Snake reactions from your family and friends

[dakski]

First, keep doing what you are doing. Enjoy your reptiles and your passion.

Many people do not understand how we can enjoy, and even love, these creatures. It's why we have forums like this and we can share our passion with other like-minded people.

Secondly, how do my friends and family react?

Depends on the individual. Many of my friends tolerate the snakes, and many enjoy them, but still do not fully understand why I have 10 reptiles in my home. Many of my friends' kids get a kick out of them and I make a point to show them not to be afraid from a young age to be curious instead.

My niece, Meghan, has been posted all over this forum. She adores the reptiles, and now at almost 8, is allowed to hold them on her own (with close supervision). She thinks they are the best. She's also been to multiple reptile shows with us.

My family is mixed. My Mother, used to hate snakes, but she has come along way. She really enjoys holding them now and asks for updates on her grand-snakes and grand-lizards. She is a real dog person, but has a told me recently, how she's come to see the fun in watching the reptiles grow, interacting with them, and their individual personalities.

My step-father tolerates them and watches my mother hold them, etc. However, he won't touch them, and does not understand why either me, Katie, or my mom, likes them so much. To him, they don't have fur, and they don't cuddle, so what's the point?

My in-laws do not like them, don't understand, and stay far away. My father-in-law call them critters. The other day they were over and I introduced them to Ezzy. Katie's mom took a step back every time she moved and her dad called her a critter. When he called Ezzy a "critter," his wife got upset and told him to be respectful, "that's your daughter's critter!" That's a huge step. They use to cringe every time I mentioned one, forget seeing them.

Katie, my fiancé, is another success story. She was never afraid of them, but used to be indifferent. She was not crazy about me moving in with all the tanks and animals (especially the insect eating Leopard Geckos). Now she loves them and even has her very own Leachie (Esmeralda) living in her office. She helps feed the corn snakes now and adores baby Solana. We just got an Albino Carpet Python yearling, Yafe, and he had a full blown RI 2 days after receiving him. Katie came with me to vet until 3AM 2 days after we got him, and has been administering his injection every 3 days (10 injections in total - and after 2 he's already improving dramatically) while I hold him steady. She's come a really long way. .

Here's my mom holding Behira (2 year old BCI) and with Esmeralda (Ezzy) the Leachie on her back:

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