I am a college student currently living on campus - I will be moving off-campus next year. I have my heart set on eventually owning a BP, but unfortunately it looks like I'll have to wait. My mom is absolutely terrified of snakes - she can't even look at a still picture of one, even from a distance. I've tried talking to her about it, but she clams up and doesn't want to say anything - she hates even saying or hearing the word "snake". And since I live with my parents during Christmas, and perhaps the summer too, I've never been allowed to own any kind of reptile, especially snakes.

Has anyone had a phobic parent, and successfully convinced them to let you have a snake? And are pet stores a SUPER bad place to get a BP, even if the corn looks healthy?

Also, I might be getting some PET rats soon (I'm an animal lover, but I only take in what I can handle space, time, and $ wise!) Is it ok to have rats and a snake in the same house together, as long as they aren't out at the same time and I wash up when handling each? Or should I just wait for the BP until after the rats have passed on (hate to say it, but they DO only live around 3 years...)

Any general tips?