PS: I keep snakes for several reasons. I love them, they are beautiful, and they are easy to take care of (a great break from my fairly demanding dogs and bird.) They are silent, 'hypoallergenic', don't have claws, don't need babysat on a weekend trip, and are wonderfully predictable. I don't believe they are boring, and I do believe that life in captivity is fulfilling and safe if the husbandry is proper, so I've never considered myself cruel for keeping anything in a cage. I have no problem with keeping animals as companions, display animals, education animals, or even investments. I don't believe cats and dogs are the only acceptable standard pet, and I am constantly frustrated by the lack of education and awareness for pet reptiles. I personally love ball pythons for their beautiful and endless morphs, boas for their excellent, outgoing personalities, and appreciate more intelligent lizards like bearded dragons and iguanas for a more humorous, daily companion. My boyfriend is especially fond or more delicate herps like chameleons and dart frogs because of the challenge (I see him getting into caimans and monitors in the future) and I admire that as well.