What does your family think of snakes? [Archive]

Zoe

06-15-03, 09:48 PM

I was thinking about this and was wondering what your family things of snakes and animals in general?

If there has already been a thread to this effect (I couldn't find one) please feel free to delete this one.

As for me, my mom is a vet and is (for some reason) partial to chihuahuas and black cats. My dad LOVES animals and we always have a blast going to the zoo, and tolerates my snakes (so long as I pay for everything and they don't stink up the place).
My grandparents are all good with animals. My grandmother on my dad's side is a little iffy about snakes, but respects them in the wild. I even got her to use humane mouse traps when I explained how the normal ones hurt the mice.

I'm really happy my family accepts the snakes... I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't have them!

Zoe

Lisa

06-15-03, 10:03 PM

My mom is terrified of snakes (and rodents). My dad doesn't care about them, he can take them or leave them. Of course katey loves them.

Ryan

06-15-03, 10:04 PM

My Family thinks I am insane for keeping snakes. My Mother won't even come into the same room with them, my brothers are better one even had an Iguana but they still won't hold them.

RachelS.

06-15-03, 10:06 PM

My family...well...umm tolderates them as long as I keep the cages clean, and the house smell-free they pretty much ignore them. But they totally support me with them :)

Aqua_Elf

06-15-03, 10:08 PM

MY mom thinks I'm insane but respects them, my dad and sis love the all my herps and frequently handle them with me. We do lots of herp related things together but my mom is exciled. LOL, the rest of my family also thinks I'm crazy except my step-aunt!!!

Clownfishie

06-15-03, 10:10 PM

Most of my family seems to think that I'm a bit crazy for keeping reptiles - they always ask how the animals are at family get togethers, but then they sit there shaking their heads at me when I tell them... LOL :) My mom got used to the geckos while I was living at home for a couple of months when I moved back to Victoria... she won't have anything to do with the snakes though. She wouldn't have let me have the one snake that I had at that point if she'd known that he was there -- but she didn't. LOL :) Thank god... now she does know that I have snakes, but she won't go near them. Which is fine, I'm not about to take them out in her presence if she's not comfortable around them...
I don't mind my family thinking I'm a little nuts ;)

JD@reptiles

06-15-03, 10:26 PM

me family doesn't care.

Naära

06-16-03, 12:15 AM

My dad is very interested in reptiles (I got the addiction from him) but doesn't have to own them. My mother finds them terrible. Therefore I wasn't allowed to own them when I lived at home. My husband first didn't want them, he agreed with lizards but snakes wouldn't enter the house! Well at this time 2 snakes did enter the house and he loves them. He starting to get more interested by the day so thats good news.
The rest of the family is okay with it.

Edwin

06-16-03, 01:33 AM

My mum is terrified of snakes, but the rest of the family tolerates it. My in-laws just think I am silly.

TardGirl

06-16-03, 01:49 AM

My mom gets a little freaked out sometimes, my dad thinks i'm not a normal girl cause i like snakes, but he lives with it. My dumb grandmother is always telling my mom everything she ever hears about a snake killing there owner, She's trying to talk my mom into making me get rid of my snakes, My grandmother won't even come into my bedroom cause i have reptiles in there ;) And my sister says she likes them but she never holds them or anything, I think that she is scared of them:)

daver676

06-16-03, 06:49 AM

My mother doesn't like the fact that I have a snake, but since I don't live in the same house anymore, it doesn't matter! My dad is fairly indifferent to it. It great having my own place! don't need to worry about having permission! My gf's mom doesn't like the snake, and my gf's dad would probably kill it if he got the chance, but I won't let him.

Colonel SB

06-16-03, 06:51 AM

My fam is cool with it my mother used to be terrifyed of snakes but now she is okay with them, my GF even has one now I've converted her to the light side :)

Alicewave

06-16-03, 06:59 AM

My dad is terrified! He looks so freaked out and disguted when I am handling my Rosy boa. I call him a wuss for being afraid of such a tiny little snake. Oh well. My mom likes him but wouldn't handle him.

reverendsterlin

06-16-03, 07:02 AM

lol, none of my family has been near or in my home for years, they just call from town and ask me to meet them somewhere. A benefit I never expected lol.

Invictus

06-16-03, 07:55 AM

My gf loves our snakes as much as I do, my mom is terrified of them and won't even look at them. My dad likes them, always asks how they are doing, and even comes to reptile exhibits with me. My older brother wants a snake badly but his gf won't let him get one, my other brothers are ok with them, but my daughter thinks that they are the coolest thing on earth and has actually become a bit of a snake expert herself. :) She doesn't have one right now... she's getting a red eye tree frog. But, if my female corn lays eggs, she'll get a hatchling.

jwsporty

06-16-03, 08:40 AM

Great question Zoe,

Well let me see. I'm 43 years old, have 20 snakes, lots of rats, lots of mice, a dog, a parrot and a wife.

My wife has been converted so when I say "Honey can you get me a F/T Adult mouse?", She says "No prob, who's eating today? Oh no not the rat pups..Is that for one of the Ball Pythons?". When I buy another one, she says "Not ANOTHER one...can I hold him..;)..where are you gonna put this guy?"

My Mother, who lives on a farm, says I can keep em..she hasn't visited in a year..but I remind her of all the snakes on her property. And she still thinks there are no snakes. around the farm..OK Mom, whatever you say....she's forgiven though, after all, she is "Mom"
My Dad, in his own stoic way thinks I'm nuts, but hey I'm blood. "Son.. you have some weird hobbies!"
My daughter from a previous marriage thinks "Daddy" has lost his mind..but she is still coming for a visit, should be an interesting 3 weeks
My Ex knows I have lost my mind. But keep the child support payments coming.
My Brother tolerates them only cause he has to work with me.
My Sister avoids me like the plague. Must be the motherly instinct of having two kids
My Inlaws always considered me the black sheep, but then who cares, they are just the in-laws.
My Boss thinks I'm nuts, but I make him money so he tolerates it.
My Yuppy neighbours don't come over to borrow a cup of sugar anymore? Suits me fine..;) "Hey Jim, it's 6:00 in the morning, what are you putting in the garden?" .Well Neil...hmmm that would be snake skin and aspen shavings..great for the garden...yeah that's it..great for the garden..;)"
The neighbourhood can't get rid of me, cause I pay my mortgage and condo fees..
The mice and rats fear for their lives
The dog hates it when one of dad's toys is loose
and the bird just wants to keep rooting for the Sens "Go Sens Go". I haven't got the heart to tell him the playoffs are over.

All in all I think the general consensus is I am regressing and I have no will power...what do you think? Now back to building my rack system, need more space, need more snakes..:)

drewlowe

06-16-03, 09:17 AM

All of my reptiles are both mine and my boyfriends. we both feel the same way about all of them.

My mom thinks i'm wierd but hey she always knew that. But she does respect the odd things i get into. She loves my beardies and now wants one of her own. She doesn't mind coming over sept the fact i have a tarantula. When i first got my snakes my mom was the first one to hold my female snow corn. She even held it before me. So my moms pretty cool with everything. She also likes to come over when my leos hatch. She thinks the babys are adorible. my mom was raised in the country when she was younger, she used to tell me stories about catching lizzards and snakes.

Dad, Who cares he's nowhere around. but if he was he would probly think i was nuts. in fact i know that's what he would think.

My brother thinks it's cool he used to keep 2 snakes. And he wants a bearded dragon for his 6 year old son. but i try to avoid the question cause i know his son is nowhere ready.

My sister thinks i'm crazy but hey i've always been a little different from most girls. my nephews call me aunt freak cause i have tattoos and piercings and now that i keep reptiles. But the oldest one wants a corn snake really bad, and when he gets a chance at school to do a report on reptiles he calls me up. But his dad wont let him have one. Cause i bought his little sister a hamster for her birthday last year and it escaped and went in the vents and died and they had to pay 500.00 to get the smelly thing out. LOL.

My boyfriends family. His mom HATES the snake and the tarantula, but she supports what we do and she is proud of what we do with them everyday. His little sister (13) has her own 2 leos, and wants some corn snakes. we wont let her have a snake though cause she wont feed it. His little brother wants a bearded dragon really bad. but we don't think he's ready either cause he still complains about walking a dog 2 times a day. But at least they ask questions and are very interested in them.

The rest of his family is kinda scared to comeover but they will as long as we don't take anything out of the cages. LOL

burmer

06-16-03, 09:18 AM

My wife is very cool about having them. I can even get her to handle them once in a while. My mother used to freak about me having them in the house when I was younger but she did let me keep them. My mother in law is petrified of them and won't come near them and my father in law is the complete opposite he loves them.

beth wallbank

06-16-03, 09:41 AM

My parents are sooooooooo anti reptile.....and dont visit much...heehee....so whether its a good thing or bad is up to the decider. My inlaws are very old, 82+, and went for three months before noticing that there were 3 x 8+' boas in cages right in my living room. Don't think they have any clue of the others in the house, and at their age, I think its best to keep it that way.
Both sets of parents are fine with cats and dogs, but old fashioned where dogs are outside animals, and cats live in a barn.

LISA127

06-16-03, 09:51 AM

My husband just tolerates the snakes, but he enjoys the lizards. My kids think thay are all "cool". My mother and siblings aren't too grossed out by my reptiles, but they aren't thrilled w/them either. I have a two year old neice who immediately asks for Bubba (my blue tongued skink) everytime she comes over! She doesn't like snakes, tho.

reptilez

06-16-03, 09:56 AM

My mom used to catch snakes and different amphibians when she was a kid so she was okay with it. My dad is okay about it but he always tells me "the $300 vet bill is comin out of your pocket."
I find it so funny when he says that.
My other relatives like my aunts and uncles think that its great that im getting involved with this kinda stuff at such an early age.
-Reptilez

Samba

06-16-03, 10:02 AM

My mother is fearless, and loves my big, cuddly Burmese named Bandula. My dad on the other hand doesn't even want to look at him. My brothers and sister tolerate him, but it is really my mom who takes the cake. She's never been afraid of him, and always cares for him when I'm away. Can't ask for anything more!

Kara

06-16-03, 10:03 AM

My mom and stepdad think I am crazed and my grandmother is absolutly terrifed!!! When I do get my snake, I will have to take her to a snake sitter when my Gram comes for a visit. But thats all right, I have some people who are willing to help.
My friends all think I am nuts, but I am slowly converting them! I have one who is going to get a chameleon soon and the others are actually holding a few snakes so there is progress:)

Gregg M

06-16-03, 10:42 AM

My family loves reptiles but still cant understand why I would want to keep venomous snakes in my place........My Mom calls me every day just to make sure I am still alive..... LOL...... She has been doing this for years......

The_Omen

06-16-03, 10:42 AM

They make the best in-law repellants in the world!

:)

Gregg M

06-16-03, 10:43 AM

LOL @ Omen............

snakelover111

06-16-03, 11:25 AM

my mom absolutely LOVES snakes! my dad is another story :P

Pixie

06-16-03, 12:54 PM

My family thinks I've completely gone off the rocker! I've always been the odd one in the family but now I've apparently graduated to a complete loony to my family since having my snakes and other critters.

I always get questions about my animals whenever I see them and like Clownfishie the usual headshakes, shudders, etc when I answer!

My inlaws think I'm crazy for actually bringing snakes into my flat intentionally. My own family (who is used to me after these years) isn't too surprised but thinks I'm crazy for having so many and still wanting more. My mom doesn't like snakes but she will be okay if she sees one, if I'm handling one, etc. My dad likes them a lot, especially my BPs and loves to handle them. My folks let me bring some snakes over to their place so they can run around in the grass chemical free so they aren't too bad. As long as they don't get closer than 2' to my mom!

My sister and her husband are total arachnophobes. I once brought over the molted skin of my mexican red knee. Even though they were very well warned that it was only the SKIN and not the actual tarantula they still both ran out of the house in panic! Was pretty hilarious!

Thank God my bf tolerates my animals! I just get the usual "Another one??!!!" from him now and then, so no complaints there :)

Pixie

red bootz

06-16-03, 01:37 PM

My parents used to loathe most of my pets. So when I went to Japan for a year, I had to get rid of most of my collection. Except for the torts. I guess there's something about them that you just can't hate. My mom helped me to care for them while I was gone. I think that when I moved to Montreal she was more sad to see the box turtles and tortoises go than she was to see me go! To this day I still get calls from home asking how the torts are.
Anywayz I blame them for this whole passion since they were the ones taht piqued my interest by keeping an aquarium (two to be exact) when I was kid...It all started when I was three.....

alan

06-16-03, 02:06 PM

My parents tolerate them but would have something to say whenever my collection grew. My sister loves them, especially the geckos. My gf likes my reptiles too and I bring the baby cresties to her house once or twice a week so she can handle them. Her house is right across from mine so the travelling won't do any harm to the cresties. Her family is curious about them but don't mind me bringing them over.

peregrinefalcon

06-16-03, 02:07 PM

My mom, sister and brother all like my snakes. My dad used to hate them but now will hold them far away from himself. My grandmother will look at them and ask me questions about them but won't hold them. My aunt walked out of the room when I took out my leopard gecko so that pretty much sums up what she thinks of my snakes! All the neighborhood kids ask to see my snakes whenever they are over. No one thinks I'm strange for keeping snakes as far as I know...
Adam

Dozer

06-16-03, 02:26 PM

Terrified of everythin' 'cept my "cool lookin' green frogs that stick to glass" :)

SnowSnake

06-16-03, 02:32 PM

My brother loves snakes and reptiles in general.
My mom talks to my leopard geckos, handled a corn at a reptile expo but doesn't want me to have one! :@ If anyone has tips to convince her I will gladly take them!!
My dad couldn't care less about reptiles.
The rest of my is very poorly informed about reptiles. Most of them think that snakes are slimy! Of course I tell them thats not true and that they are very soft but they give me "that look" like i'm crazy.

Emily-Fisher

06-16-03, 02:33 PM

My sister hates 'em, my dad thinks that they are cool but won't touch my snake and my mom just thinks that they are awesome!! My parents really really support my hobby, though, and so if anything ever goes wrong, they are always there for me :)

SerpentLust

06-16-03, 02:41 PM

Mom - Doesn't REALLY care, is more scared though
Dad - Gets a kick out of the Ribbon Snake, hates Montey
Grandma - Frightenned to death
Grandpa - Hasn't really seemed to care, get a kick out of grandma being scared
Aunt - Likes them well enough in their homes
Cousin - Deathly afraid (I'm happy about it)

Jenn

Smitty

06-16-03, 02:50 PM

My family is pretty much fine with them. My Dad tolerates them and doesn't care as long as they stay in my room. It's not that he doesn't like them, it's just that he doesn't want vivariums sitting around the house.

Linds

06-18-03, 01:35 AM

The whole family loves dogs, nobody is particularily fond of cats, even though I have one. My dad is terrified of mice and rats and whatnot. My grandmother had a death fear of all reptiles, to the extent of ripping all the pages out of the encyclopedia and dictionary that had anything to do with them. My dad bought me my first reptile when I was 4. An iguana who is still alive and free-roams the house so the rest of the family is ok with her, she's more of a dog than anything to them. My dad's a bit afraid of snakes, but will hold them. My mom is more afraid and doesn't even like to be that close, she thinks they are gonna bite her if she gets too close. My sister and I do the leopard gecko thing together, I borrow all her males for my females. She's kinda scared of snakes a little bit too. My boyfriend is a cat person... but he's really starting to like my leos, I've walked in a few times to see him have them out claiming they wanted him to take them out. He could care less about the snakes... pretty funny I made him hold a bag with one of my borneos in it when we were driving, well he musked him through the bag and we had another 1.5 hours to go in the car :p My mom and sister love my tortoise, my mom brings him her hibiscus flowers in the summer. Everyone in my family likes select animals, but nonetheless are all animal people.

ReneeB

06-18-03, 07:49 AM

hmm let's see..
My 5yr [SIX IN OCTOBER MOMMY! as he keeps reminding me] loves them, cept the nasty green and red spots gecko *Tokay*, and the tarantulas freak him out a bit.
My daughter well.. she just looks.. too small to let them out near her, as she still has the "mouth is needed for touch" syndrom.

My brother would take all of my herps.. he's getting a beardie in about a month, cause I wanted him to have it all setup first.
My mom is cool about the leos, beardies, and frogs and toads.. she thinks the snakes are ok, doesn't like having frozen rodents in the freezer though [I live in my own house, but she watches my kids and sometimes needs to go in the freezer] and she HATES the tarantulas, as she's paranoid they will harm her human grandkids.
My dad well he's umm I really don't know.. he's not afraid or anything.. just thinks I shouldn't have so many..

Now the hubby.. he likes the snakes [cept "slugs" Bps, bloods, cept BIG girth to a short body, he likes corns, pines..] and pays for them all so I can't complain.. cept when he wants a certain snake and then doesn't wanna feed it.

my MIL just gave us some $ to go to the show in July and build/buy a rack for the herps.. :) she supports us, but doesn't like them in her house, or near the kids.. lol.. I think it's because her yorkie could be food for some of the snakes when they grow up.. LOL my step-father inlaw doesn't get it at all.. and that's ok.. my hubby's father isn't involved in our lives anymore so who cares... hubby's brothers and sister and sister inlaws .. well who cares what they think..