To insist that DSIL keeps her exotic pets in her room

[Ullena]

My DSIL is coming to live with us temporarily whilst she house hunts. She will pay for her food and utilities, and we have agreed to drive her wherever she needs to go if she can't get a taxi.

Background: DSIL has some issues, can be hard to live with, and likes me because I always call her on it and expect her to wise up. She has been living with her parents until now. DPIL are over the moon as it means they will now have a spare bedroom where their grandchildren can stay over...

Anyway. DSIL has some exotic pets. Spiders, scorpions, snakes, small lizards. AIBU to insist that she keeps them in her own room whilst staying with us, and refuse to allow them to be brought downstairs?

It's mainly the snakes; she takes them out to handle them and carries them around. Two are python types, the others are smaller; corns and so forth.

Well, local taxi firm is cheaper than paying us petrol, so not likely she will want lifts often! Obviously we wouldn't leave her stuck, unable to get to doctor's appointment, etc.

She won't let them run loose. She doesn't want them disappearing down the floorboards/being eaten by the cats. It's really just the snakes. She loves carrying them about and tends to offer people a chance to handle them...provided you wash your hands first! I really don't mind the little snakes, but that would then lead to the larger snakes, which I am a bit wary of.

I remember years ago one of her spiders escaped. It was just a baby at the time, so tiny. She was devastated, convinced it would starve. Fast forward about three years, and FIL comes across now rather large spider being carried around by one of their cats. Sadly the spider didn't make it.

It had been living loose in their house for three years. I am doing a headcount every day on those wee beasties! Any go missing, you will know. You will hear my screams echoing off Mumsnet Towers.

But hey, it's temporary! And she's family. Plus she is actually pretty generous as houseguests go: treats everyone to takeaways when she is having one herself, surprises hosts with presents that they needed but couldn't afford. That sort of thing.

Now I just need to avoid DH falling for those reptiles...