I have 10 snakes, you have WHAT? (peoples reactions!)

[musicalKeyes]

.... And then someone said they take their snake to school... why on earth on you taking your snake to school? Besides the fact school should be for applying yourself and learning and the snake could be a distraction- I highly doubt your snake feels secure being made a public spectacle outside of it's hides, riding around in your hand/pocket/backpack/travel tub/etc.

If you need the attention/shock value of others by displaying your snakes to people in public- maybe you need to reconsider why you are keeping snakes in the first place.

Just my 2 cents, will probably get blasted. So blast away.

I regularly bring in my snakes to my young cousin's school for his show and tell. It's not for any kind of "cool factor." I'm showing those children that snakes are not something to be terrified of, and educating them about snakes. I've also brought in salamanders, tree frogs, anoles, and any other animal i have at the time. While it may be somewhat stressful for the snake, i think that educating kids not to be terrified of these animals is important. i agree with the petstore bit though; I'd be terrified they'd get sick.

I tell people I have snakes every chance I get. I mean, it's not the second thing I say when I introduce myself, but it eventually comes up. Whether they're disgusted or not, they always ask questions, and it's often a good chance to explain why some of their misconceptions about snakes are wrong. Of course, I get a lot of "That's disgusting!" and then they'll never talk to me again, but hey, animals are such a big part of my life that if I can't talk about them with you and you refuse to listen, then I guess we don't have too much to talk about.

I get the Zoo comment a lot as well when I list off what animals I have, and most people are almost always interested in them. It's a good chance get rid of some of the negativity surrounding snakes and reptiles

[mainbutter]

My gf's mom was on the phone with my gf's grandma, letting her know that we were back home and didn't have any issues with driving through the dangerous road weather.

Here is the gist of the conversation as best I could hear it:

G'ma: So did Peter come home with any new animals?
Mom: A couple, and Beth came home with a reptile too!
G'ma: Oh NOOOOO, she DIDN'T! Gross, ewww, why would beth do that, I mean, SHE'S not a boy!
Mom: It's a chameleon
G'ma: Oh I LOVE chameleons, they are so pretty!!

lol.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Well my son has already told everyone in his school that we have lots of snakes and now I know why the teachers dont talk to me unless its about him at school lol!

But where I work I deal with truck drivers alot and once I get to know the regular ones we BS alot. Some have told me about their dog or their cat so when I say I have 30 snakes with more on the way, 2 dogs, a cat, a big aquarium and a lizard... Yeah I always get a first reaction of shock but then they just want to know about them. What kind, how big they get, what they eat. So its fun talking about them because people are usually facinated and I get to educate them. They still think I'm crazy though

I think what freaks people out more than the snakes is when they find out I have 3 different types of rodents I'm breeding for them lol!

[blackcrystal22]

When I say I have 27 reptiles, 23 of which are snakes people usually go "WOW" or "bless your mother" but I have never gotten a reaction of a smart-azz trying to tell me my snake will eat me in my sleep. Most of the time it's when I talk to adults after teaching children educational programs, so I guess they figure I know a lot more about the animals than they do from the news.

[shescountry89]

My gf's mom was on the phone with my gf's grandma, letting her know that we were back home and didn't have any issues with driving through the dangerous road weather.

Here is the gist of the conversation as best I could hear it:

G'ma: So did Peter come home with any new animals?
Mom: A couple, and Beth came home with a reptile too!
G'ma: Oh NOOOOO, she DIDN'T! Gross, ewww, why would beth do that, I mean, SHE'S not a boy!
Mom: It's a chameleon
G'ma: Oh I LOVE chameleons, they are so pretty!!

lol.

Haha! That's really funny

But yeah, I mean I have to agree there really is not reason to be bringing your snake around with you during the summer to a petstore. I am not allowed to remove the bigger snakes unless a customer is interested in purchasing it, no one is in the store or I am cleaning. Since so many people are afriad of them, I could get in trouble for freaking out people. haha.

[Bruce Whitehead]

I think since I started breeding the reactions are different, than they were when I had 5 or less.

Back then people tended to respond with a "cool...." sort of thing. Which to me is just a big ol' *MEH*. Hard to have an intelligient conversation with a person that is just standing with that goofy look on their face.

And usually follow it up with some misinformed story such as "My dad's cousin had a mamba and it ate his dog!!!"

*Bruce exits stage left*

Now that I have 70 plus, I never actually tell anyone, but if I am at a dinner party, house party, etc. one of my friends almost always brings it up. Or I get cornered by someone following who timidly asks "can I ask you about your snakes?"

Those are the people I like because they want to actually learn about it, and not just the myth busting, but they like to hear about it from an emotive stance as well... what it is like to keep them, why I pursue this hobby, etc.

But whenever you have a conversation with a non-snake person about snakes you have to learn when to shut up.

At some point their interest wanes and you have to know when to stop talking or you look like "that guy"... the one at the party trying to be cool talking about his snakes.

Bruce

[mechnut450]

oh I been called all the word and the looks loland i only up to 19 right now. what funny I get some people ask for my number and saythey will call me ifthey ever find one in the yard or what not. Since i make it plan most my aquired snakes are from people that are no longer willing to properly care for them. I also point ou that I will remove any snake from a house shed were ever alive since they do moer good than harm.

[shescountry89]

I think since I started breeding the reactions are different, than they were when I had 5 or less.

Back then people tended to respond with a "cool...." sort of thing. Which to me is just a big ol' *MEH*. Hard to have an intelligient conversation with a person that is just standing with that goofy look on their face.

And usually follow it up with some misinformed story such as "My dad's cousin had a mamba and it ate his dog!!!"

*Bruce exits stage left*

Now that I have 70 plus, I never actually tell anyone, but if I am at a dinner party, house party, etc. one of my friends almost always brings it up. Or I get cornered by someone following who timidly asks "can I ask you about your snakes?"

Those are the people I like because they want to actually learn about it, and not just the myth busting, but they like to hear about it from an emotive stance as well... what it is like to keep them, why I pursue this hobby, etc.

But whenever you have a conversation with a non-snake person about snakes you have to learn when to shut up.

At some point their interest wanes and you have to know when to stop talking or you look like "that guy"... the one at the party trying to be cool talking about his snakes.

Bruce

I know what ya mean, if I am minding my own buisness whether it be at work and i'm cleaning an employee will be like "oh well.. she's the snake lady, she has 10 snakes" or out with a friend who boasts about them. I can never really keep it a secret. I try. But it's hard, 'cause like you said you have to know when to shut up. I like talking about snakes, and get carried away quite easily. I don't have many people to talk to about them, except when I am at shows or on here. So once I get talking, it's hard to quit!

I agree, I love it when someone who is willing to learn and actually is interested comes to me and asks about them.

[BPelizabeth]

And then someone said they take their snake to school... why on earth on you taking your snake to school? Besides the fact school should be for applying yourself and learning and the snake could be a distraction- I highly doubt your snake feels secure being made a public spectacle outside of it's hides, riding around in your hand/pocket/backpack/travel tub/etc.
:

I did not say I that I take them to school! I use them to teach...the idea of them!! I do take in their sheds. I am having a one time reptile expo for the kids to learn about lots of different reptiles. And yes at that time...I will be taking them. They will be seperated from the other reptiles though. Will this stress them out...a couple of them...probably. But I have to say I am excited about the chance to teach children about reptiles....I have to do it. I don't think this will be any more stressful for them than a reptile show would be. These children know the rules...they understand they have to be quite...they understand...no clapping..stuff like that. Although this is something I am funding......it is a school sponsored event for the second and third grade.

Also I have to highly agree with not taking them out to another pet store. You never know what you could pick up. Also you never know what someone else was handling and how that could transfer to your snake.

[RockyTop]

I did not say I that I take them to school! I use them to teach...the idea of them!! I do take in their sheds. I am having a one time reptile expo for the kids to learn about lots of different reptiles. And yes at that time...I will be taking them. They will be seperated from the other reptiles though. Will this stress them out...a couple of them...probably. But I have to say I am excited about the chance to teach children about reptiles....I have to do it. I don't think this will be any more stressful for them than a reptile show would be. These children know the rules...they understand they have to be quite...they understand...no clapping..stuff like that. Although this is something I am funding......it is a school sponsored event for the second and third grade.

Also I have to highly agree with not taking them out to another pet store. You never know what you could pick up. Also you never know what someone else was handling and how that could transfer to your snake.

I wasn't referring to you. I was referring to the the 4th post in the thread.

And to the other person who bring's them to their cousins school, once again, I was referring to people taking them to school. I did point out in my post that if it was some kind of info session being conducted by a professional handler/breeder, that is totally different than someone just bringing in a snake to show people to get their reaction. Which was stated once again, in the 4th post in this thread.