Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My first experience with a ball python was at the beggining of this school year in my biology class in highschool. One of my fellow students brought in her ball python to share it with the class, and it has been there for about five months now. I held it on and off for a few months, and I became very interested in purchasing one about a month ago. I have been doing extensive research on these snakes, and have gone to a few pet shops and personal breaders looking for one. I think I have a pretty good handle on what the snake needs to be happy and content, and I believe I would be a good owner of one. I've been saving up for a while, and I currently have about $200.00. I have been talking to my mom about it, and she is quite hesatent about the whole snake thing. I've tried sitting down with her and telling her all the information I know on the pro's of these snakes, but nothing really seems to be working. I thought about just going out and buying one against her wishes, but I decided that probably wasn't the best idea. First of all, does anyone have any ideas on how to convince my mom into letting me get a python? Secondly, does anyone have any good advice about these snakes that could be usefull to me...especially for the first couple months?

I was in the same situation as you. My friend had one from school and I got attached and did my research, but the hardest part was convincing my parents. The last snake I had was a corn snake and it got out of its cage and my mom found it 3 months later on the bookshelf above her head when she was sleeping and freaked her out (woops!) But I had my friend bring his over and it is about 4ft and my mom didnt have a problem with it so I then went out and got one and this weekend im gettin another one so...thats my story.

What I did was set up my old fish tank, made a lid. went out to pet stores and priced them. (my mom HATES snakes with a pashion)and after a long time of saveing money and being on real good behavior I got one. I love her, she is the best snake in the wourld now, (but was very wild when i got her) she lays on my bed and crawls on me and tong flicks my nose. I love my baby girl.LOL

But keep at it, and dont give up. and you will get one in time

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)

If you insist on getting a ball python, then a captive born snake from captive bred adults is the best option. You've save enough money for this option. The idea that you would be getting a captive born and bred baby may be easier for your mom to swallow vs. the "wild caught import" option. Whatever it takes for you to convince your mom that a ball python is not dangerous should help. Another consideration is to convince your mom that this animal WILL NEVER escape its enclosure, and to make sure that it never does should you finally get one (she may actually be turned off by the idea through this consideration alone, that the snake will eventually get out).

As for how the snake could be "useful" to you... well, other than being fascinating and pleasurable to work with, I don't imagine another "use" for them in a captive setting.

You could mention to her owning a snake is a good way to help teach you responsibility. If you make this point it would help you a bunch to have the knowledge to back up the promise you will be responsible. Like most everyone has said research!!!

Good luck and make sure you remember these are living, breathing animals that feel pain and suffering just like you and me, which is another good thing you might want to say to your mom. Tell her you understand what kind of commitment you are wanting to get into(as long as you really do!).

Once you have a ball python you're gonna love it!!!
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Rob

Be sure to find out exactly *why* she does not want a snake. My mom is terrified of snakes. In all honestly, she would NEVER get any sleep with a snake in her home. My brother just had to suck it up and wait until he had a place of his own. Now, I have his snake at my apartment. My mom will visit and doesn't mind Zeke too much if we just leave him alone in his tank. But I know she'd never be one to babysit for him!

If your mom has real fears/phobia about snakes, you need to respect that - most likely no amount of research or convincing will change that.

If she has other concerns, you should be able to find plenty of research to back up your answers.

Best of luck to you - it sounds like you're going about this the right way.

ps-my brother did try to keep a snake in the house without my mom knowing. He only succeeded because it died within a few days of bringing it home. He figured it must have been a sign and waited until he moved out before getting Zeke!
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Jenny

1.0 Ball Python "Zeke"
0.1 Box Turtle "Ferdie"

Find out just what aspect of snakes she's concerned about. Is it the snake itself? Find a nice tame one for her to meet and let her see a proper setup that is clean and escape proof. Let her talk to other keepers or the PARENTS of other keepers. Feeding info to her may not be enough, but the reality of a well acclimated setup and animal may ease her fear.

If it is the idea of feeding little furry animals show her the prekilled packaged ones available at shops and have someone describe the safety and humanity of feeding this way.

If it is concern about disease, germs, salmonella, unknown things about an exotic animal in the house, have her talk to a herp vet about keeping such animals clean and healthy.

If it concern about your ability or dedication to a pet (are you going away to school, not home enough, not enough money to buy all the needed stuff, your track record in caring for other pets), you'll have to convince her yourself.

Whatever you do, don't do anything without her OK. After all, it is her house too, and she is entitled to her opinion about what lives in it.

if your mother has a true phobia of snakes you should look around for a psycologist who helps with phobias... my college has a professor who has a degree and he has an ongoing project with phobias and all he deals with are snake phobias... a person just comes in and he will set up times with them... it is all free and the idea is to take people who cant stand to be in the same house with a snake to a point where they will hold a snake in their bare hands...

My Daughter had to first tell me why she wanted a BP over a kitten, Lizard, etc
Then show me she could earn the money to care for it, I made her buy her own setup
Then save up for the animal itself, and show me that if she was not able to get work outside of the house she was willing to do more work around the house to earn extra money on a regular basis so she could afford to FEED it as time went on (I did not want to have to inherit the darned thing when she went to college)
and she did, and she has
I M very proud of her
and 3 years ago she thought I hated snakes, now she knows how much I loved them when I was her age, she asked MY mom
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

in 7th grade. I had that snake ( a female) for over 25 years!SJM

I'm 16 and I got my mom to let me have one by just going down to the pet store and putting a deposit on it. She found out freaked out and then after about 2 weeks told me I could have it. A friend of mine wanted one too and he just bought one for his mom for christmas and now he breeds them. Both of these methods could produce very volitile results. I suggest taking her to see them and explaining everything about them to her. If she's not freaked out by snakes she may understand what a beautiful creature they are and why you would want one. I don't recommend doing it mine or my friends way, I could have easily been kicked out because of it. Well, no matter what you try, good luck.
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1.0 ball python (vakker)
0.1 dogs
2.1 cockatiels
1.1 chinchillas
Coming soon... 1.1 corn snakes
0.1 axanthic ball python