I'm losing the fight with my roommates

[PixieMaple]

Also, moving in with them is inevitable at this point, the lease started in May.
It's all four of our names on the lease, so we're all pretty much equal in who-does-what

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I'm not sure if I can offer any advice to help, but I do wish you luck.

Maybe remind them that your snake isn't just an object but a living being? While I understand and accept that none of my snakes "love" me, I sure adore them. I'm VERY attached...they all have names and I'm very fond of them and proud of them, like any pet owner is of his or her pets should be. Point out that demanding you get rid of your little python is like telling someone to just get rid of their cherished dog.

And as others have stated, remind them that the snake can be out of sight, out of mind. I had a BP back when I was in college...at one point I had to move back in with my parents for a time and my mother was phobic of snakes. My dad likes them and he and I insisted over and over to her that she'd probably never even see it unless she went into my room. Over time she calmed down and at one point, she actually asked me to bring it out for her to see. That day, she petted a snake for the first time in her life...and had to admit the little critter wasn't half bad. I think she almost liked him by the time I was forced to sell him (I was moving to an area where they are not allowed).

Now...my aunt on the other hand. We all agreed that nobody could ever tell her that I had a python. She'd freak out. She found out THREE YEARS after he was sold that I'd owned him and she screamed at me about how "horrible" I am and how cruel I am for owning a vicious deadly monster. She wouldn't speak to me for a week.

I now own a small collection and have intentions on aquiring more, and I intend to breed as well. Needless to say I have not told her I own snakes, and I doubt I ever will. She would take it as a personal insult, and think I am only doing it to "hurt" her or something. She literally HATES snakes, and says whenever they get mentioned that she wishes that we could just exterminate them all.

Though bear in mind this is the woman who's afraid of EARTHWORMS because they are "snakey" in appearance, doesn't like SHORTHAIRED CATS because their tails look like snakes, and has serious issues eating spaghetti because, OMG, NOODLES LIKE SNAKES. She's the kind of person who craves the bans on our animals. She is, for lack of a better term, INSANE.

I do hope your roommates come 'round like my mother did, and that they aren't cut from the same cloth as my aunt.

[NCtrickFL]

One thing that nobody has really touched on is that mini-fridges/freezers are insanely expensive to run. It will definitely cause a significant increase in electrical bills, and your roommates might be rightfully upset about that.

I would suggest a solid colored tupperware container in the freezer. If they don't have to look at them, they may become a little more receptive. Also for some reason the tupperware seems more secure than a paper bag.

[The Hedgehog]

One thing that nobody has really touched on is that mini-fridges/freezers are insanely expensive to run. It will definitely cause a significant increase in electrical bills, and your roommates might be rightfully upset about that.

I would suggest a solid colored tupperware container in the freezer. If they don't have to look at them, they may become a little more receptive. Also for some reason the tupperware seems more secure than a paper bag.

That and don't put "Frozen Rats" on it. Just say "Do not touch".

[olstyn]

One thing that nobody has really touched on is that mini-fridges/freezers are insanely expensive to run. It will definitely cause a significant increase in electrical bills, and your roommates might be rightfully upset about that.

I would suggest a solid colored tupperware container in the freezer. If they don't have to look at them, they may become a little more receptive. Also for some reason the tupperware seems more secure than a paper bag.

I'm not so sure they are "insanely" expensive to run. Even if it costs several extra dollars per month, you can see what the difference in the electric bill is and pay that part of it yourself - your roommates need not absorb that cost. Also there's a device called a "kill-a-watt" that'll measure the power draw of a device - you could use one of those to exactly determine what you owe for your rodent supply. (You can get one online or I guess Home Depot/Menard's/Lowe's have them these days.)

[PixieMaple]

@ Kyle@theHeathertoft:
Oh man... I think your aunt has a legitimate phobia, and yes, she does seem slightly crazy about it. I believe my roommates (like many people), are misinformed about snakes and reptiles in general... in fact, my one friend thought snakes were "slimy" and was surprised when she touched my snake and he was dry!

Also, about the mini fridge... yes, it will hike up the utility bill, and as a student living off loans I really cannot afford it. I came to a compromise since my one friend said NO NO NO to rats in the freezer... we live near a pet store, so I'll just get a rat from there once a week

[Bones]

One thing that nobody has really touched on is that mini-fridges/freezers are insanely expensive to run. It will definitely cause a significant increase in electrical bills, and your roommates might be rightfully upset about that.

No one has touched on that because it isn't true. I've had a mini-fridge/freezer in my bedroom for the past 1.5 years. My electric bill hasn't changed enough for me to even notice. It also depends on the size of the fridge. Obviously, a larger mini-fridge will cost more than a smaller one to run.

Here is a pretty good article on the cost of running a regular fridge versus a mini.
http://myarticlewizard.com/mini-frid...e-mini-fridge/

I don't consider an extra $5-$10 per month to be "insanely expensive". Not to mention that whatever there is extra per month, the person with the fridge can just pay out of their own pocket.

Edit:

Also, about the mini fridge... yes, it will hike up the utility bill, and as a student living off loans I really cannot afford it. I came to a compromise since my one friend said NO NO NO to rats in the freezer... we live near a pet store, so I'll just get a rat from there once a week

It really isn't all that much to run one. Depending on close to the pet store you are, you might end up spendin more money in gas going there once a week to get food than you will to run a fridge in a month. I know that would be the case for me.

Either way, only you know what is best for you. Good luck on this situation.

[J.Vandegrift]

I have to say, I wouldn't want frozen rats in my freezer that holds food either. Good luck with your problem though.

[llovelace]

The bottom bin of my freezer is for the rats, thank goodness I don't have roomates.
I do have family members with irrational fears of my reptiles, so the reptile room is key-locked (a spare key is in a special place, that my best friend is aware of in case of emergencies).

[h00blah]

i kept my f/t rats and mice in my freezer but i got really annoyed when i would reach in to get me some yummy ice cream and poking my hand in the rat bag on accident... then washing my hand.. then reaching in to get the ice cream ...
so i also put mine in the bottom bin of the freezer in our garage .
we also have a mini-fridge in the backroom but my roomies won't let me put them there - and there's just no arguing with them...