Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I guess I'm just wondering if your friends or family undertand you when it comes to your hobby of keeping snakes? As for me I have about 10 ball pythons and all my family as well as my freinds think I'm crazy, even when I used to have just one. Other than the kingsnake forums I have no one else to talk to or share my hobby. I wish I did have a friend, lol, who would share my hobby so that I could get advice or just talk to about my pets. So I guess I just wanted to say that I'm glad Kingsnake exists. Dave.

I only have two snakes, but have kept snakes for nearly 20 years. And to be honest I "hide" my interest in snakes from almost everyone at work, and many family members. Long ago I learned that if you do anything outside the "norm" you are branded as a nut or worse. We live in a very "narrow" culture. When it comes to pets, you better have only cats or dogs or you are suspect to most people. I do have a guy at work who does keep a snake, so I do have one person to talk too. But, he is not a very informed keeper.... seems to like it for the "shock" value.
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0.1 Western Hognose
1.0 Ball Python

I totaly agree with you, I am in the exact same situation, I have two coworkers who keep corn snakes but they have no interest in snakes at all. My best friend thinks I'm crazy for having snakes.

I own a retail outlet in southern Louisiana and I always encourage our customers to hang out and talk to other enthusiasts. I know how hard it is to find people to share your love of herps with. This was one of my main reasons for starting the only reptile only retail operation in this state.

Have you guys thought of contacting any local herp societies? Perhaps visiting some reptile or exotic animal shows? These are both great places to meet other hobbyists and make friends.

Personally I enjoy the company of my girlfriend, Celia Chien, some of you may know her from her photography or her love for Colombian Boa morphs. Also, my mother Terrye and cousin Mark work part time in our operation because they to enjoy caring for these amazing animals. I feel blessed that so many of my family members and friends accept and even love this stuff.

Hang out at shows or maybe a local shop that specializes in herps... you will find some interesting people there. We are lucky to have the online world including Kingsnake.com. This is a great place for us to meet and learn from others.

Good luck with your quest to infect everyone you know with the reptile fever!!

Oh... and Thanks Kingsnake.com!!

LATER!
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Sean Bradley
Owner : EbN
www.ExoticsByNature.com
www.BallPythonMorphs.com
www.CornSnakeMorphs.com

I feel your pain. Being a college student and living on campus, it's a lot easier for me to find people who like snakes, however I come from a very strict pet-hating family. My ex girlfriend loves my Gray Banded Thayeri King, and is currently caring for it while I am home for the summer because I'm not allowed to keep it at my house. This is my first snake, and I got it this year because my Suitemate (I live in a five room suite in my dorm at NCSU) had a snake. (Now he's got three- a Gray Banded King, an Albino Ocatee Corn, and a Scarlet Tailed Boa). Another one of my suitemates got a snake because of him too. Now he's got a corn snake and a ball python. Thankfully it's not hard to find a fellow herp-lover at college, however not a single person in my family understands or accepts my love for snakes. It's pretty obvious we're a minority group, I guess we just have to keep sticking together!

wow, someone else that goes to NC State. I've never thought there were many herp owners on state's campus. don't know why. Glad i was wrong.
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hAuNtEr oF fOrUmS

0.0.1 Morelia spilota mcdowelli

"I am not Charlie Brown on acid."-Bart Simpson
"I am not high."-Me
"Rats and mice are only cute until they bite you. Snakey, it's dinner time"-Me, also

My girlfriend loves my Bearded Dragons and she wanted to buy me my 1st Ball Python a few days ago...so I let her

I guess she shares my hobby.
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0.0.2 Bearded Dragons(Ziggy and Stardust)
0.1.0 Ball Python(Not named yet)

Well my baby brother breeds Leopard geckos and now he just got a little malaysian Blood Python ( who lives with me cause my parents won't let it go in their house ) I also am a memeber of our local herp society so I have lots of people to share my hobby with. But most of my friends although thinking it is wierd also think it is neat. Most people are just uneducated and the first thing they ask is "won't they hurt your kids?" My girls being 3 1/2yrs old and fairly small, I assure them my kids could do more damage to the snakes than vice versa.
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Nita Hamilton
4.3 BP's (Ulysses, Whiplash, Recoil, Osiris, Isis, Demetae, Briseas)
0.1 Kitty
1.4 Humans (DH, Me and 3 daughters)

Hi, I've had snakes since early teenage years and have had several 15' berms but right now I have about 15 snakes all are either kings or milks and the biggest one is right at 3'. that question your talking about (aren't you affraid their going to hurt your kids?) has to be about the most ridiculous thing I get asked all the time. As far as friends go I have a few that are interested, but none of them are willing to get one. I however love this and completely agree with these guys telling you to go to shows and hang out. My family go to daytona every year and it is a blast.

I am lucky enough my wife totally understands my obsession with my snakes. I also am lucky enough I have 2 coworkers. (one of whom I convinced to purchase a motley boa as his first snake..lol) So I am lucky to have the 2 in person to talk to about herps.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com
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Well I am lucky me and my wife love herps together. We both love collecting snakes and raising them and my kids are future herpers. That being said our parents think we are nuts and most people who are merely aquaintances...however I have gotten many of my friends over their fear of snakes by talking to them and showing them what passion I have for them. I evenhad a friend who was absolutly terrified of snake and now after only a month has touched one and she plans on holding on this weekend. Sop yes most think we are crasy but hey maybe we can touch a few. If not ther is always the forums and herp shows.
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0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

Let me start by saying I live in Southern Louisiana and grew up in New Orleans. My cousin, Rob Melancon ( who currently breeds dart frogs ), indirectly sparked my interest in the hobby. He had a boa constrictor that was tame as a dog and I was mesmorized by this mysterious animal. This was at least 15 years ago, and I am still fascinated with herpetology to this day.

I understand your fear of revealing the truth about being a snake owner, especially in the work place. Truth is I have found it my duty to to take a stand and educate people to the best of my abilities regarding these magnificant animals. If more herpers take a stand you may find there are more people who will learn to "tolerate" reptiles from hearing words out of YOUR mouth. Also, some of these people may just find a new passion. I have occassionally witnessed a change in others attitudes in minutes of speeking with them. These will be the people you least likely thought as well. When I has in school I had given several speeches of how reptiles (snakes mainly ) are simply misunderstood. By the end of the classes a large percent of the students kept me after with question after question. You can go through life worried of how others perceive you, but freedom comes from expression.

I hope you are able to find others that share your interests. To answer your question, my wife shares the hobby with me. Unfortunately, she is not as excited about it as she used to be since she got a parrot, lol.

Todd

P.S: Thanks again kingsnake.com! By reading this thread I learned that Pro Exotics is less than an hour drive from my house. Cool!
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1.1 Balls - Male het/albino, Female 66% het/albino
***Fingers crossed for next season!!!***

Exotics by Nature... It's ok Todd I think we knew what you meant.

It is sometimes surprising to find out how many real reptile enthusiasts are in your area.

Todd... if you ever have a chance... please stop by and shoot the bull!!

LATER...
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Sean Bradley
Owner : EbN
www.ExoticsByNature.com
www.BallPythonMorphs.com
www.CornSnakeMorphs.com

I managed to meet up with another BP keeper in my state thanks to Kingsnake. Between us, we have met up with other people in our area that keep reptiles and have a nice little community going. Hgiddings and I get together about once a week, and we chat with the others daily. There's quite a group in the RI/Ma area that keep snakes. We even went up to NERD once for a tour. It helps to have friends that appreciate the hobby. My family (other than my husband and kids) thinks I'm whacked. Luckily, my husband supports me and my kids think it's great that Mom likes snakes!
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1.1 Ball Python 0.0.1 corn snake 1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish 1.2 cats 3.1 kids 1.0 husband and now...
0.0.1 Pink Zebra Beauty Tarantula
2.0 Solomon Island Boas

Have you been to any of the NE herp society meetings?
I've been pondering on going to the meetings, but to go i'de probably be stuck with my dad in his ucky little car for an hour and a half each way...
I've been having a hard time finding kids around here with any snake interest. A couple of my friends are interested, but their parents are big snake haters.
I'm on the MA/NH state line.
I've gone to Nerds store once, I loved it! Thats where I got my first snake... A cute little corn
Started with the corn and now I've become addicted.
Can't wait until they open up the facility!!
Thanks for you input in advance!
~Spoony

You should come over to Herpcenter.com We have a thriving community of all ages for people who keep herps. Lots of good people, and quite a few from the Ma/RI/NH/ME/CT area. There are some older folks (Like me!) and some young adults, and quite a few teens.
I haven't been to a meeting yet. I've been trying to get the RI Herp soc to start up again. I know Beth from Regal Reptiles was going to see what she could do to breathe some life into it again. Where do you live? Near the Haverhill area?
NERD was great, and I can't wait to see their new site when it opens. It should be neat.
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1.1 Ball Python 0.0.1 corn snake 1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish 1.2 cats 3.1 kids 1.0 husband and now...
0.0.1 Pink Zebra Beauty Tarantula
2.0 Solomon Island Boas

I'll try the herp center.
I live right around haverhill. Maybe I will just sign up for the NE herp society, and try to get my mom to take me instead of my dad.
~Spoony

The only friends I have are snake people....Sad but true...LOL

Chad

Well I grew up in a tattoo shop surrounded by all kinds of crazy animals, so my family likes reptiles. Even my grandmother. All my friends too. And I have gotten my boyfriend interested in them too.
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Anna

1.0.0 Ball Python {Shane}
1.0.0 Afican Bullfrog {Bungy}
2.2.5 Crested Geckos {Mel, Harley, Sally, Momma, unnamed}
0.0.1 Giant Black African Millipede {Milly}
2.0.0 Parakeets {Storm, Cloud}
1.2.0 Button Quails {Bob, unnamed}
1.0.0 Short Tail Possum {Eddie}
1.1.0 Dogs Lab/Pionter mix,German Shepherd {Vegas,Nevada}
2.1.0 Kitties {Kenny, Sebation, Pheobe}
1.0.0 Betta {George}
1.0.0 Boyfriend {Brian}
1 fish tanks with lots of fish
2 Crested Gecko eggs layed 5/18

Thats it for now.....

I like my Tats better than most of my friends.LOL

Chad

s
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

>>i want a girlfriend who likes snakes but not to many women here who likes them. there was this 1 girl i know of that was as crazy about reptiles as i am but she moved away.
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i have a corn snake, a garter snake, & gettin a ball python.

ya i want a girlfriend who likes snakes but not to many women over here likes them.
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i have a corn snake, a garter snake, & gettin a ball python.

said "its over, i cant get used to the snake"
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA....

then called back saying "i over reacted, i'll try to get used to it"

hahahhahahahahhaa women...cant live with them..cant live w/o them.

well damn i read somewhere that snakes are like chips, cant just have 1, im thinking about getting a baby cal kingsnake from the san diego IRBA show in july.

my family doesnt like my herp thing(dad doesnt mind), ever since i wanted a snake but my dad always said to ask my mom and she is scared of snakes. and believe me, i nagged her daily for over a year "mom lemme get a snake" but the answer never was a yes so i always had lizards of some sort, but really wanting a snake, but i stopped keeping herps back in middle school. well im off at college and my mom isnt here to get scared of it in the house, haha.
My goal is to get my gf to like the snake/hold it. my roomate already has held the baby BP, she thinks its cute.
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Monty - The Ball Python

I am blessed in that as children all of my kids enjoyed filed collectting. Now as adults my son and his wife help with the collection and two of my 9 grandchildren are keeping colubrids at home in thier respective rooms. My wife even though she would rather work with her miniature horses also on occasion works with me in the snake house when I need help.

Sure makes it a lot more fun!

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms
Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

me and my girl friend have found ourselfs to be the perfect pair.
she is a passionate herper, and between her and me, we have just about turned our home into a herpers zoo. Most of our friends think were crazy, but after coming and seeing our critters and breeding programs, they are more educated and less afraid, and no longer kill any snakes(they call me to relocate them). Education is the key to herper friends.
Wayne Charlene

12 different corns
9 different kings
1.2 beardies
2.3 amazon tree boas
3.6 emerald swifts
2.2 sulcata tortoises
100's of different dart frogs(girlfriend raises them)
dozens of eggs in the incubators(snakes bearded dragons)

My mom is the only one in my family that doesn't care that I keep snakes. My dad hates the things, but us fascinated by how they move. I am 15, and have kept over 50 snakes, usually wild caught garters and kept for about 2 or 3 days. I had 4 ball pythons, but sold them all 2 weeks ago. My mom doesn't like the fact that I have been bitten over 140 times by snakes. Even though I do not have much support, I will continue to pursue my dream of starting my own reptile park in southern Indiana.

I bet if you learned to avoid those bites your hobby might be more acceptable to your family and peers.

I've had a passion for snakes since I was very young. My parents however, didn't share in my enthusiasm. Now I'm a mom to four girls who, like their mom, love reptiles! We have four corn snakes, one ball python, and an iguana. My youngest is four, and wants to bring them in for show and tell. (Her teacher said NO)

my mother got me my first BP when I was 17, and she hates them, when I asked her why she got him for me if she don't like them she said "snakes are just your thing."

My step dad loves reptiles. And my partner does to, but not to the crazy sit on reptile forums for hours way that I do. lol
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1.1 Ball Python, 0.1 motley amel corn, 1.0 western hognose, 1.0 red blood

i am the second youngest in my family and my older sister is the only other one in my family that has snakes. i only have three snakes but some people still think im crazy.