My parents were always super cool with me and my reptile fascination. They really didnt have a choice since I was bringing frogs in pockets in the house at the age of four and keeping them in a jar. a few days later mom would find them and make me let them go. Got my first wild-caught garter when I was 8, they BOUGHT me my first herp (an Iguana) at 9, and by the time I was 15 I had over 32 reptiles in my bedroom. It was always funny to see my new friends faces when they came over for the first time. Most all of them were sold or given away when I went to college. But during/after college I got into breeding corns. The day I got married (well a few weeks before) I had to cut loose of my snake collection because the wife was terrified. She loved animals, but not snakes. Well 10 years later the way I convinced her into letting me bring a BP in was letting her know that her fears and comfort were more important to me then a snake (and they really are), but snakes are something I would enjoy to have. I told her that it would be in it's own room with not one, but 3 locks on the cage. If it showed absolutely ANY signs of aggression I would find it a new home. So we agreed on ONE. For the first few nights, I would show her the cage was locked so she could sleep peacefully. I would come get her when she would come out of her hide to show her how she explored her cage in a calm non-menacing manner. And when I started holding her around my wife, I would do so very gently so it wouldnt cause the snake to make any sudden movements. Quick movements trigger fear in people that are afraid of snakes. Well thankfully, my 4 year old daughter fell in love with the BP... I mean LOVE with it. and watching my daughter hold it with me standing right there and the snake npt trying to consume my daughter helped my wife as well. 10 months later, the BP's are now in the living room. I'll come home and my wife will be chilling on the couch with one of the 9 BPs. She helps me clean and do water, and has even picked out what she thinks needs to be the next addition to the collection. She still refuses to see them eat or even look at there food because she has such a soft spot for furry things, but other then that, totally cool. It's funny, she even argues with her mom that snakes are not demon-infested people killers.
But that was my situation. In all honesty, it may be easier just to wait til you have your own place. Respecting mom (or dad) and her house is pretty important. I didnt think so as much until I had my own kids. I would want them to respect me and my house, but more importantly my wife... it makes my life a whole lot easier, lol.
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