Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i posted something last week asking for help convincing my step dad to let me get a boa, and all of the replies said not to get a boa.
so im going to ask this question again but first i would like everybody to know that i know what im doing... i volunteer once a week helping out with reptiles and have been doing thts for about two and a half years. the people that i work with said (and i agree) that i know how to take care of a boa.

remember this when/if you reply ihave been volunteering helping out with reptiles for about two and a half years.

thank you,
Kayle

If you want a boa, I say go for it. Boas make great pets. Sounds like you're a good person. Helping out and working with reptiles. I think thats great. Now, you need to convince your stepdad. I don't know the man but, can you take him to see some boas and watch you handle them? ALSO I'm just wondering whats the reason he gives for not wanting you to get a boa?

he just doesnt feel comfortable around (mostly just wild) snakes... he says that this is because he doesnt know which ones are venomous and which ones are non-venomous. so i really just need to convince him that boas are not evil creatures that want to bite to kill.

Kayle

Theres no denying that venomous snakes are dangerous. And the fear of snakes is also very real. If theres a pet shop or reptile store in your community. I suggest you take your stepdad for a visit. Let him see the snakes and watch you handle them. Also a reptile expo is
a great place to see many people with a interest in snakes. He again can watch you handle some snakes and see that you are not in danger.
I hope this helps. Also do you have any books on boas or perhaps a copy or two of reptiles magazine. See if you can get him to read a little bit about snake keeping.
Good luck I hope this gives you some ideas.
Chuck

` Is he too old to grow? Perhaps he has reached the point where he can not learn further. That is a common predicament, for people in this society. Too much comfort makes the mind lazy. In some cases, it can be impossible to deal with.
` You might also tell him that if he doesn't challenge his preconceptions, they will challenge him ! Fear and ignorance need each other to survive.

` Then, show him this. It's a lot more Boa than you're thinking of. My daughter's boyfriend was nervous, at first. He trusted her, and grew through the experience.

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Stop the world-I want to get off!

Well, at least he seems honest about the reason he's nervous. My recommendations are twofold. (I assume he'll be cooperative)
First, research all your native snakes, kingsnakes, gopher snakes, venomous etc and show him how to recognize any of these on sight. Also teach him what people recommend doing if he meets one of these, how to behave, just walking around it, etc. I suspect he's sensible enough to know that knowledge is power and knowing all (or most common and all venomous) of the native snakes may help allay his fears.
Second, for boas, go somewhere with him that you can introduce him to those liddle cutesey baby boas, the type that aren't even 18 inches and just love to twine around your fingers. (you may want to explore said location ahead of time to ensure the babies aren't at all nippy) Except for the case of severe phobias, it's pretty darn impossible to be afraid of those babies. With redtails, you could also offer to get a male as they grow smaller than the females. Anyway, good luck!
I'm sort of in the same boat. My mother forbids me to get a snake (even a little Arizona mountain king) since with completing school and getting a job and possible travel, "You'll need to keep your options open and a pet won't allow that!"
Of course that's a weak argument since I already have over forty pots of exotic carnivorous plants under my care which are fickle to take care of and would hate being moved except to very ideal conditions... Any recommendations? Thanks
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0.2 chickens
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave)
0.1 Halflinger horse
0.0 reptiles due to living with
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

Maybe if you remind your mom that snakes only need to be fed once every week that will help. Keeping your options open is good and well, and I was confronted with a similar argument, until I made it very clear that I will always work around anything that confronts me. I won't move into a dorm that doesn't allow pets, I'd commute or save up money to get my own place first. If there's NO way around the idea of travel without the pet, have a backup babysitter or someone who will take it (temporarily or permanently) when you leave (if you leave). I'm in college, about to get a job, and I have NO problems with my 3 horses, 2 snakes, ferret, dog, 4 cats, 10 gallon fishtank, 1 fighting fish, and I DID have a rat until he died recently. Remind her that snakes are some of the easiest animals to keep as a pet, and would be the most forgiving to whatever schedule you can come up with. All they need is to be fed once a week, it won't kill them to skip a week in case of an emergency (i don't practice this, it's just good for the argument), you don't need to do more than switch a light on and off for them (depending on the snake), and oh, just make sure there's no film on or poop in the water. Oh, and of course, unlike a cat or a rodent, you don't have to maintain their litter 24/7. Spot clean maybe once or twice a week, then clean it out once a month.
It just doesn't get any less demanding than a snake!
Well... at least certain kinds of snakes
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purrhisswoofmeowblubsqueakneigh

Thanks! That's darn good advice and pretty sensible too. I've already tried that tactic, but I don't know if it sunk in with her how low maintenance snakes actually are. I'll try again with that and a few other angles. Worst comes to worst, maybe I can smuggle a snake in the house and only confess after four or five months have passed, the "beg forgiveness rather than ask permission" tactic.
Of course that tactic could also find me searching for a new home for my scaly friend, or land me dead in a ditch... LOL
I better just try to bargain... I've figured out a few (sensible) ideas I can use...
P.S. Quite a menagerie you have there!
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0.2 chickens
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave)
0.1 Halflinger horse
0.0 reptiles due to living with
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

What kinda of a boa are you looking at getting,you step dad probably won't warm up to the idea of a 15 ft boa constrictor but maybe he would be willing to go with a smaller species like a rosy boa or my favorite, a brazilian rainbow boa.There are planty of nice pythons too.You need to introduce your step dad to snakes slowly,show him books,magazines,pictures online.Teach him about constrictors and their personalities,teach him how to tell venomous from non-venomous.Can you take your step-dad to where you volunteer? it may help to see other adults working with snakes.Once he feels less threatened by snakes then introduce him to the species you want,tell him everything you can about the snake you want,don't expect to change his mind over night,it will take time.Oh,one last thing.Make sure you aren't pestering him constanly,instead ask him to give you a chance to teach him what wonderful pets snakes are good luck
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you reposted this question again...hmmmm? i just think you didnt like the answers you got the first time. how old are you? plan on going to college? out of state? got a job? this boa you want as a pet is a far cry from just a pet... this is not a hamster or a gold fish. i might piss other boa owners off but i honestly think you should wait until you are settled in a path for your life. what if you cant take it with you to college? is it fair for your parents to have to take care of it? stop being a baby and listen to your step father, hes the boss. i agree with all the fellow boa owners in that they are great animals, i love my boa, but you can just get every pet you want.

How big viv do you have or will get??

Sorry I was a little critical before, but you didn't state that you had been working with them for awhile. Sounds like your Dad just doesn't know much about them, I would suggest giving him some basic reading to do about boas (Do you want a boa constrictor???) such as the Barletts book from the library. Generally it is not a good idea to start out with such a big snake, but it seems that your qualified to do so (as long as you've handled big snakes).

My guess is your dad will have a few questions after reading:

1. Where are you going to keep the beast at full size? As I said before, the minimum cage for that size snake is at least 6x3 (maybe slightly smaller, but not much) which is a gigantic cage.

2. How are you going to obtain that much snake "fodder". Large boa constrictors can eat 4 (or more...) adult rats every 2 weeks. Depending on where you buy them, thats at least $6. If you buy rabbits (provided that you can obtain them) that will be on a 3 week to monthly basis.

3. Are you going to consistently handle this animal to make sure that it stays docile and handleable, in case he would have to take care of it while your away, and ect. In my opinion, they are much better behaved than burmese pythons, but all animals have the capacity to "snap" at any given time. If that happens, your in deep trouble. Always have a second person present while interacting with the animal at full size.

My parents didn't really like snakes either, and I had to answer all the above questions. I worked up the chain from newts to frogs to geckos to snakes. Honestly, I would still suggest having something smaller to start with... but thats your (and your dad's) choice.

Good luck
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