I have never really had anyone give me a hard time about my keeping snakes, but i have heard all the uneducated reasons why i shouldn't have them as pets. And yes, the religeous reason has come up a time or two.
Now me , being a real smartass, i usually will make a remark like and i have 2 black cats also, and if i get the face, i then follow up with something to the effect of well, what kind of pets would you expect a witch to have. I also neglect to tell them i have dogs, a parrot, rats, chickens, and a duck.