Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I dont know what to do. Everyone around me, including my parents and in-laws, calls me stupid for loving reptiles. They are always onto me about getting rid of them and to stop going field herping. They just dont understand. I dont have any friends that like snakes at all. I have two small children and my daughter loves my snakes and they keep trying to talk her out of liking them. What should I do guys?

Stick with it and ignore them, maybe join your local herp society and make some new like minded friends, we're a pretty good bunch i think.
I'm lucky, my wife is very tolerant of my hobby, and also has a hobby that kinda connects with mine, she loves learning spanish, and all things mexican, so i get to go on great vacations with her, and see loads of herps, we both win -)
Heres us on vacation in Costa rica

lol thanks

My parents were the same way.... my 350 pound marine core dad is so terrified of snakes he has never even visited me at my house..I have to visit him..

You know what I say...@*#!& them.. anyone who would take away your happiness or what makes you happy over there own irrational fears is messed up in the head and is only caring about themselves...in my opinion.

Don't let it get you down..I moved out at 17 and by 18 I was working offshore on drilling rigs doing geology work buying 10,000.00 of dollars in reptiles at a pop with the money I was making..it's how I started this...and those who put me down..say it isn't possible or get in my way only makes me more determined to prove them wrong and spit in there eye so to speak...lol.
In 14 years 90% of the breeders we had 14 years ago are gone and out of buisiness..but I am still here and things have never ever been better!! Can't wait to see what the next 14 years bring.!!
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Justin Mitcham
ExtremeHogs.com

My Mom (82) has always hated snakes. I have three brothers and the 4 of us always used to catch and play with red bellies and garters while growing up. Freaked her out. She couldn't understand this hobby of mine. While visiting recently (she and Dad live in Mi. I'm in Mn.) she said; "Karen, go get me a pretty snake." I brought her an albino ball python. She held it for 10 minutes, then told me that was enough and to take it back. She still isn't enthusiastic about my hobby, but she tolerates it now and isn't afraid of them anymore. Just had to let her get ready in her own time. LOL. I personally think its a version of the "bucket list" for her.LOL. There are things she wants to do before too much more time pasts. I hope things work out for you and sooner than it did for me.
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Kare

"keep smiling; it makes people wonder what you're up to!"

lol thats so sweet. i dont think my gma would ever do that though she thinks they are evil lol. i went field herping lastnight and caught a speckled kingsnake. hes a cute little guy lol.

Hey there....

it is YOUR life, isn´t it? So you have to do what YOU like!!! Most people i know also think that i am stupid because i love my snakes and spend a lot of money in this hobby....I say THEY are stupid because THEY love their boring life I love my life with my snakes and i am very pleased that my boyfriend loves it too. No one could say me how i have to live my life....

so you love your snakes? And your kids do it too? So don´t hear about what other people say....

all the best to you and your kids....
Nicole
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www.hognoses-germany.com

My father-in-law was like that! He also loved to cook! So one day, I turned the tables on him! "Why don't you stop cooking"! "It's messy" "It takes too much time"! "It's cheaper to eat out"! etc. etc. Needless to say, he got the message!

I tried that with my moms decorating habit lol but she didnt get the picture oh well. Im just glad theres people like all of you
THANKS EVERYONE!!

lol thank you. That is all true. My man isnt into the hobby like I am but he lets me have whatever I want and supports me, and for that I am very thankful.

I am in a similar situation. No one around me likes snakes either. I have one friend that doesn't mind it. The rest would not even hold a snake. My boss and his daughter are terrified. My dad would comment on how pretty they are, but yet he will not go near it..lol. My mom is the bravest of them all. She is the only only one that would voluntarily hold some of my snakes.

I think my situation is a bit different that yours b/c no one really called me "stupid". They are all respectful to my addiction...lol.

I think they all need to respect you and your hobby and should not pressure you to give it up. And you shouldn't give anything up b/c of people around you tells you to. Im sure some of them are into things that you aren't. I do not get women's (and some guys) infatuation with diamonds and jewelry. I personally would spend 10k on a reef aquarium or reptiles or gadgets or whatever, but if i spend $50 on jewelry, it's tooooooo much!

Regards,
Kenny

Lol I know right. Im a chic and I dont even wear that stuff, I have a huge box of brand new jewelry that people keep buying me, I tried to tell them, I'll just lose them on a herp trip, stop wasting your money and buy me something useful like a field guide or gps or something lol.

Its a difficult thing to persevere when no one supports your interests, i fought my parents with my fascination of snakes since i was 10 at 11 i got them to let me have ONE that one turned into a breeding pair and stayed there tell i moved out at 17, over the last 6 years my colection has grown to almost 40 snakes, and now my 12 year old little brother has a ball python toads and axolotls so she has come to terms with them.
I just say persevere and try to find some people around you that share your interests and try to find a middle ground with your family.

I live in a very small town, so far, the only people I have found is you guys lol. My old man accepts the hobby, but he wont go herping with me or anything like that. And its dangerous going out here alone, LOTS OF WEIRDOS!!

You should follow your heart and not the ignorance of people around you.
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Please don't talk about snake prices when my wife is around!!

I will, Im not going to quit because everyone around me is blind, lots of them think its bad because of the bible, so they think im into the devil and stuff, its pretty ignorant. I dont know lol.

You're a grown woman who can make her own decisions now in life. Don't let the silly comments from others ruin you and your childrens fun!

I'm pretty thankful in that I grew up with snakes and reptiles - my dad is just as big (if not bigger) of a herp lover as I am. Every time he's over, he gets all excited to see what I have picked up since the last time.

But being a pit bull owner/rescuer, I get the "why do you own pit bulls" question A LOT, again not so much from my family, but other people around me. My neighbor was over just this weekend and she's petrified of my big dogs. I had them out on the back porch while she came over, but someone let them in accidentally. She froze - wouldn't move until they were back outside! I reassured her they wouldn't touch her and guided them back outside (boy were they confused - they LOVE it when new people come over to visit them! Because, you know, no one ever comes visits the people in the home. lol)

Anyway, I would just tell the people giving you a hard time that you will continue doing what you enjoy with your life, your children and your pets. You're not asking them to get involved with it, and let them know that you'll not bring them out when they're over.

Good luck with that!!
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BALL PYTHONS
1.0 08 Mojave
1.0 08 Cinnamon
1.1 09 Het Caramel albino
1.1 09 Het VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Piebald
0.1 09 VPI Axanthic
0.1 09 Orange Ghost
0.1 09 Black Pastel
0.1 09 Pinstripe
0.1 08 Spider
0.2 07/08 Pastel
0.4 Normal
OTHER SNAKES
1.0 Albino Boa
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Western Hognose
1.2 Corn Snake
LIZARDS
1.1 Bearded Dragon - Orin & Sierra
0.0.1 Red/Blue Hybrid Tegu - Jackson
MAMMALS
0.1 American Bulldog - Maui Rose
0.1 Shiba Inu - Mako (Starlite's Shark Attack)
1.0 American Pit Bull Terrier - Magnum TT, CGC, TDI
2.0 White DSH Cats - Lucaya (Luke) & Fiji
1.0 Cinnamon Pinto Hedgehog - Niles

See I want my daughter to grow up happy she was around them, Im trying to get my son to realize they arent bad too. He doesnt have to love them, but I dont want him to kill them for no reason like most of the people around here. It makes me so mad. I dont care if it is a garter snake, leave it alone and if its bothering you that much call me and Ill come move it away lol. I finally got my grandma to do that, still working on everyone else.

im not going to let them ruin my fun. im just thankful my old man doesnt mind it lol.

my parents want me to stop playing with snakes.....
I am 49...had snakes at around 11 years old and so., rabbits,pigs,pigeons, out for awhile (farm work all summers), around 19,22 yrs old got some cool corns...good okees...5.(one lived 24 yrs ? , anyways....1989 brother found a milk,,,,it all started with that.....since then hundreds of snakes reside here,thousands of rodents....tried to stop and sellout, couldn't do it for three years....still 300 here I bet or more.....LOL...buy stuff by the box,dozen or hundreds...not one ....just today, 31 rats got fed, small dent, last night 400 mice or more got frozen, bought 300, pulled hundreds, bought three dozen water bowls...probably go back for 3 or more doz too.......go deep ,go hard....?

actually...buy a few you like and stay small.....!

.....people suck....they all hate snakes and think we are wierd or stupid...one bite and we will die..."don't you have to go to the hospital"? "do you keep that venom stuff around"? ....etc etc...

people....you got people....here, online....there gotta be a show near you....if not....online shopping is soo easy...spending money is soooo easy....selling and making money is sooo hard....LOLL..................

...have fun....!!!!!!
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........JY....
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holy cow lol thats a lot of animals. sounds fun though. im going to pick up a yellow 4 foot anaconda next weekend. im pretty excited. im only 21 but i wish they would stay off my case ya know. im glad i finally got a way to talk to other people about it without being judged lol.

.......my thought on yellow anacondas.....

why?.....big snake no money return.....

my thought.....do what you want.....I prefer balls...cool morph balls to breed and make cash...to buy more cool morph balls...or cave rats, or milksnakes....etc etc....

.......we all go through the "damn that's a cool big snake" phase......first snake I ever paid for was a 26 inch burmese python....long ago...$100......1979?......?.....

.......last snake I bought was a Calvert's temporalis milk at 6 inches?....LOL...........???
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........JY....
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lol. little snakes are cool but easier to lose lol. i have a ball named monty. hes a sweety. my daughter loves him. i prefer the big ones and the venomous but i love them all. i caught a couple good ones this year but i released them. took pics though. i only have a month left to go field herping so im trying get that into my busy schedule as much as possible. wont catch any big ones around here lol. alot of awesom kings and milks and rats though. really awesom little snakes. the hognose i caught was my fav. ill miss that little guy lol.

I have to concur with the sentiment here about big snakes. While I do not know you or your abilities as a snake keeper, these are animals that are capable of causing great harm and death as evidenced by these tragic stories:

Amanda Black

Shaiunna Hare

12-foot snake attacks pet shop owner

While I know that these stories are of pythons, it doesn't deter from the fact that large snakes can seriously hurt or even kill people. Also take in the fact that most injuries happen from pet snakes that have been kept for many years and were considered handle-able by their keepers.

While Yellow Anacondas might not grow as large as a Green Anaconda, they can still easily attain 10+ feet in length and are still generally as aggressive as any anaconda gets. Considering that you also have a child in the house, I would seriously reconsider getting such a pet which can jeopardize you or your child's safety in the case of a simple oversight or accident.

All the best!

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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

thank you for your input. i appreciate everyones opinion. i am as careful as possible and any moment i believe my children are unsafe for any reason the snake will be gone. the only snake i keep out in the open is our ball the rest are locked away in the snake room.