Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)

[madelion]

My parents are convinced, it seems, they crawled out of the deepest, most fiery crevices where Satan himself would not venture and wriggled into the earth to put an end to the miserable lives of us all and drag us to where they came from. Maybe not quite that bad. There's no irrational fears. Just a 'I don't want a snake in my house.' I wrote a report on ball pythons -- eleven pages! Three pages persuasive essay, two pages reviews on ball pythons, one page a March calendar with dates to get the snake, clean, feed, handle, etc., four and a half printed website information from various sources to prove authentication (including links!) and half a page pros and cons. Plus a title page with a normal morph, a melanistic morph and a blue eyed lucy morph. Hand drawn! I've been trying to get my mom to read it about a week now. First day (thursday) -- gave it to her as I left for school, asked her to read it. Come home from school. She doesn't mention snakes or anything. "Did you read it?" "No." On Friday I left to go for my dads. I forgot it on my dresser. I BBM'd her. "Could you read my duotang over the weekend, it's on my dresser." She didn't touch it. Monday, she went into the hot-tub with my stepdad. I took advantage and put several sticky notes on, saying altogether, "READ ME... AND CONSIDER." I put it on their bed and went to bed. Nope, didn't read it. Today, Tuesday, I come home and -- YES! It's on the kitchen counter. Later, my brother comes by and picks it up. He begins reading out certain parts. He was making fun of it with my mom. She explained how she only skimmed through it because it was so long so far. I guess I did too much research for her.
I kinda skipped a big part of the story. Sorry it's jumpy.
About three weeks ago, I said to my mom, "I'm thinking of buying a ball python." This was after weeks of research. I'm 13, but I get better than good grades, I have a paper route and enough money and I look after my baby brother EVERY DAY -- I think I can handle a low activity pet. (Yes I'm OK with thawing & feeding mice.) She made a face and I explained to her how great they were, I can pay, they're just amazing, it stays in my room, she doesn't see it. Nope. She said, "Why don't you think about it?" "I HAVE thought about it!" "Well, I haven't." Surprise, surprise, that's all a lie seeing as she only wanted time to tell my stepdad and make HIM deal with it. The next day he took me with him to shop at Farmer Al's. "What's all this talk about a snake?" "I want a ball python. They grow to, like, three feet and I can buy it." (I want a male, not a female, BTW.) "There's no way we're letting a three foot snake into our house." He then flies into a rant about how I'm not responsible enough because I don't have a clean room. Sure, my room gets messy, but every Friday it's clean, laundry done, sheets changed, vacuumed, etc. Also, I'd pay WAY more attention to a snake than myself. Anyways, he eventually says, "If you think I'M uncomfortable with it, your mom's WILDLY uncomfortable with it. Why do you want a snake?" That was the ONLY question he asked me, and the ONLY question I couldn't answer. I've got a better question for him! Why's he keep dogs and like them when he's allergic? It just happens. When he couldn't answer, he proposed an answer. "I think you want things you can't have because you like to be angry." He didn't ask ANY questions about the actual snake which I could answer immediately. I was pissed. Three feet is NOT big. But then the miracle happened. A miracle I didn't realize until a couple hours later. He said, "Now, I'm a slave to logic. Maybe you could start with something smaller and easier and native, like a garter snake, if you did RESEARCH and could answer some questions. If you have logical answers I can't say no. Your mom might still veto it though. SO when you've got some answers, come find me." I later got thinking about garters. I looked it up, and they are not as good a beginner snake as a ball. Because:
-They eat fish (I feel these would not come frozen/thawed; it's a hassle to get live ones constantly, especially because garters supposedly eat more.)
-They grow about the same as a male ball python -- 3 feet
-They are snappier
So, I wrote a VERY logical report on ball pythons.
So, I was wondering if anyone had any tips on this. Also, why do you love snakes? Don't bother replying if
a) You'll say I hsouldn't have one
b)You'll say "their house, their rules"
c)why a snake?
d)it'll constrict the baby omg
e)snakes are bad
f)itll kil ur famly tats why they don want it snaeks r rlly bad nd itl constric u nd its venom wil kill u
..or anything of the sort. Thanks in advance!
Only HELPFUL stuff, please. Thanks in advance.

[Nodnarb3do]

Well I don't think you're gonna get any D through F answers here. Now, I'll tell you about why I chose a snake, but judging from their response to your requests, I'd advise against thinking you'll change their mind.

I picked a snake for two primary reasons. The first is that my job tends to go 10-12 hours a day, and sometimes 3-4 days away from the house at a time. I simply can't support the needs of most mammals. I also live in an apartment complex where non-tank animals mean an expensive deposit, and increased rent. So for my situation, a (largely) low maintenance reptile that required ANY input on my part only every few days (water) and weekly (food) was very appealing.

Related to the first is that BPs have no emotional needs. There are days I get home from work, and I want nothing to do with anyone or anything. Not particularly pissed or anything, just emotionally distant. If I had a dog, I'd be neglecting it emotionally in a HUGE way. My BP could not care less whether I handle it on a given day as long as it's temps/humidity are good, and it has clean water.

[DVirginiana]

First off, this is a snake forum, so no one is going to tell you something completely off the wall about a BP having venom or killing babies.

Secondly, you mentioned garters; if this would be a more acceptable pet I would really recommend getting an adult garter. I breed them; they eat pinkie mice and should actually not be fed live fish due to parasite concerns. Also, I don't know where you got the information that they are snappy, but they are actually far less nippy than a young ball python if you handle them regularly.
More importantly though, their husbandry requirements are far easier to meet than a BP's and they are a much better beginner snake. Or even something like a corn or kingsnake.

BP's require very specific temps and humidity, and are often not very tolerant of handling. From what you're saying it sounds like you'd be doing most of the care for this snake, so I'd really not recommend a BP. You are just 13, and from what it sounds like, you have no experience keeping reptiles at all. For someone your age keeping a BP healthy and happy without any parental help could be pretty difficult. Plus, there is a lot of equipment you need for BPs (heat mats, thermostats, heat bulbs or CHEs, ect) that can get kind of pricey (like hundreds of dollars). Research is good, but it's not a substitute for actual experience.

My recommendation would be for you to go with a garter, king, or cornsnake for your first snake. Then once you get the care down for that animal in a few years if you're still interested you may want to try a BP. Another issue with BPs is that they live a very long time (up to 40 years); if you get a BP your parents will eventually be the ones taking care of it when you leave for college.

[madelion]

I really think I can change their minds. My step-dad will almost definitely be impressed by the research. Also, if they say I'm not responsible enough I can fall back on being in student council, willingly doing science fairs four times this year, taking care of a baby, having a job, taking care of the family fish (im the only one who feeds them) getting straight A's, being in student council, and joining choir. Also, I can answer any question they can throw at me and pay for it. And my mom will be easy with him on my side. Fingers crossed!
P.S I usually get a 'present' each year I do science fair and do good in school.

[madelion]

I don't know where I heard garters are nippy either... I did, but I guess it depends on the snake. I honestly used to catch garters and play with them for hours. If I can't get a bp, I'll go garter. But I wont give up until october -- thats all ill ask for at my birthday.
PS I was on these forums and saw a thread, there was actually a lot of people saying snakes were _____. Basically any synonym for terrible.

[wolfgirrl]

I agree with DVirginiana. I'm happy that you're interested in reptiles at such a young age, and I'm glad you have a job and will be able to care for the animal, it sounds like you are willing to do a lot of research as well. You seem like you'll be a great reptile owner some day. Which is all well and good, but ball pythons have a lot of specific needs as already stated here, and they can get very expensive. EDIT: Also, their notorious feeding strikes can be very stressful and frustrating for a first time snake owner.

However, something like a corn snake is recommended across the board for beginners. Just like ball pythons, they come in tons of different colours/morphs to chose from. The babies are jumpy so to speak but they calm down with frequent handling and age, (or if you want to save up you could buy an adult who's already an established feeder and used to handling). They are also much smaller as hatchlings than BP's so it might be easier to convince your parents.

As for your parents...it sounds like you're going to have a hard time convincing them. Not going to promise a guarantee, but you could try condensing the information into something smaller, like a powerpoint with bullet points? Only give the information they need to know and that's relevant, but that also shows you put a lot of research into it and that you're serious about it. For example, slide 1 can be facts about the snakes themselves, slide 2 can be the monthly cost of having the snake to prove that you can afford it by yourself (make sure to account for any emergency vet bills, and look up nearby vets who take reptiles), slide 3 can be the needs of the snake, etc. That's how I convinced my dad to let me get my first snake, and he was deathly afraid of them.

I do stress the importance of finding a vet before you buy the snake, due to a power outage recently my bp now has a respiratory infection and the meds + vet visit cost 140$! So make sure you save money aside in case anything happens to your snake, as being 13 it will be hard to find emergency money if you aren't saving, and your parents might not want to help. Also, you should have all your supplies and tank set up before you buy the little guy, saves you a lot of time in the end.

Can't say I know much about garters, but never had a problem with a corn snake, they've always been chill little dudes with me. And again, they come in tons of pretty colours.

[se7en]

Well I don't think you're gonna get any D through F answers here. Now, I'll tell you about why I chose a snake, but judging from their response to your requests, I'd advise against thinking you'll change their mind.

I picked a snake for two primary reasons. The first is that my job tends to go 10-12 hours a day, and sometimes 3-4 days away from the house at a time. I simply can't support the needs of most mammals. I also live in an apartment complex where non-tank animals mean an expensive deposit, and increased rent. So for my situation, a (largely) low maintenance reptile that required ANY input on my part only every few days (water) and weekly (food) was very appealing.

Related to the first is that BPs have no emotional needs. There are days I get home from work, and I want nothing to do with anyone or anything. Not particularly pissed or anything, just emotionally distant. If I had a dog, I'd be neglecting it emotionally in a HUGE way. My BP could not care less whether I handle it on a given day as long as it's temps/humidity are good, and it has clean water.

this is the same for me, only i may be gone for a few months at a time (if i'm going to be away for more than a week, i have someone i trust look after my BPs).



i do have to say that i'm impressed a 13 yr old took the initiative to put together an 11 page report. keep that work ethic kid, and you'll go far.

[madelion]

I emailed a pet store - a SMALL one, not petsmart or anything - and have more than enough money. I almost always have more than $300 in my spending account, so vet bills should be alright. I'm sure my parents wouldn't just let it die, I'd pay them back too. If this doesn't work I've already started my slide show... I know ball pythons can be a bit tricky, but I've read about so many people who find it easy and love them. I'm kinda set on a bp, but willing to get a garter or corn. The only problem with corns is, they can get a bit longer than bp's, and they already think 3 feet is big for a snake. Also, i want a calm snake that can just chill out in handling, not HEY LOOK HERE WHATS THIS WHERE'D I GO OVER HERE HAHA WHUP IM ON YER LEG NOW DO YOU LIKE WHEN I EAT YOUR HAIR YEAH ME TOO
Anyways, thanks for the reply!
EDIT: I just looked it up. Our local vet we go to with our dog also looks after reptiles.

[wolfgirrl]

I emailed a pet store - a SMALL one, not petsmart or anything - and have more than enough money. I almost always have more than $300 in my spending account, so vet bills should be alright. I'm sure my parents wouldn't just let it die, I'd pay them back too. If this doesn't work I've already started my slide show... I know ball pythons can be a bit tricky, but I've read about so many people who find it easy and love them. I'm kinda set on a bp, but willing to get a garter or corn. The only problem with corns is, they can get a bit longer than bp's, and they already think 3 feet is big for a snake. Also, i want a calm snake that can just chill out in handling, not HEY LOOK HERE WHATS THIS WHERE'D I GO OVER HERE HAHA WHUP IM ON YER LEG NOW DO YOU LIKE WHEN I EAT YOUR HAIR YEAH ME TOO
Anyways, thanks for the reply!
EDIT: I just looked it up. Our local vet we go to with our dog also looks after reptiles.

If you've got your heart set on a ball python, I think, again the best thing to do would be to get your tank set up perfectly before you get the ball at all, and keep it for a few days. Heck, probably best for a few weeks. In that time you can get into the habit of checking the temps and stuff daily, and see if you really can keep the tank perfect for a BP. That way, when you do finally get your BP, you already have habits in place and you know you have the tank and everything perfect for it.

3 feet is long, when they're stretched out, they also get very fat. However, like their namesake my balls like to stay in big fat balls, so when you look at them they certainly don't LOOK 3 feet long, they just look like a big fat lump lol. Maybe put a couple of pictures of that in your slideshow, some people holding adult balls in their hands to show that 3 feet really isn't that big when it comes to ball pythons.

[Black Hills Reptiles]

Just want to add if u do end up getting one but it from a breeder someone who has had the snake it's whole life that way you know everything about it. I'm really impressed because at 13 I really wanted a snake and I would not have gone thru what u have to try and get one.

I love the work ethic and I'm glad to see that some kids still have it in this world we live in.

Never lose that drive