovers over our culture, I can't help but think about my boy everytime I play with my BP.

In the past, I had only had negative experiences with other's pet snakes. They were regretted purchases - unwanted animals languishing with the minimum of care in ugly bare tanks. I had no positive associations at all with them as pets, and only knew that illegal smuggling trade resulted in a lot of dead animals, and sick animals with unnecessary sad fates due to greedy cruel people. I think this came from an early reading of a National Geographic article (we subscribed when I was a kid). That kind of thing had a big influence on me, but then, I was the kid sending off spare change to Green Peace to stop the bludgeoning of baby Harp Seals.

Back a couple of years ago, I'd find myself thinking about snakes while spinning wool and flax. That activity tends to be somewhat hypnotic anyway. I started researching them, and unexpectedly discovered that I wanted one.

To me they are kind of a symbol of cosmic energy - they have a fun new age hippy theme about them. I find the Genesis story intriguing because humanity got smarter after Eve was coaxed to take the bite; with a knowledge of good and evil, and an ability to make the choice, we became adults, and were no longer children.

I think discretion is a good thing. If people aren't going to take it well, I don't need to share. Compared to the '70's that I grew up in, we live in a VERY prissy society. Taking offence seems to be a central part of most peoples' daily existence. Really, it is not worth wallowing in.

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Originally Posted by distaff

Compared to the '70's that I grew up in, we live in a VERY prissy society. Taking offence seems to be a central part of most peoples' daily existence.

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You just offended me with that statement while I was in my internet safe zone and I'm making a formal complaint to the mods to have you banned! :rofl:

I'm in the construction field, where you better have tough skin or you will not survive. My favorite is when I get into heated arguments with my contractors, having them tell me to my face to go "F" myself, slamming doors as they leave, and then an hour later we're joking and having coffee together like it never happened.

I think what really makes the difference for a lot of people is realizing that snakes are really just animals like all the other animals. They have poop and saliva and blood, they eat and they get eaten, they mate, they lay eggs or have babies, there are many different species which have different habits and diets, just like every other animal. And that in a lot of ways, they are a lot like us! They have ribs and backbones and skulls, they have kidneys and lungs and can stomachs, they can overeat and get obese, they can get put on a diet and exercise regime and slim down.

When I occasionally run across people with a knee-jerk aversion to snakes, they've often never considered these things. A surprising number of them think that snakes are invertebrates. Or ask whether they poop, and how they do it - it never occurred to them to think that a snake poops the same way and from the same general location as a fish or a human or a bird; or that even on a snake there is a difference between head and neck, neck and body, body and tail.

When they realize those things, a snake's peculiar body shape and way of moving becomes demystified somewhat. Other than how everyone's pet is special to its owner, there's nothing special about a snake. It's an animal like every other animal.

I have never really had anyone give me a hard time about my keeping snakes, but i have heard all the uneducated reasons why i shouldn't have them as pets. And yes, the religeous reason has come up a time or two.
Now me , being a real smartass, i usually will make a remark like and i have 2 black cats also, and if i get the face, i then follow up with something to the effect of well, what kind of pets would you expect a witch to have. I also neglect to tell them i have dogs, a parrot, rats, chickens, and a duck.

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

Religious? Like how?!?! I'm a Christian as is my family and I've never heard one religious objection to snakes!

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My catholic family legitimately believes Satan takes the form of any snake.

To be more in depth.... They believe the story of Adam and Eve is, rather than symbolic, a non-fictional account of two people and God. And so they think all snakes are descendants of Satan.


Herp Derp

What about the part in Genesis that says that mankind is over all creatures of the earth? Snakes are God's creatures. :snake: That means if you want a snake for a pet that is your choice.

ive had both but mostly it is fear. Ive found out a vast majority of my friends wont even hold my snakes and a couple wont even come to my apartment because of them. Ive also found that many apartments are biased against snakes from my house hunt this fall and that many will allow leos but because of one snake living in a toilet in new york like a million apartments turned me down as soon as i mention i had snakes

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Originally Posted by KingWheatley

My catholic family legitimately believes Satan takes the form of any snake.

To be more in depth.... They believe the story of Adam and Eve is, rather than symbolic, a non-fictional account of two people and God. And so they think all snakes are descendants of Satan.


Herp Derp

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Do they eat pork.... cause demons were driven into a whole pack of pigs and I know plunty of Catholics that eat pork lol!

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Originally Posted by Reinz

What about the part in Genesis that says that mankind is over all creatures of the earth? Snakes are God's creatures. :snake: That means if you want a snake for a pet that is your choice.

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This was my first thought.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

What about the part in Genesis that says that mankind is over all creatures of the earth? Snakes are God's creatures. :snake: That means if you want a snake for a pet that is your choice.

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A fair argument. But the snake wasn't a snake at all. In the story, it was Satan, and in some scripts it was Satan who took the form of a dragon. And it was God who removed his legs and arms to force him and his offspring to crawl on their bellies.

So owning a snake as a pet is like having a shoulder demon whispering falsehoods in your ear.

Keep in mind that we are specifically talking about my very heavy Catholic family. Who don't believe in evolution. "You can't 'evolve' outside your own species. A fish can't become a dog, then a monkey, then a human." (And yet sit there and argue until they are blue in the face over how Jesus changed water into wine...)

It's not that a fish became a dog, then a monkey, then a human. An aquatic creature evolved lungs, became amphibious. Then offspring of that creature developed depending on what environment they were in. Mammals grew fur and nipples. Reptiles had exterior armor. Then they evolved to suit their prey items. And their mating behaviors. Then you got your monkeys, wolves, etc from those.

Regardless. My point being that they believe snakes are evil because of the Catholic teachings in the past. Lately, the beliefs have changed, as Catholicism has always done, to absorb new followers. They adopted what other Christian religions would describe as "pagan" beliefs. It wasn't just Catholicism. Christmas, Communion, Easter, and even the upside down cross. These were adopted to twist already existing rituals to meet Christianity. It's actually quite fascinating. But that's dangerously shooting off topic.

Despite changing beliefs as a whole, my parents still accept the old teachings and nothing else. Snakes being the spawn of evil.


Herp Derp

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

Do they eat pork.... cause demons were driven into a whole pack of pigs and I know plunty of Catholics that eat pork lol!

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I don't know if that's still part of the teachings, but yes. They eat pork. They eat fish on fridays, and go to church nearly every day with all six of their children. And they all fast on certain days. They are half-siblings and as I am the "out-of-wedlock" child I am already predestined for Hell.

So it was not surprising that I got a snake as a pet. To them.


Herp Derp

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Originally Posted by Soord

ive had both but mostly it is fear. Ive found out a vast majority of my friends wont even hold my snakes and a couple wont even come to my apartment because of them. Ive also found that many apartments are biased against snakes from my house hunt this fall and that many will allow leos but because of one snake living in a toilet in new york like a million apartments turned me down as soon as i mention i had snakes

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The phobia is as bad as spiders. Once people are more informed, the phobia is replaced by fascination. As long as the party in question is open minded.


Herp Derp

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Originally Posted by KingWheatley

I don't know if that's still part of the teachings, but yes. They eat pork. They eat fish on fridays, and go to church nearly every day with all six of their children. And they all fast on certain days. They are half-siblings and as I am the "out-of-wedlock" child I am already predestined for Hell.

So it was not surprising that I got a snake as a pet. To them.


Herp Derp

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Sums up my issue with Catholics...

I had a very good friend throw this article in my face literally just today as proof that I was irresponsible for keeping as many herps as I do. (I have 11 in my collection, for the record. Total.) Never mind that the herp hobby has changed a lot in the 12 years since this article was first published; that the fella being cited is clearly referring to wild-caught specimens; that all my herps are captive-bred. We exchanged some very heated words on the topic.

So this thread is timely, is what I'm saying.

My grandparents were not impressed when I got my crested gecko. They nearly flipped when I told them I got a ball python. Plus 6 more snakes, and every time the topic of snakes comes up they say im gonna catch loads of diseases from them, they'll escape and strangle me in my sleep or i'll get bit and get seriously injured or something ridiculous like that.

My friends at college think I'm nuts when it comes to my animals, I mean it's not every day you see a teenage girl who has a "massive"snake in her bedroom (shes only 7ft atm). I had one guy almost freak out after I told him. He said it will literally kill me once the snake gets full grown.

But, these people have never met my snakes in person(yet) so they can only judge and jump to conclusions over what I tell them. I try to make it seem my snakes are harmless, but the lack of understanding makes people think they are worse than what they are.
I dont let people opinions deter me though! My animals are my life. I dont drink, or go out to parties, or any of the other stuff people my age do, and I think its good that I am working towards making my animals lives better rather than ruining my own.

Whatever floats your boat, dont let anyone else dictate what you want to keep as a pet, and if they keep you out of trouble, its great :gj:

@Nellasaur So all of this guy's reptiles died young and he's claiming to be an expert? Sounds like a load of bs. What about people who've kept reptiles for 20+ years and watched them grow to a ripe old age? I suppose they have no idea what they're talking about.

I scared people at work today talking about how tonight I was feeding my snake and it's all interesting since it's still a learning process for me. I have a container now especially used for defrosting the mice and I've got it labeled "Dead Mouse. Don't Open." My roommates and I think it's hilarious, but coworkers were like "........." followed by "But you have a cat!!" I sure do have a cat, and I love my cat she is like my precious child, but I also love my fat gargoyle gecko and my little snake. They all bring me joy.

My family don't care. We've always had weird pets and I was always the girl who would catch snakes and lizards in the back yard. Once I tried to catch a copperhead, that went great if you can imagine.

Now frogs...... those I don't get. I've got an actual diagnosed phobia of frogs and toads and they just.... no. I had to have friends keep a look out at the reptile show and tell me when to look away.

My in-laws were grinding on me and my significant other so hard when we told them we were getting our pet BP. It was basically an hour on Christmas Eve of them yelling and telling us how stupid it is to keep animals like that. They're fully convinced the snake is going to try to kill us and that it's disgusting to have that kind of animal in the house. Even when it isn't religious stigma, a lot of people like this are still super judgmental.

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Originally Posted by LightningPython

My grandparents were not impressed when I got my crested gecko. They nearly flipped when I told them I got a ball python. Plus 6 more snakes, and every time the topic of snakes comes up they say im gonna catch loads of diseases from them, they'll escape and strangle me in my sleep or i'll get bit and get seriously injured or something ridiculous like that.

My friends at college think I'm nuts when it comes to my animals, I mean it's not every day you see a teenage girl who has a "massive"snake in her bedroom (shes only 7ft atm). I had one guy almost freak out after I told him. He said it will literally kill me once the snake gets full grown.

But, these people have never met my snakes in person(yet) so they can only judge and jump to conclusions over what I tell them. I try to make it seem my snakes are harmless, but the lack of understanding makes people think they are worse than what they are.
I dont let people opinions deter me though! My animals are my life. I dont drink, or go out to parties, or any of the other stuff people my age do, and I think its good that I am working towards making my animals lives better rather than ruining my own.

Whatever floats your boat, dont let anyone else dictate what you want to keep as a pet, and if they keep you out of trouble, its great :gj:

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It will only strangle you and attempt to eat you if you starve it. A dog might think twice, but even a cat will eat it's owner if starved. (Usually because it's owner died.)

Also +1 especially for being outside the party heads. Glad I'm not the only one who put my head on straight going into adult hood...


Herp Derp

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Originally Posted by kimmu

I scared people at work today talking about how tonight I was feeding my snake and it's all interesting since it's still a learning process for me. I have a container now especially used for defrosting the mice and I've got it labeled "Dead Mouse. Don't Open." My roommates and I think it's hilarious, but coworkers were like "........." followed by "But you have a cat!!" I sure do have a cat, and I love my cat she is like my precious child, but I also love my fat gargoyle gecko and my little snake. They all bring me joy.

My family don't care. We've always had weird pets and I was always the girl who would catch snakes and lizards in the back yard. Once I tried to catch a copperhead, that went great if you can imagine.

Now frogs...... those I don't get. I've got an actual diagnosed phobia of frogs and toads and they just.... no. I had to have friends keep a look out at the reptile show and tell me when to look away.

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I tried to make friends with a toad when I was little. It peed on me and left.


Herp Derp

I have wanted a snake forever I always thought ALL animals were just super cool and I finally decided to add a ball python to my little family (Fish, bird,dog) lol The wierd and truely obnoxious things my friends said to me were super disappointing and upsetting. So wierd that anyone couldnt think he is beautiful .....:snake:

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Originally Posted by Natashaw123

I have wanted a snake forever I always thought ALL animals were just super cool and I finally decided to add a ball python to my little family (Fish, bird,dog) lol The wierd and truely obnoxious things my friends said to me were super disappointing and upsetting. So wierd that anyone couldnt think he is beautiful .....:snake:

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I never understood it myself.

An old friend of mine used to have this rose colored corn snake. All I thought was it was the cutest thing with its big eyes and super inquisitiveness. As cute as a kitten, I thought. Acted like a kitten too, to some extent.

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Originally Posted by kath_

My friend's mom actually won't let her get a snake for religious reasons and calls them "the representation of Satan". And I always follow up with the same argument that the "serpent" actually got its limbs taken away by God so it wasn't even really a snake to begin with. It hasn't gotten me really far but she's also afraid about my ball python breaking out of a padlocked cage at night and strangling me in my sleep...

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I lived with my mom for a few months over the summer while I was searching for an apartment and she actually brought this up. She was half joking but I guess I had never even thought of this. Obviously it doesn't phase me and didn't phase her (she learned to love the snakes). I still find it interesting though. When I got my first snake, my roommate at the time also brought the story up and the representation of Satan so I think it could be a common belief among some Christians.

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Originally Posted by Nellasaur

I had a very good friend throw this article in my face literally just today as proof that I was irresponsible for keeping as many herps as I do. (I have 11 in my collection, for the record. Total.) Never mind that the herp hobby has changed a lot in the 12 years since this article was first published; that the fella being cited is clearly referring to wild-caught specimens; that all my herps are captive-bred. We exchanged some very heated words on the topic.

So this thread is timely, is what I'm saying.

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How is that this "World expert" or the author for that matter, :rage: doesn't cite one single example how reptiles are being miskept.

I do agree that many reptiles are miskept. Just peruse Craig's List and you will see plenty of animals not kept well. :please: However, the key is proper education.

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Originally Posted by LightningPython

My grandparents were not impressed when I got my crested gecko. They nearly flipped when I told them I got a ball python. Plus 6 more snakes, and every time the topic of snakes comes up they say im gonna catch loads of diseases from them, they'll escape and strangle me in my sleep or i'll get bit and get seriously injured or something ridiculous like that.

My friends at college think I'm nuts when it comes to my animals, I mean it's not every day you see a teenage girl who has a "massive"snake in her bedroom (shes only 7ft atm). I had one guy almost freak out after I told him. He said it will literally kill me once the snake gets full grown.

But, these people have never met my snakes in person(yet) so they can only judge and jump to conclusions over what I tell them. I try to make it seem my snakes are harmless, but the lack of understanding makes people think they are worse than what they are.
I dont let people opinions deter me though! My animals are my life. I dont drink, or go out to parties, or any of the other stuff people my age do, and I think its good that I am working towards making my animals lives better rather than ruining my own.

Whatever floats your boat, dont let anyone else dictate what you want to keep as a pet, and if they keep you out of trouble, its great :gj:

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Lol it always makes me laugh when people say that the snake will kill and try to eat you. Only a fully grown massive retic or anaconda can get big enough to eat a person and it would need to be a big fella too even for them. Maybe another pet could get tagged like my cat but people even say this story for my balls which is hilarious. I'm flabbergasted by how even when staring at the snake i still get asked how I'd get him off if he started to choke me and if he'll try. Seeing a 4 foot 1200 gram snake on a 6'2" 220 pound person and people still think the snake can get the upper hand on me. Pretty funny

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Originally Posted by KingWheatley

It will only strangle you and attempt to eat you if you starve it. A dog might think twice, but even a cat will eat it's owner if starved. (Usually because it's owner died.)

Also +1 especially for being outside the party heads. Glad I'm not the only one who put my head on straight going into adult hood...


Herp Derp

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Not true dogs will eat their owner too if left without food

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