Would you allow adult child do what they want to their room in your house?

[Whalles]

Mine wants to get a pet snake. I'm really not keen on the idea, but they don't see a problem as it'll be in their room. Thoughts please.

How adult are we talking? A just turned 18 year old, or a 30 year old? Has the adult child ever lived elsewhere? The answer is still no snakes under any circumstances, I'm just nosey curious!

Nope, your house, your rules.

Just 18! In sixth form so I can't really tell him to move out

Wouldn't be keen on a snake tbh. It's the frozen mice/chicks that would need to be kept somewhere too eww

What if they want to move out to rented accommodation in the future and aren't allowed to take it with them? You'd be left with the snake!!

In my experience you tend to get stuck with looking after pets, when they don’t or move out! Would you mind looking after a snake I suppose is the question!?

Any plans for University?

Oh I like snakes. If this was a proper interest of his rather than a passing whim and he knew about upkeep etc then I'd think no more differently than if it were a kitten (and to be honest, a kitten would be cuter but harder work).

I thought it would be about making some permenant modification or outlandish decor that's hard to change, which would be a definite no, but I would be fine with a snake in their room (and I really don't like snakes)

We have a snake. It doesn't do a great deal or need much looking after. However they do live a long time. What are his long term plans for it?

" Elvis is now 8!!" As long as he hasn't left the building!!!

" Changes are you won’t even know it’s in the house." But you'd know!!!!

As he's only 18 I'd say the main problem might be how he can accommodate the snake in the future. Assuming he won't still be living with you in five years, owning a snake (or any pet) might cause him no end of problems with renting etc. Rehoming centres are already overstretched.

My son had a pet corn snake - she was no bother. When he got her she was about 18" long, and by the time he left home three years later she was a magnificent 5' long. She was very beautiful, didn't smell or anything, but I hated having to feed her mice. I refuse to live feed, but she wouldn't take defrosted frozen ones, so I had to care fully warm them up in hot water before I put them in the tank. If you are wondering why I was the one feeding her, it was because when he moved out she stayed with us for abut three years as he had nowhere to put her.) She was fully grown at 5' and still on mice, so at least I didn't have the unpleasant task of warming up a rabbit, as I might have had to do with some types of snake. She was okay - not my type of pet, but okay. (Also - apologies for the lack of paragraphs - the "next line" button on my laptop isn't working for some reason)

As long as they knew how to take proper care of it.

Nope, yes for decoration, no for pets and I like snakes and grew up with loads of pets. I'm an adult, I rent my own flat and I'm not allowed pets because the person who actually owns the flat doesn't want pets.

Yes. But then I have a royal python!

Hell no. I've got zero trust since the time my friend told me her pet tarantula went missing.

No. I like snakes but the rabbits don't.

Not a chance. Never never not ever.

Actually Elvis did once, had to inform the B&B next door!! It was under a bean bag near the tank! ! Mice less than a £, aspen about £6, changed monthly with poo /skin removed as +when. Electricity minimal for heat mat. Genuinely a canny pet honestly!

Years ago my ds asked if he could look after a friend's snake whilst they were away. I reluctantly agreed but then realised I couldn't even bear the thought that it was in the house, especially after I found out it had once escaped in its owner's house and was found curled up in a cupboard.
I still shudder thinking about it.

No. Irrespective of what it is. It’s ‘their room’ in MY house and they need MY permission, in MY house. That ‘it’s MY room’ attitude would get straightened out really quickly. (...and they wouldn’t get permission for a snake or any animal I wasn’t prepared to personally take on, because you know you will end up being the one it’s left with when they bugger off to uni/travel/live with mates etc).

A snake wouldn’t be a problem for me.... the only reason I don’t have one is the fact that I already have a few geckos....

I'm ok with snakes, it's the mice I have issues with but I'm getting better with feeding them to my ds's cali king snake.