A friend indeed.

[dkatz4]

I have no snake friends IRL.
Among friends and family, my snakes are regarded with apathy at best, occasionally repulsion.
This week I have the pleasure of hosting an old friend for a few days, someone whom I've not seen in a long time. Last night after the kids were asleep, we were chatting and he mentioned that he'd been checking out my little yearling jungle, "She's beautiful!" he said. Cautiously, I ventured, "Do you like snakes?"
"I love snakes, they're amazing, I even got a snake tattoo on my thigh!"
For the next hour or so, for the first time, I talked snakes with someone who actually wanted to hear about them. For the first time I saw someone handling my beloved pets without fear or reservation (besides my 5 year old son). It was magical.
This hobby has provided me with more satisfaction and enjoyment than any other pastime I've ever known, but also isolation. I don't foresee any great shift in public opinion of reptiles in the near future and have pretty much accepted the notion that real life encounters like the one above will be few and far between. That is why this group and others like it are so important to me, and I want to thank everyone here for your generous digital conversation and virtual companionship.

[ladywhipple02]

I'm always a little surprised when people tell me they have pet reptiles. It happened at work two days ago - I heard someone mention my name over the cube wall and stood up. A facebook acquaintance of mine was telling another guy that I had snakes. Apparently he just bought his first, a blood python, from the Midwest Reptile Show on Sunday. We chatted about snakes for a bit and how big his was likely to get and caging, and plans, and a few people around us asked a couple questions too. I think there are more people interested and/or involved that we realize, most people just don't talk about it due to the stigma around our scaled friends. I definitely think the younger generation is becoming far more open and accepting of reptiles as a hobby and for pets - I've seen a change in just the last decade. I post on facebook about my pets and then I let people come to me if they're curious or block me if they feel the need

[vikingr]

Hey I'm in NJ too so if you're anywhere near Monmouth/Red Bank area, I'd be happy to talk snakes or get the kids together for a 'snake play date' - my 8-yr old daughter loves them, and 11-yr old son wants more... wife just wants one she can see! - we have a BP lol.

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks for sharing! That's a great story. I don't really have any friends who are into reptiles either. My brother is into them a bit, he used to have a beardie and has wanted a snake for a while. But his wife is NOT into reptiles, so since his beardie passed years ago, he is no longer in the hobby. He inquires about mine and always likes to hear about them, but it's usually from afar since he lives 45 minutes away and has a busy work and family schedule.

I have been lucky enough to have a supportive girlfriend who was willing to let me get back into the hobby, and she's cool with the snakes. She definitely doesn't share my passion. So, I don't force anything on her. She will handle the snakes a bit, she likes to watch the colubrids eat sometimes, but that's about it.

It can be a bit of a "lonely" hobby, but it works for me. I love watching and learning about my animals, I enjoy taking the time to care for them each day, ok, I don't LOVE cleaning up after 4 ferrets, but they're worth it. As somebody who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for over 15 years, it feels good to be able to take responsibility for something. I rehomed all my animals years ago because I couldn't responsibly care for them, booze and drugs were far more important. Now, after being clean and sober for a while, I have gotten into keeping pets again. I am passionate about my animals, I enjoy the time I spend with them and at times find them to be therapeutic.

So for me, I'd rather enjoy my time with my animals, than waste my life like the animal I used to be...

[JodanOrNoDan]

I saw a scientific poll in a book I bought the other day about people's feelings towords snakes. It pretty much mirrors my experiences over the years. People either love them or hate them with very little middle ground. I don't know where I get my like of snakes from. None of my immediate family cares for them outside of two of my four children. I have taught many that they do not need to fear snakes, but while you may be able to correct the fear, it is rare that you can change a dislike for them. There are pluses. Unwanted visitors are kept to a minimum. Many people that live in Florida have family that uses their house as a vacation spot. I do not seem to have that problem.

I do not really have any friends in the hobby either. I try to keep my animals on the down low. Most people I know don't know I have the animals. The need to befriend other people in the hobby is beginning to become a higher priority though. The years of playing in the shadows are starting to bite me it the butt. As my production increases my lack of contacts is beginning to hurt.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Thanks for sharing! That's a great story. I don't really have any friends who are into reptiles either. My brother is into them a bit, he used to have a beardie and has wanted a snake for a while. But his wife is NOT into reptiles, so since his beardie passed years ago, he is no longer in the hobby. He inquires about mine and always likes to hear about them, but it's usually from afar since he lives 45 minutes away and has a busy work and family schedule.

I have been lucky enough to have a supportive girlfriend who was willing to let me get back into the hobby, and she's cool with the snakes. She definitely doesn't share my passion. So, I don't force anything on her. She will handle the snakes a bit, she likes to watch the colubrids eat sometimes, but that's about it.

It can be a bit of a "lonely" hobby, but it works for me. I love watching and learning about my animals, I enjoy taking the time to care for them each day, ok, I don't LOVE cleaning up after 4 ferrets, but they're worth it. As somebody who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for over 15 years, it feels good to be able to take responsibility for something. I rehomed all my animals years ago because I couldn't responsibly care for them, booze and drugs were far more important. Now, after being clean and sober for a while, I have gotten into keeping pets again. I am passionate about my animals, I enjoy the time I spend with them and at times find them to be therapeutic.

So for me, I'd rather enjoy my time with my animals, than waste my life like the animal I used to be...

Glad to hear you are getting it together. Many go down the path you were on and never return. Keeping productively busy is the best thing you can do to keep yourself out of trouble.

[Craiga 01453]

Glad to hear you are getting it together. Many go down the path you were on and never return. Keeping productively busy is the best thing you can do to keep yourself out of trouble.

Thanks! It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I've lost a handful of friends through the years to drugs and booze and I was knocking on death's door.

It's been 4 1/2 years and I can actually say I know what happiness feels like for the first time since I was a teenager. Now I'm a 38 year old with some catching up to do, but all in all...life is beautiful...

[EL-Ziggy]

That's why I love this community as well. It's a great place to fellowship with other positive like minded people who share my affection for scaly critters . None of my friends or family have an interest for reptiles. A few of them are intrigued and fascinated by my animals but most are fearful. I greatly enjoy seeing and hearing about all the amazing animals that are kept here. So thanks to all of you for being a good part of my life. .

[rock]

Great stories. I have also found it unfortunate that many people have the reaction they do. We are "that" family now, whatever, "that" means. I am beginning to realize that my kids may miss out on hosting sleepovers with their friends due to the snakes that we keep.

Other than this forum and our local snake shop I have had very few other opportunities to comfortably discuss things related to snakes.

We just hosted my Aunt's 80th birthday party last Saturday. 20 adults in the house and my kids wanted to show off their rooms and the snakes. No takers for the snake room except one, a retired firefighter. Happily, he then told us he knows the firefighter in charge of the venomous response team and he happens to live in our neighborhood! He said he will introduce us so we can meet him and his snakes!

Every once in awhile something good like this happens. In the meantime, I am grateful for this forum and all of you.

[Reinz]

I came from a family of the Dead Snake Rule. Don't know how I managed to escape the family's hatred.

As a kid we lived near lots of wildlife. If it crawled , walked or hopped I brought it into the house. Needlessly to say I was always in trouble, if not for that, I was ALWAYS late coming home because I was usually spending all of my time in the woods.

Not until very late in life did I get accidentally become a bonified snake keeper when my daughter left her BP with me when she left home to marry.

While I do not advertise my snakes, I am now "That Guy" to my family and friends. My collection size is miniscule compared to many folks here, but everyone acts like I have this GIANT collection, a WHOLE Room FULL of snakes!!

While only half of my collection, this is tiny compared to many folks here.

When people that have known me for a long time find out about my snakes they are so shocked. AFTERALL, I don't have tattoos, piercings, or a motorcycle. I don't smoke pot and am far from young. How could this possibly have happened?

I have yet been able to change my sister in law's view that my snakes will eat my cats and dogs, and me too if they get the opportunity.

These 3 stooges aren't exactly small dogs.

I don't know a local soul in the hobby. Since there is some kind of snake constrictor ordinance in my town, only Corn snakes are sold at the 3 pet stores.

I concur, this can be a very lonely hobby/pet preference.


Etta, Coastal Carpet chilln'

Sorry about the photos not working, they show up on Tapatalk, but not here for some reason.