how to convince someone to like snakes

[melodyb1985]

me and my 2 kids live with my boyfriend in his house...well for my birthday he bought me a ball python off of craigslist...he hates him..he wont hold him...i cant hold him when hes around...and i have to feed him while he is at work so he doesnt have to look at it...but my son wants a garter or a corn snake...i think he deserves it...he does great in school..he is AG classes...never gives me problems with home work or help around the house...and he does all his chores..and never talks back like most kids...so i want to make a deal with my son if he saves his money up he can buy his own snake..but he also has to buy the food every month...witch is easy for my son he makes 40 dollars from my dad just for being good in school and a thome...but my bf says no more reptiles...it makes me mad..because all together we have a pitbull, a shihtzu, a mix breed dog...a gerbil...my bp..a fish...and 2 rabbits...the 3 dogs and the 2 rabbits belong to my bf..but i take care of all the animals i buy there food give them baths..change there water...and pay for the shots....so if hes not taking care of it why should he care if another animal is added to the mix...but its not just any animal its a reptile..he doenst like reptiles...so how do i convince him other wise?

[Navy]

You're not going to like my answer, but legally, if it's his house, you have no say in the matter.
If you can afford the time and money to take care of it, your boyfriend should respect you and your children's wishes, and not let them miss out on an experience because of his personal fears.
Convince him to hold the snake, that's how I broke my little sister. She was terrified of my snakes, but once she got to hold them, she loves them like children. Show him how rewarding and cool they are.
If you can't convince him to let you have the snake, you'll just have to give up. His house, his rules. And this is coming from someone whose mother wanted to kill my first snake.

[4Ballz]

he bought you the snake, that was a nice gift. however, don't force it on him. things will gradually come together. rome wasn't built in a day.

[melodyb1985]

i understand his house his rules...if not i would of allready had a snake way before march...i tried the holding thing..and he says the way they mover creep him out..and i tried showing him all the different colors of snakes and pointed out its cheaper to have snakes than dogs and rabbits..but that again was a fail...to be honest i never liked pitbulls..i was always scared of them...but he had one when we got together and i began to love him i even sat with him while he took his last breath...(he got in a fight and the vet didnt take x rays to find the eternal dagmage till it was too late to save him) and than we got the shihtzu in october of last year...i delt with him cause i had to brush his hair every day clean his feet when ever he came inside from using the bathroom and had to give him a bath 2 times a week and it took 5 months to get him house trained...than what do u know while i am at school one night..he goes and gets a 3 month old pittbull to replace the one he had..but now he is an inside dog too..but for some reason he thinks there easier and better than snakes...that you feed once a week...change there water and keep there cage clean...maybe he has fear of them...i dunno..sorry for the rant..just annoyed..but if he plans on getting married things are going to have to be a mutual decision and not just what he says go

[Navy]

i understand his house his rules...if not i would of allready had a snake way before march...i tried the holding thing..and he says the way they mover creep him out..and i tried showing him all the different colors of snakes and pointed out its cheaper to have snakes than dogs and rabbits..but that again was a fail...to be honest i never liked pitbulls..i was always scared of them...but he had one when we got together and i began to love him i even sat with him while he took his last breath...(he got in a fight and the vet didnt take x rays to find the eternal dagmage till it was too late to save him) and than we got the shihtzu in october of last year...i delt with him cause i had to brush his hair every day clean his feet when ever he came inside from using the bathroom and had to give him a bath 2 times a week and it took 5 months to get him house trained...than what do u know while i am at school one night..he goes and gets a 3 month old pittbull to replace the one he had..but now he is an inside dog too..but for some reason he thinks there easier and better than snakes...that you feed once a week...change there water and keep there cage clean...maybe he has fear of them...i dunno..sorry for the rant..just annoyed..but if he plans on getting married things are going to have to be a mutual decision and not just what he says go

Irrational fears are typically taught, his parents may have hated snakes or told him that snakes are dangerous, maybe he's had a bad experience with a snake, or maybe the media has given him inaccurate/misleading information.

It'll take time, just remind him that the only way to get over his fears is to face them.

I understand the pitbull thing, my parents taught me that pitbulls are dangerous, and growing up I was terrified of pitbulls, but after being around a few, I love them to death. But I still am afraid of them, I won't ignore them or reject them if I'm approached by one of my friend's pits, my heart starts pounding because of the misleading information I was given as a child, irrational fears are hard to deal with, especially when you're trying to help other people get over them.

[Trackstrong83]

It's very hard to get some who doesnt like snakes, to like them. I know from first hand experience. My mother LOVES my bearded dragon, but HATES my snakes, the only reason I can have my snakes is because I'm in my own apartment now. I also do educational animals shows at YMCA's , boys and girls clubs, etc.. And most people FREAK OUT about snakes. Just give it some time and don't push it.

Just remember, about 99% of people who have a fear of snakes, have no reason to be afraid of them!!! their fear is manifested from the media, family, etc. so just be patient

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Just remember, fear is just lack of understanding. Dogs kill much more people than snakes do annually, but that doesn't keep me from snuggling up with my two doggies When I go to sleep

[DooLittle]

That's tough. You should be able to mutually agree on stuff, find a common ground. Like he won't have to see it, keep it in your sons room, and that's where it stays. If it were me, I would fight tooth and nail for it. When it comes to my daughter, I do everything I can to offer her a great childhood, let her experience things, and to help her be a happy, smart, well rounded little girl. And what a neat reward, plus learning experience. Also great way to learn responsibility, and how to be a good pet owner. If this is something that's really important to you, you really need to tell him.

Some people may never come around to snakes. What did it for me was not wanting my daughter to have any of my irrational fears. I couldn't even look at them. So I had to put on my big girl pants. Eventually, got to where I could look at them. Then she started hounding for one. At first I was no all the way, but she didn't let up. So I started doing research. We wound up getting a corn. Then a year later the bp addiction started. Then about another year later, we added a boa. It may just take time, and exposure. Good luck.

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