Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About 2 years ago I got the idea that I could getinto ball python breeding and in ten years or so have a fairly profitable albeit very small ball breeding bussiness. I thought that this would be nice as I love snakes and combined with a more conventional job I could live fairly well. This year was supposed to be my first attempt and I had to wait becouse my female was a little under weight; no big deal, there's always next year, right? Wrong. My girlfriend and I had it out and she now wants me not only to refrain from getting any more snakes but to also refrain from breeding the ones that I have wich really sucks be couse one of the ones I have is 50% for clown and I was going to get a 100% female. Why, because she wouldn't let me tell the land lord that I had them and she is paranoid that she'll find out and kick us out. Now I agree that is a possibillity but that is why we should have told her in the first place and besides that she agreed to this arangment before we moved in together!!! So now who knws how long it will take. The way I figure it, every year that I don't breed them adds three becouse that is how long it takes to raise up females. Well thanks for getting through my rant of sucky suckishness. Sorry for the length just needed to get this out.
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I have Balls!

I hear you on that, I had a "nice discussion" with my ex about my snakes, and she told me as long as i could pay for them I was ok, but i told her that she can't change her mind or i'm leaving, and guess what i left...other factors were included, but I don't take "stuff" from people that are fickle..either stand your ground or compromise, but honestly i have never had a problem anywhere with a landlord and caged animals of anykind, mainly cause they don't damage the property in anyway
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A.J.
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.

Yeah, same here, you'd be supprised how little landlords care about snakes. I thought our landlady would flip for sure, but she just said "Are they poisionous?" We said "No, they're constrictors, they squeeze" She said "There Fine, I'm just glas I'm not your neighbor!" LOL

I actually had my breeding hopes crushed when I was 16, partially because of my ex, partially because I was 16 and broke! LOL But now I have a husband who's on board and we start breeding this fall! If you're determined, you'll get there, don't let her drag you down, do what you have to do to make sure you're in the clear and then ump right back on the wagon. Took me a few years to get back into it, but we're doing OK now.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

There are chics out there that like reptiles. Hell when me and my fiance got engaged 2 years ago i told him i didnt want a ring and instead bought an adult female 100 % het clown. Snakes are our life, and our buisness, we attend shows every week together, the only time we argue is when its over which snake to buy next. My mother always told me i would never find a guy that loved animals as much as i did, fortunatley for me its easier to find a guy thats into snakes, rather then a women.
Go to a reptile show and accidently bump into a hot chic buying a Ball ... I know its not that easy, but ony if it was.
Good luck with you snakes... and your girlfriend.
Kim

Yeah! I hear that one. My girlfriend at first didn't really like the idea of reptiles, but she didn't care that I kept them. We've been together three years, and now she's really okay with them. She actually loves all of the reptiles....even the ball python I was suprised that she was okay with it when I told her I wanted to start breeding ball pythons, and I was really suprised that my mom was okay with it (since I still live at home...only 17).

The thing about dreams is that there are some that are better left to not pursue, and some that you should pursue. For instance, I love playing drums. It's pretty much the only thing I'm really good at, and I get some recognition from it, plus it's how I earn all my cash at the moment. However, when I need to really support myself (and not just my car and my reptiles), I would never want to try playing drums for a living, because even though it is kind of a dream, it would get old fast trying to live on it. The same probably goes for reptiles too, but I figure I'll never know unless I actually try doing some breeding projects.

I am going to school next year for music education though, so that's one way of pursuing a dream...kind of a comprimise.

Bro if she wont stand behind you while you are following the path to YOUR dreams then find one that will!

Sounds like you need a new girlfriend that has money to spend on MORE SNAKES TOO!!!!!

Ever heard of compremising! you want opinion, time for a new girlfriend!

Good luck

If you have an issue with snakes and not being able to keep a large collection, you either sell all of them, or consolidate. Instead of have a male Het Albino, two Possible het Albino females, two 100% het Albino females and 4 normals, and a Pastel male, you get an Albino pair, or a Pastel pair. You get fewer snakes, but no Hets and no Normals. Most people will not care if you have one or two snakes, but if you have 10-20, it might be a different story.

Dave

I really apreciate all the support and advice. It's kind of a double edged knife though. I really do love this girl. Her problem is that she is ruled by her fears and certain people who shall remain nameles fead then constantly. However, this is the most stable relationship i've had and that is important. So are snakes so I have to find some way around this. I think that over the summer (I am still in college) I am going to put away enough money to move. Then I will talk to the landlord and if she has no problem with it, cool. If she does than we are moving, end of story. Thanks again for all the support and to those of you who think I need a new girl, normally I would be the one giving that advice so don't think I'm disagreeing with you on that I am just not willing to do that at this point, but I do know a lot of HOT girls that like snakes
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I have Balls!

Just one more piece of advice, make an anonymous call to your landlord if its an apt and ask, if its a private party landlord, just say you were thinking about getting some and ask if it would be ok...simple enough right?
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A.J.
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.

yeah I thought of that but on the off chance that she says that it isn't she'll mention it to my girl who will promptly tell me they have to go. What should have been done was to tell her BEFORE we got the apartment but like I said do to certain people incessantly prattling in her ear my girl was paranoid that no one would rent to us if they knew and nothing I could say could convince her otherwise. So at this point I'll give it till the end of summer and when I have enough to move I'll give her a call. If she says it isn't cool I'm leaving and hopefully my girl is coming with.
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I have Balls!

Don't give it up without a fight!
I know what you mean about the girlfriend being motivated by other people. My girlfriend is constantly getting bad advice from her parents about all sorts of things. It's annoying, and there is obviously no way to get her to see other perspectives (never seen someone so adamant about following their parents' rules!), except for on some occasions. It's never really gotten in the way of anything too important though. For you, I would say something has to be done, because there really isn't any reason to be afraid to ask a landlord about snakes. If you do it annonymously, you still have the option of not telling them if they say no to it. Most landlords like snakes though. It's dogs and cats that they dislike.

that's what I told her...and we have two cats. she wants another cat so that may be an out too, I told her if she wants another kitty, I get to buy a 100% het clown female! Are you the 17 year old that posted above? If you're really good you can get alot of studio work. Drummers are a dime a dozen... good drummers are like Blue Eyed Lucys! Seriously, Ive been trying to get a band together for eeeevveeeerrr, but finding a drummer who is comfortable with a 5/4 to 13/8 time change is haaaaard!
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I have Balls!

I haven't had a ton of time to actually sit down at the drumset and practice lately, because it's been one thing after another. First I had a month to get ready for my college audition (which went very well, though I haven't heard if I've been accepted or not yet). That meant a month of practicing nothing but timpani, mallets (xylophone, marimba, etc.), and snare drum, and the week after that I had to play drums for some high school musical that's like an hour away (bad music, but great money!), so I've been trying to stay on the down low, but of course I've had to practice with my band twice a week, and I have a senior project to get finished (composing snare drum solos).

Needless to say, it's been stressing! But caring for reptiles is actually a GREAT stress reliever.

In the future I do plan on going further with my drumming (as far as I can go), but I'm not going to throw away everything else to be a professional drummer. I see a lot of people doing that with all sorts of things, and it doesn't usually end well. My goal as a drummer is just to be as good as humanly possible, and to take the oppurtunites that come to me.

I also teach drums...another thing I want to continue doing and expanding upon (right now I have 9-10 students per week....would like to make that 20!).

Good luck in your search for a drummer! I know that even for experienced drummers, wierd time signatures are tough!

Well I wish ya the best of luck, and hope you get things all straight for you, I hope I can find me a girl who is as much into snakes as i am, but i never see any available here in az, or any that i am attracted to...not as much interest in reptiles in these parts so I have been having a tough time, I had a girl that was ok with them but hated me being so into them, go figure
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A.J.
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.

Yeah, I didn't know any that were into snakes untill recently myself. But all the ones I've met (except for one) have been lookers!
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I have Balls!

must just be the dry heat here, lol, too many pruned up women at young ages, they just seem to love the sun a little too much...I have only been to the one small show in phoenix here a couple times, and all the "available" lookers are there cause their family member or friend drug them there cause they didn't wanna go alone...I guess i need to move to where i could field herp some snakes i actually like, there's too many rattlers here, I like the snakes in the midwest all the way to the east coast, easier to find there too
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A.J.
1.0.0- Amel Motley Corn- Valentine (R.I.P 5/20/05)
0.1.0- Snow Corn- Artica
1.0.0- Normal Corn- Ember
1.0.0- Ball Python- G.T.

kingsnake.com should start a dating service for people who like reptiles and that are single.....that way you can leave your gf and find a new one here....haha....just an idea...what do all of you guys think?=P

LOL Chris Harper (usually hangs in the cageing section) had a discussion about this a couple years ago. Now we're both married (to other people LOL), but no reason you guys can't have fun! LOL I say go for it! I would be the #1 person on that list if I haden't met my wonderful husband! (who just so happens to love reptiles as much as I do and even puts up with the furry and fishy pets! )
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I meant to say Chris harper AND I had a discussion... LOL
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

That's a great idea. I'd put an ad at a place like that, but some company might already be running some kind of site with that idea. There are all kinds of crazy specialty dating sites these days.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Live your life the way you want to.

First off, I am 24 and wont have all the answers in life for atleast another year But I am married to a wounderful woman who puts up with all my crazyness. Life is really long, and marrage is a BIG step. You are considdering a very big economical descision right now... chances are she will never approve of these snakes if she is how you say. Now dont get me wrong, there is someone for everyone, but I could NEVER live with someone who put their parents openions before my own. My wife HATES mice... and really doesnt care for snakes, but they are my deal, and no matter what people say about it, she backs me up. Thats what a relationship is all about. Sounds like you might only have half a relationship going on there. You have the next 45 to 65 years to spend your life, and I hope for your sake, you do it with someone who will partner with you, not their parents. Most people like that NEVER change. Dont try/hope to change people, they are who they are, you just have to pick if its someone thats worth spending time with.

That all said, there is a lot of time in life to have fun. If this girl is really worth it, and the snakes are not that important to you as a hobby, just a business, than get rid of them. There will always be time to make money. I could reword a long time joke for ball pythons to make you feel better about getting rid of them... how do you make $10k in the ball python market? Start with $20k. Good luck, the right answer is, BE HAPPY!!!!

First off, I am 24 and wont have all the answers in life for atleast another year.

This is a great line. Thanks for giving me a chuckle tonight.

I thought your entire post was good as well.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

ive always wanted to breed large snakes myself, and my gf of several years hates them from childhood traumatic memories, however i softened her up towards reptiles when i started keeping/breeding panther chams which she now loves, and then started showing her that snakes arent all bad, now ive got ball python plans in the works with full support from the ball and chain. i guess my point is it helps to get the other person involved in it so they can see your point of view, and very often they find themselves intrigued with your hobby. (people fear/dislike what they dont know)

I am really surprised that Chrissy did not reply to this before I got home, because she was reading this thread. I guess I am really lucky she loves snakes as much as I do, in fact she is the one who kind of got me into snakes I mean that I always liked snakes but never owned one until we meet. Hope your gf changes her mind.
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1.2.0 ball python (aragorn, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 100% het pied (frodo)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Keep your girl and the snakes!
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signature file edited, contact an admin. 2/13/06

Just a note from my experience with this.

My husband has been into tae kwon do since he was a teen. His goal was to eventually open his own school. While we were both young and early in our marriage he was offered a job at the school we trained at, the pay was a lot less than his normal job and there were no benefits. He asked me if he could take the job. Of course I wanted him to take the job!! He hated his regular job, and this was a step towards his dream. Everyone said we were stupid and as his wife I should have made him stick to the job that would support our family in the future. I will take him working in a lower paying job, and being happy to being miserable but making more money. In return he supports my hobby of keeping snakes. That is what a relationship is about, give and take and supporting each other. Obviously your gf hasn't figured that out.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

Wow, a lot of you have a lot to say without knowing all of the facets. No one said anything about getting married. To the person who suggested I was in this solely for the buisness; LEARN HOW TO READ. As for moveing, that would be awsome but unfortunately it is expensive and we have a really nice apartment at a really low price with heat and hot water included, so I am stuck until the end of summer at the earliest. A lot of you also said very helpful things and I thank you. I also thank those of you who jenny jonsed this thread becouse although I found some comments anoying I know that you meant well and were being supportive so thanks (no, I am not being sarcastic). At any rate, I talked to the landlord today and she said that it was ok for me to have a couple but that she had a bad experience with a snake guy and she did'nt want me breeding them. Apearantly she had a tenant who had 30 snakes and when he moved he left a bunch of dirty cages and a freezer full of rats and the plumber found a dead boa in the wall, what an a$$ =$&@. Needles to say I will be leaving this apartment as soon as possible. One other note though. To those of you who think that I should leave this girl I want you to take this into consideration. How would you feel if your whole life, you had some lunatic parent drilling insane things into your head on all subjects, making you constantly second guess your self and when you went to get your first apartment they drilled it into your head that if your boy friend had snakes no one would rent to you and you would be stuck living with them? You would probably get very anxiouse and start to asociate that anxiety with the snakes, right? Now I am not saying that it is right of her to feel this way but it is understandable right? Eventually she will learn that these animals are not a threat to her. Knowing that the landlord is ok with the few I have will probably relieve some of that anxiety and when we get another apartment or house, knowing that my having snakes is not a threat to her, she will be supportive. I am not angry with those of you who suggested this and like I said yesterday, I have probably posted simmilar things so what I am saying is that we al need to try to understand others a little better and be more thoughtful in our advice.
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I have Balls!

of a dating service! If I was single and looking for someone that would be ideal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have Balls!