What totally out there responses have people given you when you talk about reptiles?

I'm very excited about getting my BP (Only a week now!!!) and I've been talking about the snake and other reptiles I've seen in stores and shows here in Calgary (which are pretty good, surprisingly!)
One of my coworkers came up with this after I talked about my BP:
Her: Oh, yeah. I love reptiles. My friend has a komodo dragon!
Me: They what
Her: You know a komodo dragon! yeah! He keeps it under the counter at his video store!
Me: You do know that they're very endangered, smell like death, and are about three metres long?
Her: No it smells fine. It's not that big maybe it's still a baby though.
Me: Aside from the obvious dangers, do you know how incredibly illegal a komodo dragon would be to keep, assuming it didn't kill you first?
Her: No he really has one
Me: where does he keep all th dead antelope carcasses then to feed it?

My manager jumped in too, and she's a zoology major, but she stands firm that her buddy owns a komodo dragon. In Calgary, Alberta, Canada! We started suggesting Bearded dragons, monitors, and all kinds of other things. Nope, it's a komodo dragon guys!
What outlandish stories have people told you about reptiles?

I also have an entire third grade class that my mom works with worried sick that my ball python will eat me. Those kids are so cute. They're still convinced, even after I wrote them an email all about ball pythons and how they can't kill me.

I knew one girl who insisted that snakes lay their eggs out of their mouth. Turns out she had seen a picture of an egg eating snake and gotten things backwards!
I am also amazed by how little people know when it comes to telling species apart. You could claim your BP was a baby anaconda and they would believe you!

Don't tempt me!

I work in a bank and have an older guy that over heard me talking about my snakes and his responce was.
Him: what kind of snake do you have
Me: Oh a Ball Python
Him: Why you know their poisonous?
Me: Ball Pythons ??
Him: Yea all snakes are poisonus!
Me: Really I did not that!.!
Him: you might want to get rid of him before it kills you.

Conversation with an older lady after she viewed the big BCI we were fostering....

Her: Oh my! Is it poisonous????

Me: No (followed by a quick run down on what type of snake it was, that it had no venom, etc. and so forth)

One week later...same lady...

Her: Do you still have that cobra snake!!!!!

Some people! LOL

Some people tell lies to try and make themselves sound "cool". I know most people will tell some sort of fib or strech the truth for this purpose. They usually get the attention they want, just the negative kind!!! We have a neighbor that insists his friend let his albino boa that he paid $8,000 for 10 years ago in his house and it ate all the wild rats aswell as a cat. I explained that albino redtails never have costed $8,000 and its unlikely it would feel comfortable enough in some open area to eat a bunch of rats and his cat.

People will make up stories to make animals seems more menacing than they are.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I work in a bank and have an older guy that over heard me talking about my snakes and his responce was.
Him: what kind of snake do you have
Me: Oh a Ball Python
Him: Why you know their poisonous?
Me: Ball Pythons ??
Him: Yea all snakes are poisonus!
Me: Really I did not that!.!
Him: you might want to get rid of him before it kills you.

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You should've told the guy "well if it's poisonous I'll just have to make sure I don't accidentally eat it!" but I bet he wouldn't get that either ;) I also like your sig - I thought "mmm, I could go for a BP that's het for pie"... would he make me pie? (I know you mean pied but I love the idea of a snake making me pie - DEFINITELY worth my money then)

Everyone also insists I should only feed my snake once a month and it should be something ridiculously large like a rabbit. Apparently everyone is a snake expert!

Yea snakes seem to be the one thing everyone has an opinion about. Yea I think a snake that could make pies would be great. Like a Cherry flavored pythons

Instead of everyone saying "You have to see the snake in person, it's amazing" it'd be "you'd have to lick it to believe it!"
And then there'd be salmonella outbreaks everywhere.

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Originally Posted by mousch

Instead of everyone saying "You have to see the snake in person, it's amazing" it'd be "you'd have to lick it to believe it!"
And then there'd be salmonella outbreaks everywhere.

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You're still more likely to get salmonella from the cutting board in your own kitchen.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

You're still more likely to get salmonella from the cutting board in your own kitchen.

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Get an easy to wash one like Corian(family buisness, I couldn't resist the oppertunity) and you reduce the risk:)

Ever see the movie Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory with the lickable wall paper. That'll be the next big thing in Ball's. Flavors.

MMMMMM I got watermelon!

one guy told me that his friend got a normal bp and it eventually started showing patches of white and turned piebald. then he started breeding it and made thousands!!!

what a lucky guy....
i wish i found a magic bp...

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Originally Posted by bigballs

what a lucky guy....
i wish i found a magic bp...

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You didn't know that when they get wet they change color.. and you better not feed them after midnight.. LOL

I don't talk to alot of people about snakes. I get some comments like "aren't those Satan's creatures, hur hur hur". Of course everything I do automatically deems me satanic (listening to metal, wearing all black).

Being Gothic dosen't make some one a satanist. My brother was a goth before the Marine Corp. And hes the son of a Southern Baptist preacher

I was being interviewed by a lady for a sort-of-sales position that I didn't want to begin with:


Her: So, what do you see yourself doing 5-10 years down the road?
Me: Actually, you may find this a bit unusual, but I see myself having an educational and breeding program for snakes.
~utterly silent pause~
Her: How in the world do you breed snakes?
Me: Well...you put the boy snake in with the girl snake....

I'll give her credit for laughing at herself after that!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

I was being interviewed by a lady for a sort-of-sales position that I didn't want to begin with:


Her: So, what do you see yourself doing 5-10 years down the road?
Me: Actually, you may find this a bit unusual, but I see myself having an educational and breeding program for snakes.
~utterly silent pause~
Her: How in the world do you breed snakes?
Me: Well...you put the boy snake in with the girl snake....

I'll give her credit for laughing at herself after that!

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LMAO!!! Thats great. I love that

has anyone ever called you a nerd or a freak because of you love of snakes?

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Originally Posted by python kid

has anyone ever called you a nerd or a freak because of you love of snakes?

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My Cousin always teases me saying that I am crazy and when snakes all get killed, I will be depressed because my only friends died. Its something you just learn to ignore

Quote:

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Originally Posted by python kid

has anyone ever called you a nerd or a freak because of you love of snakes?

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Yup, my husband calls me a freak just about every day, but it doesn't bother me. ;)

Oh I have the best story. My mom was visiting this past week, and it was feeding night. I had pulled out the rats to thaw, put them in a plastic bag, and had them in a bucket of water. Well I usually leave the bucket on the sink, but since I didn't want to freak anyone out I put them in the bathtub (behind the showercurtain). Well, we all went swimming, and I came in first, with the kids, to clean them up. I totally forgot about the bucket o'rats in the other bathroom. :oops: Apparently my mom just turned the water on and hopped in. Then noticed them, and freaked out a bit. :rofl: That's the second time I've forgotten to warn her about the rodents. Luckily she doesn't completely lose it. ;) I'm still giggling about it. :giggle:

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Originally Posted by python kid

has anyone ever called you a nerd or a freak because of you love of snakes?

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"only freaky people keep snakes!"
Well you can go back to the normal and boring club; I'd rather be freaky!

I have noticed that the people who find snakes evil, and who like to kill every snake they see, are truly and utterly TERRIFIED of them.
As for the whole freaky thing; normal is boring! Seriously though, from this forum and others, I noticed a large cross section of the population keeps herps; you can't generalize and say only "freaks," say, keep them. But generally, I see that herpers are in general, more lenient, less limited in their ideals and beliefs and less likely to persecute others for their beliefs.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Being Gothic dosen't make some one a satanist. My brother was a goth before the Marine Corp. And hes the son of a Southern Baptist preacher

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Never said I was goth, my wardrobe just happens to be full of black pants and black band T's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

I was being interviewed by a lady for a sort-of-sales position that I didn't want to begin with:


Her: So, what do you see yourself doing 5-10 years down the road?
Me: Actually, you may find this a bit unusual, but I see myself having an educational and breeding program for snakes.
~utterly silent pause~
Her: How in the world do you breed snakes?
Me: Well...you put the boy snake in with the girl snake....

I'll give her credit for laughing at herself after that!

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My dad used to own and field trial dogs. Every now and then wed get asked if we would breed their dogs ... our reply is not normally ... but if the money is right ...

Kinda OT but still funny ::grins::

Bryan

My grandma is morbidly curious/concerned for my safety. She's asked more than once if they're "poisonous".

Usually with Gomez people hear the word "Python" and I have to explain the difference between a ball and a Burmese or Retic. With the VBBs, it's more of a "no, they're not venomous" issue. Thus far, nobody's been intimidated by the corn, lol!

Sorry just made that assumption.

Either way Snakes and reptiles don't make us strange. It means that we like something different than gold fish. And most of us have other pets (cats, dogs, hampsters). So what the big deal!?!

I mean I am a BANKER. I ware a suit and tie and go to City chamber meetings. But on my off time I like Motorcycles and have tattoos listen to hard rock (Skindred, Salivia, Stained) and love snakes and other herps so whats that make me? A chameleon.

Wait so do you like goldfish or snakes or chameleons? And which one maks pie? Stop confusing us!! :P

I love gold fish their so delicious with that buttery baked in flavor. The snake makes pies but only apple he's like the Martha Stewart of ball pythons. I'm trying to get him to do christmas decorations this year we'll see. Chameleons well never tried them. I hear their good with garlic. LOL

Someone asked me what type of snake I had. When I said BP, he told me to be careful. "They grow up to thirty feet and will kill you while you sleep!"

Also was told they are extremely poisonous!
Othere comments:
How do they pee?
How do they hold their food with no claws?

yea the kill you in your sleep thing is a good one. I'm like only if they get out, open the door to the herp room come in my room, crawl up on my bed with out the cat seeing and choke me before I wakeup.

Everyone has a friend or an uncle that had a friend that had a boa that when they woke up one night it had eaten their arm. LOL

I'm sorry look at the bite pic in the "how many bad bites" thread. I would feel the first tooth that whet into my skin much less enough to eat my whole arm. LOL

Uh oh you guys are making me rethink ball pythons!! I thought they had claws, and I was going to keep it in case my boyfriend cheated on me, ebcause then the ball python would choke him for me!
And I was also expecting one that would become a 30 ft pie!
this forum has done nothing but mislead me

IIIIIIIII'LLLLLLLLLLLLL I'LL YOU HAVE SNAKE'S!!!!!!!!!! I'LLLLL YOU HAVE SNAKE'S are they venomou's?

Yes,I think we have all been mislead. :confuzd: I feed Bob and feed him , still no 30 ft.

What have I done wrong!!:confused: ;)
I also had a vegatarian ask me if you don't feed them mice, what vegetables would they like!!:laughing: :clueless:

LOL thats great. hmmmmm Would you like the Ranch or the blue cheeze tonight Orpheus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

My Cousin always teases me saying that I am crazy and when snakes all get killed...

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Talk about not respecting biodiversity at all......LOL

"Why did you let your husband get them?!?!" My response ... ummmm, no they're mine. :D

My grandmother is my best story. I had taken Junior to the vet, and when I came home my grandmother was there. She is terrified of snakes, so i tried to just sneak her in. Well she came out of my sister's room and gave me a hug without looking. Junior was on my shoulders and she came face to face with Junior. She screamed so freaking loud saying "It tried to eat my face!"


Positively priceless.

I must say, I do hate it when people play the expert, and yet I am the one that owns the dang thing!

something funny here,

I have gotten the whole "will it eat you" deal
but this was to funny, i was out side taking photos of my 2 when the new girl from across the street comes over. (mind you she is very christan)

Her: what is that thing?!?
me : It's a Ball Python (going in to where I got her and so on)
her: You do know they are the devil right?
me:excuse me?
her: the Devil. God took the legs away from the devil and turned him in to a snake, you have pure evil in your house now!!
I some how couldnt convence her that my snakes were not the devil and were infact reptiles. I would hate to have her see the black eyed Luistic! (sp?)

here is another good one that just happened about an hour ago
them: what do they eat?
me: rats and mice
them:WHAT!!! cant you feed it greens like iguanas and stuff?
feeding rats and mice to another living animal is crule, not only to the mice and rats but the the snake as well. you should have your animals taken away from you and you should go to jail!

I just let it go ... there is no point in trying to tell someone the right thing when they are that far gone.

When people ask how I feed my snake.
I love to explaine how I take the rat home give him a little scratch behind the ear. Put him in the bag....and WHACK!! dangle dangle dangle.. Lunch. Its better and faster than having the snake do it to the rat.

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Originally Posted by jessie_k_pythons

here is another good one that just happened about an hour ago
them: what do they eat?
me: rats and mice
them:WHAT!!! cant you feed it greens like iguanas and stuff?
feeding rats and mice to another living animal is crule, not only to the mice and rats but the the snake as well. you should have your animals taken away from you and you should go to jail!

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Wow, you mean you cant feed them tofu mice?
that just does not make sense to me, have they never- even just accidentally - flipped through the channels to discovery and seen a snake at lunch?
the best retort for the crazy christian* theory for snakes being of the devil is just shrug (try not to laugh) and say "God made all the animals didn't he? I just happen to think they are ALL beautiful." it so ooey gooey that you cant fight it.

I usually get the responses 1)when showing snakes from the internet or 2)handling my baby Crowley:
Papaw: OH! That's posionous!
Momma: Ugh, they just look so wicked.. Demon eyes.. yadda yadda
10 year old sister: LET ME HOLD IT LET ME HOLD IT
15 year old brother: DONT PUT THAT THING ON ME
Dad: Let's put it on momma! Nancy, look, it can snuggle with you!

(*christian noted as being singular- a 'crazy' person. sorry to those that it came off wrong to.)

um... i think you guys need to do a bit more research because my friend said that if my bp gets hungry and i dont have any mice then i can just throw a couple crickets in there and he'll be fine....


then i showed him my 40ft piebald that could eat me while i sleep but i told him it was worth it cuz im making thousands off its babies...:banana:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shhhli

the best retort for the crazy christian theory for snakes being of the devil is just shrug (try not to laugh) and say "God made all the animals didn't he? I just happen to think they are ALL beautiful." it so ooey gooey that you cant fight it.

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im Christian and i assure you that isnt our "theory". we dont believe snakes are evil.

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Originally Posted by mr~python

im Christian and i assure you that isnt our "theory". we dont believe snakes are evil.

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eep! sorry, i wrote it wrong i suppose. i ment as in a christian having such a crazy theory. i am so sorry that offended you. i am also a christian, but in all honesty to think a snake is the devil litterally and that having one is EVIL and DEMONIC just makes me shake my head.
i am honestly sorry that offended you and if i can figure out how to edit my post i will.

like crazy christian = singular, a 'crazy' person.
that just come out great neh!

.......lol mods can delete this

this guy at work insisted he had a python that he had to take to a vet to get its muscles cut so it wouldnt strangle anyone. then the story changed to this snake belonging to his mom in fla. and shes the one having this surgery done every 4 months for 60$. ill keep posted the variations this poor paralized snake's condition as the stories come.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KVHdad

this guy at work insisted he had a python that he had to take to a vet to get its muscles cut so it wouldnt strangle anyone. then the story changed to this snake belonging to his mom in fla. and shes the one having this surgery done every 4 months for 60$. ill keep posted the variations this poor paralized snake's condition as the stories come.

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i hope thats not true, thats horrible! :(


some of the ladies i worked with said it'd break out and strangle me while I slept, and then I told them i had locks on the cages lol

about two weeks ago I was in the market to buy my first ball python, and i went to my local reptile store to handle them and check their health and such. I was holding a four foot (or so) female, and i see her open her mouth and think "oh no..." and she clamped down on my hand and constricted my arm! lol some customers were freaking out, and i just kept laughing cause i knew she wouldnt be able to eat me :P we got her off after 15 minutes or so of prying (dont worry, she was ok, if a little grumpy). I got home and my mom saw that my hand was bloody and I was shaking (i always shake, way too much coffee) and she yells "OMG! The venom is in you!!!" and i burst out laughing and said ball pythons werent venemous :P

All this talk about pie -

The first ball python to enter my life actually belongs to my daughter. Its name is Dutchap.

Dutchap Ball Python.

Dutchapballpy - thon.

Steve

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

All this talk about pie -

The first ball python to enter my life actually belongs to my daughter. Its name is Dutchap.

Dutchap Ball Python.

Dutchapballpy - thon.

Steve

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lol it took me a minute to get that one :P