Major Hiccup

Fleagirl · 10-10-14, 08:09 AM

So yesterday I ran into a major hiccup in Operation Cobra (what I'm calling my mission to get a pet corn snake). I am living with my parents while I am still in college. I told my mom of my plans and there was a resounding no from her, her reasons being that snakes creep her out, she doesn't want to deal with it if it escapes, and my family doesn't have the best track record with small pets (fish don't seem to do well in my house for some reason). She also really really really hates mice, dead or otherwise. I have a job and can afford to buy and care for a snake. I am pretty sure I am also responsible enough to care for one. So other then moving out (which I def can't afford right now) what can I do to get Operation Cobra back on track? Thanks guys.

**EL Ziggy** · 10-10-14, 09:16 AM

Will begging or bribery work? That's what I had to do with my girlfriend each time I wanted a new snake. Best wishes with Operation Cobra

Mikoh4792 · 10-10-14, 09:27 AM

Take your family to a zoo, petstore..etc. Maybe you can have your mom try handling a small cornsnake or ball python at the local petshop...etc.

You just need to turn their fear into fascination and spark some interest.

Fleagirl · 10-10-14, 09:50 AM

I might try begging. I think I can wear her down eventually. Lol such a good child. Anyway there is a reptile expo coming up. I might see if I can talk her into coming with me.

pdomensis · 10-10-14, 10:06 AM

This is where keeping your snake in a rubbermaid tote with a UTH comes in handy. With a messy enough room, she'll never know it's there.

-I'm not really advocating going behind your mom's back...but let's be realistic.

mrgrimm · 10-10-14, 10:15 AM

^ I would probably do that myself in my younger days, but it can lead to her having to get rid of the animal once she is already attached...I personally would rather work extra hard to try and get my own place to do what you want in rather than suffer the agony of being forced to remove an animal you love from your parent's house!

toddnbecka · 10-11-14, 12:09 AM

Been there, no way would my mother allow a snake in her house. Fortunately, back in the day my best friend also liked snakes, and had less uptight parents who didn't mind, so we shared a red tail boa.

guyabano · 10-11-14, 02:03 AM

Oh man, this takes me way back.

I started keeping snakes when I was 11. Retics. Probably not the best choice, but they were everywhere (I live where they "naturally occur"). I grew up at my grandma's house and she HATED snakes. Couldn't look at one, be around or even look at a suspicious hose in the grass. I hid them in my room and eventually around the property after getting caught multiple times.
She passed away in 2009 less afraid. She got around to being able to look at them, just not touch.

TL;DR: Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Good luck with Op. Cobra!

kiiarah · 10-11-14, 03:35 AM

That is a tough situation since her house does tend to mean her rules. Sounds like there are three separate issues.

Possibility of escape: Does she realize that there are locks for enclosures. Really I don't think anyone who keeps snakes would consider keeping them without some kind of device to prevent escapes. These are cheap and may make her feel a bit better, at least about this issue.

Having mice around: I can see that she may have a problem with rodents in her freezer (I hope you wouldn't be feeding live) but you might be able to invest in some type of stand alone freezer. Might be a pricey solution but if she didn't have to see or go near the feeders it might be easier for her to stomach.

Discomfort around snakes: This is where you may have to pull out the big guns. I had to persuade my husband of the idea of getting a snake. For quite some time I had just dropped it when it came up because he always came back with the same response "I don't like snakes". Finally I explained to him that it is something that is important to me and that considering all the things that I support him in it is something that he should back me on. This may be a different situation with your mom and you will definitely have to tailor the argument to fit your situation but if what you said is true and you have always been dependable it shouldn't be too hard. You just have to make her understand that it is not something that you are just doing on a whim but something that really matters to you.

I would focus on reinforcing that she would not have to interact with it or come anywhere near the messier or more unpleasant parts of having it around, and of course that it is important to you and so should be something that she can at least tolerate. My husband was very opposed to the idea of a snake for a long time, but within a week he was helping me with our ball python by choice, he has really grown fond of him. Just approach it from a stance of "this is what I want to do, what do you need from me to make it work for us both."