Misconceptions Of Reptile Keepers..

[accidental777]

And I quote "How can you keep those things? You must have a screw loose." from today at work.
"Did you hear? Someone's snake ate their kid the other day, I saw it on the news."
"I don't like animals that carry salmonella."
"Those things get to be twenty feet long."

[tigerlily]

Most people look at me twice, and can't seem to fathom that an average soccer mom can enjoy snakes. I swear they seem to take a step back, as if I'm contagious. Many have expressed concerns about my sanity and how, as a mother, could I allow animals that might kill my kids into my house. That is the most common reaction that I get, but in rare instances I find another animal lover who has genuine curiousity and interest.

[AaronP]

Most people aren't shocked when they find out I keep snakes, more so they're shocked at how much their worth and how many I have.

[nixer]

ive heard them, i like this one the best

oh you have snakes that figures... how many... oh thats alot of snakes...do they bite...oh

[Jyson]

I've gotten some silly questions about snakes....but as far as misconceptions about myself personally as a keeper? None, that I know of. Folks are often surprised, but so far as I've ever been able to tell it doesn't change how they think about me as a person. Well....I take that back. It seems to increase the "cool" factor for a lot of folks....and I'm anything but "cool".

That is some what the same for me. On rare occasions I get comments like "Don't you have enough snakes?" But for the most part when I do tell people I own snakes they are just curious about how many and what species.

....and I'm anything but "cool".

I beg to differ.

[icygirl]

Do they bite?
Do they have fangs?
Are they "poisonous"?
Are they friendly?
Can they recognize you?


Oh and, unfortunately I had someone say "I don't like snakes, I heard a snake ate a baby in Florida."

[Glockman]

Do they bite?
Do they have fangs?
Are they "poisonous"?
Are they friendly?
Can they recognize you?


Oh and, unfortunately I had someone say "I don't like snakes, I heard a snake ate a baby in Florida."

Tell me about it, I catch all sorts of heat explaining to people that there are no bad snakes just bad owners out there ruining it for the rest of us.

[Fearless]

Do they bite?
Do they have fangs?
Are they "poisonous"?
Are they friendly?
Can they recognize you?


Oh and, unfortunately I had someone say "I don't like snakes, I heard a snake ate a baby in Florida."

I have gotten all of these plus that "you have how many?!!?"

And everytime I get the baby comment, I usually give them a long enough speech that they agree with me or will never ask that question again... cuz it usually goes into great detail about irresponsible people reproducing, and that the snake hobby in general is filled with tons of good people, and it sickens me when people associate someone so stupid with a hobby that I love. And usually throw the story of the dog that chewed off the babies toes as an example of how people are dumb and its not the snakes fault.

And my all time favorite question I was asked was by a first or second grade girl that was curious to know..." if the fur of the rat tickled the snakes mouth when he was eating it."

For the most part I think the majority of people are curious more than they are disgusted about them.

[Neal]

Something like "Uh, excuse me, can you repeat that?"

and then "You keep the mice in the freezer? Like, next to YOUR food?"

My parents don't let me talk about it in front of family friends, business associates, or grandparents, but anyone else is fair game. My parents are pretty tolerant of my eccentricities, but they're still very traditional and I respect their wishes since they respect mine--snakes are not considered lucky animals and my parents seem to think it hurts my chances of ever getting married. Like that's my biggest fear. -_-;;; (sarcasm spasm) However, I do keep it on the DL because I know there are people with phobias and there are people who just don't like them--do unto others. =)

People who notice I peruse this site a lot (sometimes in class ^^;; will ask why and I'll tell them--they're usually incredulous and curious but I haven't met anyone ever reacted really badly to it. Then again, I haven't told my neighbors yet. >=D

Whenever you hit 18, you come down to Louisiana, and you have a husband waiting ok? lol.

Anyways I see a lot of people that have horrible misconceptions, even other hobbyists. I'm not going to say any names but I talked to a friend and she knows I have a yellow conda, or atleast a conda, and shes like wow that thing is going to get 20 feet. I mean, yes they can, but the likelihood? Not really. Even the females average in the teens. People think because us as a hobbyists own snakes, we have no fears. We are cruel and such.

[wilomn]

we have no fears. We are cruel and such.

Some don't.

Some are.