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Convincing others

S

ScarletRose

New member
Ok so I'm in the process of getting my first baby noodle. I live on a college campus so I'm getting special permission. The reason I'm getting it is because I have a mental disorder and I need contact with animals in order to be ok. I'd like something fuzzy for the cuddle comfort, but my dog at home would kill anything warm blooded I brought home. But I get my first snake, so I'm not arguing too hard.

The school can't legally deny me my request because I have the backing of a doctor. But I don't want to just play the legal card unless I absolutely have to.

Now that you have the background, onto my point. How has raising snakes helped you personally? Have you formed bonds with your snake? Why is a snake good to have as opposed to other reptiles?
 
From everything I read, snakes are MUCH easier.

Every time I look a the care sheet for some beautiful beardie, tort, sav, ig, whatever...there are various insects to feed, and they need special dusting, it is suggested also that the bugs be gut loaded, the reptile itself needs a daily salad, the UVB light MUST be replaced every six months, there is that 100 watt basking bulb...just thinking about the electric bill is a no-go for me.

I love watching NERD videos where Kevin feeds the Savs, but I enjoy them there, w/o the daunting responsibility.
 
I think the main thing is that corns are really trouble-free. They're not dangerous and they're low-maintenance. Some people you will never convince to like snakes and that's okay. But they'll have a hard time trying to come up with a pet that is less trouble than a corn snake. Just make sure your viv is fully escape-proof!

I enjoy my corn snakes and I like to have their vivs in places that they can be part of the family. Rigby is in the dining room and he usually comes out to say hi while we're eating supper.
 
Other than what Distaff has said, snakes are also quite clever and some species, like the corns, are quite active when taken out. Plus, they don't require a lot of time or money to maintain (unless you end up with 20+ of them), they don't usually cause allergies to other people since they have no fur, they don't smell, and they don't bother other people that don't want to handle them because they are in an enclosure.
For me it's really interesting when you find out their personalities, and it's amazing when you feel they start recognising you and wanting you to take them out. It breaks the mold of what you expect of a pet and you always learn new things about how they live. Indeed they can surprise you.
Finally, although they are expressionless, you end up bonding pretty deep with them. When they start their shed cycle and you don't handle them for a while you feel like something's missing. I certainly feel they are positive in a therapeutical sense, even if you don't have any disorder, as any other animal could be.

Cheers on it, and I hope they let you keep one without a lot of negatives.
 
Taking care of a snake teaches you to be a better person. A captive snake can't do anything for itself. You have to provide it with the proper environment and nutrition. A snake will recognize that you are its caretaker. Snakes can't show true love but it will teach you to love it unconditionally. The snake is totally depended on you. When I'm at expos and a snake bites me I buy it. I know that snake needs me because nobody else will want him. As a therapy animal a snake has a soothing comforting effect either by just observing it in its vivarium (think fish) or handling it. It's a calming sensation. Hyperactive kids come to our shows and as soon as the child has a snake in its hand they become still with a look of fascination on their faces. One big advantage of a snake over a lizard or dog or hamster is that if your having a bad day or even week your pet snake will be ok but at some point it will also force you to get going and take care of it. I suggest not to get a hatchling though. Start with a yearling or a WELL started hatchling. You want your first experience to be helpful not possibly stressful.
 
I'm not even going to bother with pointing out how great it is having animals, especially corn snakes. None of us would be here if we didn't feel that way to some degree or other.
I'm going to address the other side of the coin because I think it is equally important. You didn't say whether or not you have a room mate. Nor if you live in an apartment or dorm. I ask these questions because regardless of what the legal ramification are, it is never a good thing to foist your world view on other people. We need to take into consideration other people's feelings, phobias, allergies, etc. when we make socially involving choices. Just because you think a snake will fill your prescription for a calming influence does not mean that everyone else that is legally obligated to allow such a pet should not get a say. To negate their feelings in favor of your own would be egocentric at best.
When my son was in grade school there was a child with peanut allergies. My kid was on his PBJ phase. That's the only thing he would eat and now he was not allowed to bring it as a lunch option. The Mama Bear in me was pissed at being told what my cub could or could not eat for HIS noon meal because one child had issues with it. It's not to say that I didn't understand I just didn't like being forced to alter my world to suit one individual. I was not the only person that was miffed. So we talked it through and included everyone in the solution instead of mandating one. Eventually a compromise was met and everyone walked away safe and happy.
A person with a fear of snakes, there are a lot of them out there, has just as much right to refuse living with one in the vicinity as you have for having one. I hope that you either have or will look at the feelings of other people living around you before making a decision or getting "legal".

Terri
 
Actually, forcing phobic people to live with a snake is very much on par with forcing peanut-allergic children to endanger their life for your child's pickiness. Mama bear.
 
I skipped over your thread title "Convincing others" since you didn't pose a question concerning it in your post but since "Mama bear" Crackerhead responded about it, who are you trying to convince and of what?
:)
 
I'm trying to convince the school board to let me do this.

In response to momma bear thing about having to think about other people: I have thought about other people all my life and that's part of the reason I'm not completely right. No one will have to deal with my snake besides me and my roommate (who is totally cool about it). If anyone else comes in my room without permission and sees my snake and freaks out for it, that is not my problem. Why are they in my room in the first place.
If you know you have a life threatening allergy, you don't steal people's food do you? And you don't blame the child who brought the pb and j sandwich.
 
First get a Zilla Critter Cage with a sliding lid and a lock so your snake can't escape and can't be tampered with. Explain that this cage is considered escape proof as long as it is closed and locked. That solves that problem. Assure the university that you will only handle the snake with the door to your room locked and a towel under the door, and any other escape routes blocked so that the snake is contained if it slips away while handling or feeding.

Give facts. Corn snakes are docile. Corn snakes are non-venomous and on the rare occasions that they do bite, their teeth are short and simple wound care is all that is needed. The largest adult corn snakes can not kill anything larger than an adult mouse. Corn snakes do not cause or spread disease to humans as long as simple, common sense measures such as handwashing are followed. Corn snakes are clean and depending on age and amount eaten generally only defecate once a week. With normal husbandry they do not smell. Corn snakes have been captive bred for generations. While they are still formally considered "exotic" animals, they are no more wild than pet mice, birds, or hamsters. Corn snakes are quiet and are incapable of making the kinds of noise that will disturb anyone, even in the same room. No where is the keeping of corn snakes illegal due to their being dangerous. Where they are illegal to keep it is only to preserve wild populations not because corn snakes are problematic to keep. They are probably the most widely kept pet snake in the world.

Any of the above, or anything else that you are able to support using books and or web references may be helpful. Also if there is a local herpetologist, especially one with an advanced degree who can back you up on this, enlist their help via in person testimony or letter.

P.S. Additionally the heating energy needed is so low (8 watts for a 20 gallon long) that there will be little to no impact on University resources.
 
On the personality thing I had pet birds growing up. In my opinion corn snakes have as much personality as a pet bird, and perhaps more than a mouse, or a hamster. Add to that the fact that they are long lived and corn snakes are a serious commitment and in that sense are more like a dog or cat without the noise or other issues.

When a corn snake is lost, gets sick, or dies the owner goes through the same grief as the loss of any other pet and to me that shows that there is a deep affectionate bond owner to snake. We can argue if that can be reciprocated in any form, but there is no question that humans can bond very deeply and have a positive and loving attachment to their pet snakes.
 
Rigby & Marcy said:
Actually, forcing phobic people to live with a snake is very much on par with forcing peanut-allergic children to endanger their life for your child's pickiness. Mama bear.
Click to expand...

I would not now, nor have I ever forced a dangerous situation on anyone. That was my point.
I'm advocating macro thinking here. Snakes are, A. In the top three phobias (beaten out only by spiders) and B. Escape artists. These are both high on the things to consider unless you are living alone.

For the record the compromise in the peanut allergy issue did not involve catering to my "picky" eater. There are many ways work out differences not all the solutions have to be a "my way or the highway" result.

Terri
 
Rigby & Marcy said:
Actually, forcing phobic people to live with a snake is very much on par with forcing peanut-allergic children to endanger their life for your child's pickiness. Mama bear.
Click to expand...

Reported for being unnecessarily rude. Please keep in mind that this is a public forum with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Just because you don't agree with someone's opinion or antidote doesn't mean you get to attack them.

Also, I like to question the general public when they claim to be "phobic" of snakes and insects. An actually genuine phobia is one thing. Prejudice is another. I believe most people's "fears" are actually social constructs that are deeply rooted in the collective consciousness's unintentional spread of fear. Most people get pretty upset when I ask them WHY they are afraid of spiders, snakes, scorpions, ect.


ScarletRose said:
Now that you have the background, onto my point. How has raising snakes helped you personally? Have you formed bonds with your snake? Why is a snake good to have as opposed to other reptiles?
Click to expand...

Now to the OP. Welcome!!! :cheers: :wavey:

Keeping Corn snakes is such a joy! They are beautiful and unique. They change a lot as they grow, which is fascinating. Corns are in my opinion the ambassadors of the snake world. Many of my friends who are "on the fence" about snakes or don't like them (as mentioned above) have been won over by handling a beautiful and mild mannered Corn Snake.

Corns are VERY hardy animals. They are relatively cheap and easy to care for. They do however help with routines and teach basic responsibility skills. As far as the emotional part.. I would say that personally I don't feel AS STRONG of a bond with my snakes as with my dog, but many other people do report being emotionally connected to their snakes. I definitely have a love for my little scale babies.

Last thing, I noticed you're from Milwaukee. I myself am from Madison!! I have family in Milwaukee, Port, Menomonie, Minneapolis, and Chicago. I am currently living in the Northwest, but definitely miss the Midwest. You should see when Tinley (a large reptile expo) is happening next. That would be a great place to go get info and possibly a snake!
 
Jessicat said:
Please keep in mind that this is a public forum with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
!
Click to expand...

1) I have a severe peanut allergy and have spent my life aware that this is inconvenient to people's wants. That my safety is inconvenient.

2) It's so completely off topic.

I hope this all gets deleted. In the meantime, enjoy that sanctimonious glow from reporting me. I've been here and polite for years but I'll move on.
 
This was an interesting thread. I hope you get to enjoy the company of a lovely corn snake. Please let us know how it works out. I didn't take the Rigby and Marcy comment as rude or attacking. It seemed to be a comment out of concern. Jessicat, I am severely phobic to cock roaches. I have no idea why. I am phobic to the point of being sick when exposed to one. I will avoid one at all costs. Anyone who gets between me and the door will get flattened if I am fleeing a roach. My family has enjoyed much humor over the years involving me and roaches. Sadly, I live in Florida and they are the state bird.
 
Rigby & Marcy said:
1) I have a severe peanut allergy and have spent my life aware that this is inconvenient to people's wants. That my safety is inconvenient.

2) It's so completely off topic.

I hope this all gets deleted. In the meantime, enjoy that sanctimonious glow from reporting me. I've been here and polite for years but I'll move on.
Click to expand...

At least three members of the moderation team do not find this a "reportable" post.

Please don't allow a disagreement with one member to drive you away from here- I hope that's not what you meant!
 
Studies have shown that handling snakes can reduce a person's blood pressure. They are definitely calming. I find them "cuddly," too, although not furry.

I don't know if you would be successful in legally forcing the school to allow you to have a snake, though, since the only recognized emotional support animals are domesticated. You might be able to argue that cornsnakes are domesticated based upon the number of generations that have been bred in captivity. This will be interesting, and I'll be anxious to hear the eventual outcome. Good luck!

I'd love to further debate/explore the peanut allergy topic in General Chit Chat, if anyone is interested!
 
Thank you everyone for your input.

I'm extremely lucky in the sense that no one on my floor is scared of snakes. When my floor RA asked everyone at the floor meeting, the reactions were... Wildly positive actually. I'm very pleased at that development.


Also, some might be interested to know. I found a corn on Craigslist that looks fairly healthy. He is 30$ and the 25 gal tank is 20$. He's 4 years old and very healthy. I'll post pics later, but I think he's an albino? He was never given a hide or a heat gradient though. From what I can see, that's the only think they did wrong. He eats and handles well.
Anyway, I'll be getting him late January!
 
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