Advice for getting started once you get the "go ahead" from Mom:



Buy all the supplies you need long before you actually buy the animal. Get the tank (or cage or sterilite tub) set up and work on getting your temperature and humidity levels to their proper settings and can keep them there. Make sure you have a dependable supply for food, too.



Once you've gotten everything set up and are sure it's all safe and welcoming for the snake, then and only then should you buy it and bring it home. Once you have, put it in its home and leave it completely alone for a week or two. Once you start handling it, do so in short but consistent sessions until the snake becomes comfortable with you. It will (usually) become and remain tame so long as you handle it on a regular basis in addition to feeding and cleaning.



How to convince your Mom??? That's another story. Being a Mom myself, I'll tell you what I'd look for in my own child to be convinced to allow them to buy a pet I'm not 100% comfortable with:



Research. LOTS of it. Long discussions about the pros and cons of the animal. What are the dangers and risks? I would ask a lot of "what if" questions and expect the right answers. And I would look for signs of maturity and respect. You're right that getting the snake against her wishes would be a bad move. Very bad! Best thing in the world is to show her that you respect her feelings and can be patient to wait for the right time. Continue to research and save your money. Show her how dedicated you can be.



Ask her if there is anything specific you can do to help her get over her discomfort. Maybe take her to a good pet store (if you know of a good one) and see if she'd like to hold a snake, or just watch you hold one. Maybe see if there is some other "interim" pet that you'd like to have that she'd be more comfortable with...like a lizard, so she can see that you can take care of it and keep it from escaping into the house. But I would recommend that only if you would also enjoy and take care of such an animal...not to use it and throw it away once you got your way. (Which would be counter-productive to the whole point.)



Anyhow...to sum up what is probably rambling far too much....Be patient, mature, and respectful.



Hope that helps some...



Judy
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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

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