Trying to convince parents to get a snake tips?

[nickipod98]

i am trying to get a pet snake but my parents say i have to many pets(4 turtles,2 fish tanks, and 2 dogs ) any tips

[Wildside]

Your parents are deflecting because they're scared. When they tell you that rebuttal with "But snakes make virtually no noise, very little mess and you only have to worry about feeding them like every 10 days." Then start showing your mom pictures of the absolute most gorgeous snakes you can find, starting with the ones that come in her favorite color.

[alessia55]

LOL Wildside you crack me up.

nickipod98, how old are you? What responsibilities do you take on with the animals you already have?

[nickipod98]

i was thinking of getting a tub saving money buying all the neccesties and hide in my room untill i have it with every thing i need and then making a speech about how majestic and docile ball pythons can be then i will say i can adopt one from a herpetological society or i can save up to buy a snake i will also include that i only have to feed it once a week and tghen i will make my case

[nickipod98]

Alesia I am 14 I clean my turtle tanks weekly I have proper lighting basking area an substrate I am very responsible I feed my animals every day

[snake man12]

Tell them it is easier to care for a snake than a turtle witch it is. Good luck!!

[Kaetlinv]

i think they parents are more concerned at the amount of pets rather than your ability to care for more. I know my mom doesn't want me to get any more pets, and I only have two cats and two snakes. She's not afraid that I wont be able to care for more - she just doesn't want me to have any more pets.

I would recommend that you approach your parents and politely ask why they really don't want you to get a snake.

If it's because they think you have too many, ask what you could do to show that a snake wouldn't make a very big impact on the household.

if it's because they don't want a snake, specifically, in the house, again, ask what you could to to show that the snake wouldn't make an impact (because of secure containment, etc).

If it's because one of them is scared, you can try to figure out why they are afraid and try to help them with their fear by finding a local snake that you want and seeing if you can handle that snake in a safe environment OUTSIDE of the home so they can experience the snake outside of your parents' home.

If it's for another reason, just try and approach them reasonably. Forcing an issue will get you no where except in the wrong direction. it took me MONTHS to warm my mom up to letting me get my BP Valentine. It actually took housesitting my cousin's snake that his dad was giving him as an early christmas present, and showing my mom that I could care for that snake first.

[MDT]

Waaaay back in 1976 when my parents said "no flipping way are you keeping snakes", I finally had to just catch one and actually show them they weren't that bad. Granted, it was a lined snake (about 9 inches), but it eased them into the Kingsnakes and boas later on :)

Btw, while you *probably could* sneak it by, as a parent myself, I'm gonna say that won't go over well. Ymmv.....good luck!

[brooksy]

If you want your parents to respect you and your decisions then do not get one and hide it.
Like others said, really try to find out the 'why' and then go from there.

[Wildside]

I don't think she was saying she'd get the animal and hide it. I think what she meant was she could show her parents that she's ready for one. It'd be harder for them to argue with her then.

[Abby]

I'm having difficulty with my own parents. (I'm seventeen.) They don't want me to have snakes either. I've owned a large amount of birds/parrots and I'm guessing they've just had enough of all the pets I insist on bringing home. I can't help that I'm an animal lover! :D

[Will0W783]

I'm not one to talk about too much responsibility...I don't even want to count the number of animals in my house.....but your parents are simply concerned about you and your animals. You're young and they dont' want to see you so tied down with responsibilities at home that you have no time for fun.

I would think that your best bet is to make a list of all the supplies a snake would need, as well as the cost of said supplies. Then make yourself a week's worth of daily schedules, so you can visualize how much time you are currently spending on pets and how a snake would fit in. Then show the schedule to your parents along with the cost of supplies and potential ways for you to earn the money (chores at home, etc). They might just turn around!

[StudentoReptile]

i am trying to get a pet snake but my parents say i have to many pets(4 turtles,2 fish tanks, and 2 dogs ) any tips

If this is the genuine reason, then you basically have to convince them that you can adequately provide the space, time and money to care for said snake. Do you have a job? If not, find a way to earn some cash!

Now...if there is some set rule that you can only have X number of pets, then you may be SOL unless you're willing to give up something.
---

When I was still living with my parents, the general standing rule was I pay for EVERYTHING, and nothing exceeds the boundaries of my bedroom. At some point, my folks acknowledged that I knew what I was doing, how to care for things, etc. and I kinda stopped asking them for permission to bring things home. After all, it was my money and my room.

[Wildside]

I'm not one to talk about too much responsibility...I don't even want to count the number of animals in my house.....but your parents are simply concerned about you and your animals. You're young and they dont' want to see you so tied down with responsibilities at home that you have no time for fun.

I would think that your best bet is to make a list of all the supplies a snake would need, as well as the cost of said supplies. Then make yourself a week's worth of daily schedules, so you can visualize how much time you are currently spending on pets and how a snake would fit in. Then show the schedule to your parents along with the cost of supplies and potential ways for you to earn the money (chores at home, etc). They might just turn around!

I don't think the right snake would cut into "time for other things" all that much.

[alessia55]

Alesia I am 14 I clean my turtle tanks weekly I have proper lighting basking area an substrate I am very responsible I feed my animals every day

Here are a few questions your parents might have that you should be prepared to answer:
-If you leave home to go to college and can't take the snake with you (some colleges don't allow ANY pets), who will take care of it? If you can't take the snake with you, your parents will be stuck with 2 dogs, 2 fish tanks, 4 turtles, AND a snake!
-If you go on a vacation, who will feed it? clean the cage, change water?
-Depending on the kind of snake you get, how big will it be? what will it eat? how big of an enclosure will it need? how much will it cost? (supplies are often more expensive than the snake itself)
-How do we know you won't "outgrow" the desire to have a snake?
-How have you "earned" having a snake? Good grades? chores?

Help them understand how serious you are about snakes. Do your research and present it to them. Let them know how much knowledge you have about the kind of snake you want. I took my dad to a reptile expo and became a walking encyclopedia as we went along, and that helped him understand and see my passion (when I was 14). Get books, subscribe to reptile magazines, etc. Get good grades, show good behavior, do chores, help out without being asked to, take charge of all the current animals' needs. Good luck & keep us posted! :)

[nickipod98]

I have a 4.0

[alessia55]

I have a 4.0

That's great! That also only addresses one point I made in my post ;)

[Gungirl]

If your parents say no.. then maybe its just a no. Keep doing research and getting money put aside but from a parents point of view I get it. Enough is enough sometimes.

[nickipod98]

To address your other points I don't have to many pets 1 turtle is my sister and so are te dogs I am going to college instate because of the prepaid I am going to buy a tub with the heat pad substrate etc., i am getting a ball python or corn snake, and I have a lady who comes by to clean the house and cook and she is great she even cleans the turtle tanks while I'm on vacation

[nickipod98]

I also am getting a job and I am willi g to pay for eveything

[Kaetlinv]

There's still the issue that you're in your parents' home. You might not think you have too many pets - but your parents obviously do.

i highly advise you to talk to your parents...Make sure you are allowed to do all of this before getting any snake. You wouldn't want them getting upset with you and having you get rid of the snake / any other pets, because who knows what upset parents would do. O.o

[nickipod98]

I'm not getting the snake I'm just going to get a tub with some supplies

[alessia55]

I'm not getting the snake I'm just going to get a tub with some supplies

This is fine. But you might have to wait 4 years before getting a snake to fill it if your parents really don't want another animal in the house.

[Wildside]

I'm not getting the snake I'm just going to get a tub with some supplies

I think that is a very solid idea. As a parent I would be extremely impressed by your effort.Just be sure and try to convince them while you're at it. ;)

[nickipod98]

Why does everybody think I'm going to hide the snake I said get a tub for it mean while then convince my parents

[Kaetlinv]

just the way you worded it I think. :)

I know I wasn't sure of whether you were going to sneak a snake in or wait to convince them - but now i understand. :)

[nickipod98]

I don't think she was saying she'd get the animal and hide it. I think what she meant was she could show her parents that she's ready for one. It'd be harder for them to argue with her then.

It's not nicki pod it's nick iPod I'm a guy

[Wildside]

It's not nicki pod it's nick iPod I'm a guy

Sorry lolol

[nickipod98]

It's okay but I'm am making a 2 page speech why I should be allowed and I plan to find a snake in my yard and show them how docile they can be

[alessia55]

It's okay but I'm am making a 2 page speech why I should be allowed and I plan to find a snake in my yard and show them how docile they can be

Considering how close you live to me, you could have them come over and meet my ball pythons. LOL

[Kaetlinv]

just make sure whatever snake you pick up doesn't bite you while you're showing them, haha

[nickipod98]

Lol I've gone to pet smart 4 times to just handle the bp

[nickipod98]

Haha I'll try to handle it and calm it down before but that would suck

[Wildside]

just make sure whatever snake you pick up doesn't bite you while you're showing them, haha

Actually that could be a good thing depending on his reaction. Chances are he'll be completely surprised at the lack of pain and his parents will be reassured that the animal can't kill him, unless it's around his neck of course :D

[nickipod98]

My moms freaks out over a scrape

[Kaetlinv]

A snake at a petstore that's been domesticated and handled is totally different from a wild snake you find in your backyard that has likely never been near a human much less held by one.

If you plan to show your parents how domestic and well behaved a snake can be - don't find one in your backyard. Go to that same store and hold the one you've been holding. Or find the one you ultimately will buy and show them that snake :)

[alessia55]

My offer still stands. My mom used to be "against" me having snakes at first, now she loves mine.

[Wildside]

My moms freaks out over a scrape

Which only validates my theory about how the big bad serpent will suddenly look like a small ball python :)

[nickipod98]

It's petsmart I know the snake I find will attempt to bite me but I will calm down before I show it to my parents

[nickipod98]

By the way to corn snakes stay small

[woahamie]

Sounds like my folks.
But I kinda convinced them to let me have more reptiles and such, since I do plan on becoming a herp vet, I told them it was a good way to learn one-on-one. I just can't have anything that makes a lot of noise or grows over a certain length.

Now whenever I wanna get something new, they don't really care, as long as it's in my reptile room and they don't have to feed them. And even though my mom said she'll never step foot into where my snakes live, I catch her in there sometimes, haha.

I think parent's say no mostly out of fear first. But if they see that you're responsible and willing to pay for everything (including vet visits, because you might need it) then they might say yes.


If you're looking for a beginner snake, go with a corn snake. They're good eaters and don't require as much as a BP. BP's tend to be very picky eaters. Corn snakes grow about 5 feet or so. (Correct me, if I'm wrong!)

GOOD LUCK!

[woahamie]

Considering how close you live to me, you could have them come over and meet my ball pythons. LOL

Yay for Miami!
Boo for the horrid weather we've been having! :angry:

[Kaetlinv]

Corn snakes are champ eaters - as long as they've eaten a few meals as babies first. Hatchling corns that are sold before a second shed (I think that's the timeline... correct me if i'm wrong) sometimes have trouble eating due to stress. My brother has a 2 year old corn snake girl, she's a beauty. She's also a pig. She eats a large mouse every week on the dime, and still looks around for more. She also had no problem transitioning from Live to F/t.

I've got two BP's, and only one of them is at all picky, but she's growing out of that under my care. The picky one won't eat any rat that had a white head - I've tried different colored rats and it seems so long as the head is darkly colored she eats it. She also doesn't mind fresh killed rats. My second BP has absolutely no preferences - only just now she's gone into a picky phase and has refused to eat, but she's big and fat and it hasn't been too long since she ate.

Not all BP's are picky eaters - but be prepared to learn what it does and doesn't like just in case, if you do get one :)

[ra94131]

...Do your research and present it to them. Let them know how much knowledge you have about the kind of snake you want. I took my dad to a reptile expo and became a walking encyclopedia as we went along, and that helped him understand and see my passion (when I was 14). Get books, subscribe to reptile magazines, etc. Get good grades, show good behavior, do chores, help out without being asked to, take charge of all the current animals' needs.

This is the best advice you've gotten in my opinion. It worked on my parents years ago and more recently on my wife. People that love you want you to have things you are passionate about, and in my experience (over time) they often become passionate about them as well. (Just be careful not to "beat them down" with the information.)

This process can take time though...

[Drgnfly2265]

This sounds like what I went through to talk my husband into lettine me have a snake, lol :rolleyes: