Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am sure you ahve all heard this question a thousand times.... how do i convince my mom to let me get a snake!?!?!?!?!? i am in eighth grade and all i want is a cornsnake and my mom wants me to want a toy snake ..... so does anyone know any good methods of making her like snakes? now before you should probably know when I bring w/c caught snakes home for like an hour or to at a time my mom won't even go within 15 ft of the snake when i have it in a cage which is inside yet another cage! so basically i need some help. Thx JK

My first question always is... what are you planning on doing with the snake when you go to college?

probably either find a college that allows them (yes they do exhist) let my 5 year younger fellow herper have it till i get out and he comes to college if you have any better ideas i would appreciate em JK

Haha, thats what happen to me too. Except i was probably around 9 and brought home a copperhead. But anyway, i let the copper go. (good thing at the age of nine, but now i have many hots) and i got myself a corn. Mom did not mind this because :
1. Not venomous
2. Attractive
3. I did not tell her and dad bought it for me

Good Luck
Kris
-----
DON'T TREAD ON ME

First of all...good luck.
A few thoughts from the point of view of both a parent (of an 8th grader!) and snake-lover:

1. Remember: Your Mom (Dad?) gets to make the final call...don't argue, reason with her (them)

2. Get a book on corn snakes. Show them how much you are learning, and how ready you are to properly care for one. Show them how responsible you are in other areas, too.

3. If you live near a city with reptile shows, ask to go to one as a family outing. Remember: educate

4. Negotiate: What will it take? Better grades? Always performing certain chores or tasks? Ask the question: "What would I have to do?"

Again...good luck. Duffy

This is an age old battle. I dont know why moms hate snakes. It started in Genesis so your going to have to keep your wits about you or else it can go horribly wrong. Case in point: My mom hated snakes and still does to this day. When I started highschool I bought a 2.5 foot ball python from a friend, stuck him in a 10 gallon tank and stuck the tank in an old toychest. I thought it was fool proof but that night ma-dukes saw the light from the heat bulb beaming out from under the lid I had cracked so air could circulate. To make a long story short I ended up homeless for a while and the snake went back to my friend.

The fear of snakes is a deep one so I dont reccommend you sneek one in like I did. Believe me she'll find it and the snake might not be so lucky as mine was afterwards. I agree with Duffy. Be as rational as possible and most importantly be patient. It takes time to crack open a deep phobia. Read up on some psycholog, it's actually a pretty interesting fear. Making people comfortable around snakes is a great skill to have plus you may have to convince your spouse someday!