Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of mine just gave me a pair of albino burms..the male is 9ft and the female is approx 12.
So my wife tells me today that her mom and uncle both are sure that my snakes will end up eating my kids...Ignorance just pisses me off!! They are going by somthing they saw on tv once....
My burms are in secure cages and the female i put in the garage because the cage is quite large and wouldnt really fit in the house..
What do you say to people that already know my burms will kill somone....i am getting sick and tired of people ripping on snakes...especially when they have no idea what they are talking about.

Its that kind of thinking that got snakes banned in NY

Jason

They are just being concerned relatives for the well being of the kids (just like you I am sure). Changing minds doesn't happen overnight so you need to take the opportunity to educate them; they will resist at first but most will come around over time. As a father, I would not (and don't) keep any burm or large constrictor in anything less than a locked enclosure designed to hold strong snakes and this enclosure is, in turn, kept in a LOCKED room. My girls are not allowed in this room except under my supervision and when they were younger, they were not allowed around the bigger snakes (more to show my relatives and in laws that I was being a responsible father). Don't hold them responsible for their beliefs; that comes from a learning situation which unfortunately, came from bogus material that they either read or watched. Because there are so many irresponsible owners of large constrictors, I am usually teh one that recommends that people with young children should not keep a large burm in the same house....but before you blast me for this comment, realize that this comes from the 100's of irresponsible owners I come into contact with in running a wildlife center...there are, I am sure, just as many responsible and caring owners.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

My wife tried to explain things to them but they refuse to believe her....o well...i have no plans on getting rid them
I do agree that saftey is very important with big snakes.....but they can be kept safely..and that is what people dont understand
They have probobly seen the movie anaconda to many times..and we all know that movie is totally acurate..LOL...

Ha... my girl says she wont marry me and raise kids with me if I still have my burm. She is afraid of him eating the kids also. I have tried to explain to her that my male will not get near big enough to eat even a child but she has seen pictures on the net of huge burms (obviously females) and doesn't want to hear it.
She loves my bp and has always hated the burm but the other day I came outa the shower and caught her petting him very close to the head and interacting with him as I had left the cage open if he wanted to stretch a bit. I think you familly will come along if you have the patients to educate them as Carmickael (sp) said. Good luck!
-----
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmese Python

n/p

Jason-
Your mother in law may or may not come around to the idea that you are keeping a potentially dangerous animal in a house with her daughter and grandchildren. Right now I am the only person in my home who isn’t scared of snakes and I know that when I get my ball I can’t tell his mom b/c she would probably freak out and not want to come in the house. My boyfriend is getting better it just takes time and patience along with educating them. I plan on breaking him in with a ball and just adding to the collection over time {I will also need a bigger house}. Is it the size of the snakes or the fact that there are snakes in the house now?
-Abby

Its the size of the burms that freaks everyone out....my wife and kids have no problems with the snakes.....In fact my wife is the one who brought home the first snake...

>>Its the size of the burms that freaks everyone out....my wife and kids have no problems with the snakes.....In fact my wife is the one who brought home the first snake...

Jason-
Well hopefully she will get used to the idea of the snakes and as the kids get older it will probably get easier for her. Reassure that the snakes and the kids won’t be near on another unsupervised and that your children’s safety is your biggest concern and that’s why you are making the environment as safe as possible. How old are the kids?? Oh and when she says that she saw a reptile show or movies make sure she knows if it’s fiction. I know someone who thought Anaconda was something that could really happen.
-Abby
Happy Thanksgiving =}

Anaconda wasnt real??
The kids are 6, 2 and 5 months....i never let the kids anywhere near when i have to take them out..and the biggest one i keep in the garage....she requires a couple people to safley handle...she's friendly but big and would be to difficult to control by one person if it became necessary..
I dont even let the dog in the same room when i have to open the cage....

Jason

>>Anaconda wasnt real??
>>The kids are 6, 2 and 5 months....i never let the kids anywhere near when i have to take them out..and the biggest one i keep in the garage....she requires a couple people to safley handle...she's friendly but big and would be to difficult to control by one person if it became necessary..
>>I dont even let the dog in the same room when i have to open the cage....
>>
>>Jason

Well as long as you keep the kids and snakes separate by not only a cage but doors and walls than she should become accustomed to the idea in due time maybe by next Thanksgiving. Yeah I saw the movie with a friend who was scared to death of snakes {we live in FL} and that just made it worse. I think after time he moved away somewhere up north I’m not really sure. My mom and my boyfriends mom both strongly dislike snakes a great deal so when I get my first one I’m sure some adjustments will be made like that room is now off limits or a lot less company. I have no children yet but do plan on it someday will keep ALL animals that I had before I got pregnant. Good luck I’m sure it will get better just takes time and lots of it.

-Abby

I read your posting and had to laugh. It’s those impractical comments about how horrible reptiles are that I hear all the time. I usually hang out around the gecko forums but I like to float over to this one because of the passion the burm owners have. Whenever I get some silly comment like that I always ask them if they know anyone who has ever been viciously attacked by someone’s pet snake. The only time I ever get a yes is if they are one of those people who needs to make up lies in order to make their life sound more interesting. Then ill ask them if they know anyone who has ever been attacked by someone’s pet dog, almost always a yes. At that point they often counter with, well that’s the owners fault not the dogs. I then congratulate them for making that connection. Next I ask if they have made the same connection with the snake and its owner. I’ve used this with everyone I work with and my entire family. Its easier to kill some of the fear when they are helped with the logic area.

ahh..yes logic....wish more people came with it...LOL