I'm losing the fight with my roommates

[maverickgtr]

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.

Since my bf moved in two months ago and I finally got to keep my snake and bearded dragon with me, we added all the lights and electricity sapping accessories associated with two snakes and a bearded dragon AND a mini fridge and our electric bill in comparison from this year to this time last year is... wait for it... the EXACT same. An energy and space efficient mini fridge does not cost that much to power. The OP doesn't need a giant mini fridge, just a small one with a freezer for frozen mice/rats. Ours is on the larger end and there's practically no difference in our electric bill from last year and we've been cranking the A/C because of the very hot weather lately. The only large cost would be the initial cost of the fridge itself, but if faced with buying a mini fridge with a freezer or getting rid of my snake, I'd pay up and get the mini fridge. Plus now my health conscious roommate can't complain about my dr peppers making her fat because they're in the big fridge downstairs tempting her.

[hunter94]

Also I thought I would post to help out, if you plan on getting a Mini Freezer check Local Pawnshops they might have some decent priced Mini Freezers. I know mine has a couple for about 70-80 bucks each.

[Big Gunns]

I'm moving in with three friends soon who are all irrationally afraid of my ball. I've gone over all the details with them: I will not scare them with the snake, he is not dangerous, and he will be in a locked enclosure etc.

One is okay with it, sort of, the other "can't stand the idea of rats in the freezer with my food". The snake is really starting to cause a rift between us, because I'm starting to get a little snippy and calling them ignorant.

I'm getting really frustrated trying to reason with these girls, and am considering finding my beautiful snake a new home.

Advice please?

Tell them if they let you keep the snake Big Gunns may visit. This is 100% guaranteed to work with all straight females.

[ClarkT]

Welcome Back Big Gunns!

What exciting morphs do you have to show now?

[ster36]

I feel for you especially when your pets are your family. Here's my questions

1) Does your landlord allow pets?

2)Does he know about the snake?

3)Did your friends know about the snake before you guy's all decided to be roommates.

4) Did you all pay a pet deposit?

The reason I ask is this if you are allowed to have pets and you paid a deposit then that's that. But most landlords don't consider caged pet's animals as pets. The standard is Cat, Dog, goats, potbelly pigs and birds out of cages.And usually they will state no fish.I have lived in plenty of no pet places and the kids have had rat's and guinea pigs and I have never had a landlord say a thing. If your friends Knew about the snake before hand then they still got into the lease with you that's there fault. If they want to make you get rid of the snake you should have a say on any pet's they drag home or guy's.

[Big Gunns]

Welcome Back Big Gunns!

What exciting morphs do you have to show now?

Sorry, but Big Gunns doesn't want to hijack this thread. We all know BG would never do anything like that.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

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!

LOL, I love the look on people's faces when they touch a snake for the first time and find it dry. I've been helping some folk at work overcome their snake phobia with some of my most docile pets, and that delighted suprised look is the best. Though one co-worker had to admit she's still scared of all snakes...except mine.

But yeah my aunt is insane about her phobia. I'm pretty bad about spiders...I like snakes, they have JUST the right number of legs. Bugs creep me out. Yet for all the instant terror I feel, I wouldn't really hold it against someone if they had, say...tarantulas. Granted I wouldn't ever want to SEE it, but if I could avoid it and be reassured it would be kept in a secure enclosure, I'd be okay with it. I wouldn't LIKE it, but I'd learn to live with it.

My roommate wasn't too keen on me getting snakes...at first. My gf at the time and I took her to a reptile expo and made a nice day of it...we all went out to breakfast on the road, listened to some great CDs, and she got to see a LOT of neat snakes and reptiles. Some really kind, helpful breeders allowed her to hold some very small, docile animals, which helped as well...and she had to admit they sure are beautiful!

It is now a fair bit since then and now every other day it's "Are we going to the Taylor expo next month?" "Can we leave earlier for the West Michigan expo this time so we're first through the door?" and "We need to hit that expo, I need to buy more feeders!"

Yep, that's right, I converted her. She's still not 100% in love with my Balls or my Boa, but she's fallen in love with Cornsnakes! She's got a Charcoal and is looking to buy a Butter.

I guess my best advice is that if there's a local expo, ask them to come with. Offer to buy 'em breakfast and make it a really nice outing. It worked for me!