Ugh... Moms

[Kittycatpenut]

So, does anyone have stories about acquiring their first reptiles or any other pet that their parents (or someone else) didn't want you to get?

[psychoduck]

my parents have always objected to my owning reptiles. When I was in my 20s and had my first ball python (granted, she was a 6 footer) my mom "ORDERED" me to get rid of her before I had kids, because she felt the snake would be a danger to my children. FFS, the snake was in a 30 gallon aquarium with a velcro reinforced top... she was no threat... I finally sold that snake not because of mom, but because of lack of wherewithal to provide food for her

20 years later, I have a yearling ball python that I really enjoy. I have a son in a unique situation where he will be providing me with several wild caught western hognose snakes within the next week. If he is not able to transport them from the area, they will be killed. I live in a similar enough area geographically that if I decide my desire to keep hognoses is a 'bad idea', I can go out back and turn them loose and they'll be ok

at 46+ years old, I really don't care about my parents warnings that are because of their misinformed terror of snakes. However, my hubby (48 years old) isn't going to be happy with me when the hognoses show up... I haven't gathered the cohonas to tell him about that yet LOL

[Redneck_Crow]

So, does anyone have stories about acquiring their first reptiles or any other pet that their parents (or someone else) didn't want you to get?

Yes. I simply didn't mention them. This made for some interesting reactions when my father (who was deathly afraid of my room in general and snake in particular) discovered them one day.

I don't recommend it. The reaction is memorable.

[Kittycatpenut]

Wow psychoduck, you must be really patient. I'm going to wait until the weekend when my mom has to a funeral for three days. I can get my dad to bring me to the pet store for more crickets, then pursuade him to get me the male ball python that's been there for a few months. I've held the snake and chatted with his caretaker who says he got sexed at a vet and that he eats f/t mice. She also said that he is very friendly which I saw for myself. Alternatively I can order a snake from the Internet.

[Kittycatpenut]

I will be keeping it in my closet until my mom gets told about it, because the only time she goes in there is for spring cleaning. She only found out about the gecko when we told her. With my gecko I turned the light on in the morning and off at night so as not to disrupt her sleeping pattern, and I'll do the same for the snake.

P.S. hognoses are adorable, so your husband will probably get over the surprise pretty quickly.

[Egapal]

Ok lots of advice. First, don't get the snake if both your parents are not 100% on board. A BP is not worth ruining your relationship with your Mom and at this point she would be justified in being angry with you. If you want to change her mind, get a plan. Save money and make a plan. My fiance requires that the snakes be locked in their cages in a room that company can easily avoid. Come to your mom with a complete plan, pictures of a baby and an adult. A secure cage and explain how it is secure. I solid plan to obtain food items and a place to keep them that she can approve of. If at the end of the day she says no. Respect her. Now for my story. My mom would not let me get a BP. I got my first one at 29 years old. I have a house of my own and a much better job. Caring for the snake is trivially easy and my fiance is cool with the snake. One last cautionary tail. I would not get one when you are in college. Your life is far too turbulent and uncertain at that time of your life. I have a friend who had a BP all through college, moved away and had to leave the snake with his mom for 6 months. Came home and had a great opportunity to live with some people who didn't want the snake. Two years later the snake died while in his mother's care. Not saying the same will happen to you. What I am saying is that your pets deserve a stable forever home. That's something you can't guarantee you can provide at this age without your parents being on board. Respect your pets enough to be a realist. I hope your mom comes around though. If not remember that you have a long life ahead of you and plenty of time to get a BP.

[ODoyle90]

My mom said the same thing. Me being me, I went and bought it anyways. Yet again, I go to school and work so I only live at home but 1-2 months a year. Now, she's not my snake's biggest fan (her words, but I don't believe her), but as long as I keep the tank and all out of the way it's all good.

However, in the situation that being knowledgeable and prepared to take on the responsibility is not enough and both parents aren't thoroughly convinced, owning a snake may just have to wait. Sorry if that happens, but the post above said it perfectly.

Best of luck!!!

[Kittycatpenut]

My mom will never be completely on board, but in her mind she knows I will get ahold of one somehow, and my dad knows I want a pet snake and doesn't mind. He doesn't like reptiles, but I think after having the geckos for a while, he's starting to. When I go to college, I will not be staying in a dorm, but in my house, and I will always be it's caretaker. For food I already have pinkies in the freezer and mealworms(for the geckos) in the refridgerator, basically as long as she can't see them she doesn't care.

[mechnut450]

oh man I caught my first snake at 15. I had actually stepped on he snake breaking her back and kept her hidden in my room for about 7 months from mom. then I Was bitten one day and when I came out with a bloody ccouple finger momfound out. but by then it was winter and the snake could not make uit outside so I got to keep her until she died last spring of old age ( her back healed up really great and my thanks was the bite lol) well ever since her i have had up to 30 snakes at one time and mom now handles them and such if I am gone to the girlfriends place for a while.

[mainbutter]

My first snake was a corn snake.

Back in '94-95 (I was 8 or 9 years old) or something, I'd been receiving REPTILES magazine for a while, and my mom suggested we check out a local reptile expo. It was lots of fun getting to see giant albino burmese pythons in person for the first time. I'd been letting my mom know I wanted a pet snake, but I was never the kind of kid to ask twice if I was told 'no'.

I found out that at the expo, she'd gone behind my back and grabbed a business card from a guy who lived nearby and bred corn snakes, and contacted him about the kinds he had.

My mom asked me about the kind of snake I'd like and showed me pictures of different corn snake morphs. I thought the idea of an orange-pink snake was crazy cool, so we went with a basic amelanistic.

Sometimes it helps having a mom who grew up on a lake and spent her summers catching turtles (enjoying them for an hour or so and just letting them go), just for the heck of it.