Convincing Dad to Let Me Buy a Snake

I have all the money, I researched since I was 12 so I know all the care, food, and attention a Ball Python would need. I know where I'd get Frozen mice from, and have a small job that will pay for food weekly, I understand they live up to 30 years, I understand they can grow to up to 5 or even 6 feet. I know about their diseases/parasites and I know everything I could. I even know the Herp Vet that is literally a few miles from me.

Dad still says no.

He says they are "useless" and "a waste of money".

Can you guys maybe give me a list as to why Ball Pythons aren't useless.

Mom had one when she was 17/18 and she is totally cool with the idea of me getting a snake.

Dad still says no.

Help please..

Ask for a pet mouse or hamster, forget to close the cage. Then tell your dad you need a snake to protect you from the monster mouse or hamster. Batt your eyes at him and if he still says no...your dad has a stronger will than me with my daughter...lol
Or convince your mother to get another ball python but allow you to pick it out...
Personally, I recommend the 2nd idea!

Well. I don't know about a list.. But I would convey to him how important it is to you to have one. I'd do everything I could do to convince him that you are up to the task of taking care of a snake. It will take quite a bit of responsibility on your part to keep your snake happy and healthy. You have to be prepared to spend money for a vet if something should happen. You need the right equipment which could end up costing more than the snake itself. As far as useless, they def are not companion pets. They wont love you back. You just feed them and they tolerate you. They can live a very long time so you need to be prepared to care for the snake for 20 years or so. They aren't disposable pets and getting rid of one is harder than you think. Craigslist is full of unwanted snakes that end up being neglected because their owners were going though a phase and got bored or frustrated with them when they realize it's more than just tossing a mouse at them once a week. It takes real passion and dedication to provide long term care for a reptile. YOU need to be sure you are ready for it before you can convince your dad to let you have it.

Have you thought about what you would do with it once it's time to leave the nest and you can't take your snake with you?

Have you found a good cage, good thermostat, and the other gear? You figured that cost and have it covered? You then have enough in reserve for a visit to the herp vet if ever needed?

Have you tried other snakes like a king or corn with your dad?

At the end of the day though it's his house, so it's his rules. I can see his side and I own snakes.

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Originally Posted by cletus

You need the right equipment which WILL end up costing more than the snake itself.

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I fixed it for you. Other than that you nailed it. Lol!

You could always argue its good character building. Teaches you responsibility and money management. I always argue that learning about other creatures and biology in general is important, but I get the vague feeling your dad won't go for that.
Are you paying for the snake or your dad? Because if you dad is paying that would give him more reason to say no.
Do you have a plan for when you go off to college? This is important, realize a lot of college dorms don't allow pets.

Sorry its not working for you. :( I know what its like to work with a stubborn father.

If you truly are committed to the long-term care of the animal (as brought up in the above posts), the way you convince him they are not "useless" is to talk about responsibility. I'm assuming you are young, so tell him it is a chance for you to be responsible for an animal that won't be a nuisance for the rest of the family. It will teach you about long term commitment to something that won't always be fun. It's a way for you to grow.

Show him the youtube videos or care sheets. Instead of saying "can I have one," discuss the husbandry requirements, and how you could provide the correct environments. Discuss where you would find food sources, how you plan on switching the feeding from live to f/t and why that is important. Show him your research.

When he sees that it is something you're committed to, he is more likely to see it as a useful experience in your development to adulthood and responsibility.

Grow up more, go to college, get a good job, move out, buy snakes. Until then you're living under your dad's roof so his rules apply.

I'd suggest looking around to see if someone nearby keeps snakes, who would let you hold/fool with them in exchange for helping care for them. That's how I kept my horse-addicted self happy as a teen since I couldn't afford to buy one.

It happens and it is not the end of the world, if you are passionate now you will be in 5, 10 or even 20 years from now. How do I know? I was in the same position my parent said yes to any and every animal except snakes, I grew up, travelled around a bit (lived in several countries which mean good thing I did not have a snake), later settled down and now I own a few snakes :rolleyes: .

Bottom line your parents house their rules, once you move out have your own place than you will be able to do whatever you want. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Sallos

If you truly are committed to the long-term care of the animal (as brought up in the above posts), the way you convince him they are not "useless" is to talk about responsibility. I'm assuming you are young, so tell him it is a chance for you to be responsible for an animal that won't be a nuisance for the rest of the family. It will teach you about long term commitment to something that won't always be fun. It's a way for you to grow.

Show him the youtube videos or care sheets. Instead of saying "can I have one," discuss the husbandry requirements, and how you could provide the correct environments. Discuss where you would find food sources, how you plan on switching the feeding from live to f/t and why that is important. Show him your research.

When he sees that it is something you're committed to, he is more likely to see it as a useful experience in your development to adulthood and responsibility.

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I think that speaks volumes. I was pretty lucky. My mom supported pretty much all my hobbies and passions. I brought my first snake home when I was about 12. I already had turtles and lizards in my room. She took a deep breath and told me that I needed to take care of it if I was keeping it. That was the rule for all of my animals. If something was neglected I heard about it fast. I spent hours in the library checking out books about snakes and reptiles in general. I was constantly out looking for snakes. It was all I talked about. That poor woman put up with so many animals. To this day I don't know how she put up with it but I stayed out of trouble and got to do what I wanted.

First of all...

EVERYTHING SALLOS SAID !!!

I agree with every word, so no need to say it again.

Many pleasures in life are in all practicality "useless". Watching TV is useless. Sure, you "might" learn a bit, but truly. Mostly you just vegetate. However, it is our "down time". It gives us pleasure.
So while "useless", its still considered having a good time.
Taking a walk outside is "useless". You might loose a bit of weight, but other then that, its not a very productive "past time". Yet, that is how we can enjoy nature and relax, re-charge.

Owning pets is not useless. Even dogs and cats are not earning us money or washing dishes for us. Yet having them around gives us pleasure.

So what if a snake doesn't wag its tail when we come home or ask to be petted.

Tell you dad, love is selfless. You can enjoy and love a being without expecting something in return. I take real pleasure from my air plants. A new hobby. They are really fun to own and you can be creative with them. They don't wait by the door for me, but its still great fun to research them, take care of them, mount them in elaborate settings, etc etc. They are, much like reptiles, "Living Art".

Anything that keeps a persons mind and body occupied and interested isn't useless. And if you spend your time learning about natural science, taking care of it, you aren't spending it hanging out in the mall parking lot drinking beer. Or worse.

All that said, though...it is still your parents house and their rules.

Life flies by, before you know it, you will have MANY many years in which you make your own rules in your own place.
So if your dad will just not budge, look forward to the many snakes you'll have later in life ;)

You're not going to convince your dad that a snake is useful, because it's not going to pull a wagon or keep mice out of the barn or herd sheep or hunt pheasants or do your chores for you. Pets inherently aren't "practical" in that sense.
But they are certainly worth the trouble of having around, if you're the sort of person for whom they're worth it.

When I was a teenager my mom tolerated us having pets, but once we were out of the house she vowed to never take responsibility for another animal ever again. She gets it that other people like them, but won't ever be convinced that they're worth the trouble of having. My dad, on the other hand, is really an animal person and having them really makes a huge difference in his life. For him, there's no question about whether they're worth it. (They aren't together, if you were wondering!)

Probably the best argument is that a ball python is most of the time about as easy and undemanding of an animal as you can ask for, once the initial setup is taken care of. It will may also help to have a game plan for when you go to college or otherwise move out of the house and may not be able to take the snake with you; maybe a friend or relative who will agree to take the snake in for a year or two until you can care for it again, or a plan for re-homing it if necessary. In other words, assure your parents that they won't be on the hook for the snake's care if your life circumstances mean that you can't during college or whatever.