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.

Absolutely not. When they buy their own houses they get to decide the rules until then when under our roof.....

You are not being unreasonable. No snake!

Not a chance in a hundred hells.

Not a hope. A living creature in your home is not a question of it being in “someone’s room”. It’s a responsibility that I don’t think an 18 year old is mature enough for. I have no idea how long snakes live but I think it’s a terrible idea for an 18-year old to get any pet. It would hugely limit their future choices - going away to university, flat-sharing with pals, moving in with a partner, studying abroad, working holiday trip somewhere, a job that requires regular or lengthy travel... all of these things would be made much more difficult if not impossible by habing a living pet to care for and accommodate. Forget about framing it as an ownership of the room issue. It’s a life choice that is incredibly unwise and so you are not facilitating it. Plus, eeeeek, there’d be a snake in your house, no thanks.

No problem with snakes as such, but a definite no due to age of the son. Their life is never going to change more than it will over the next 5—10 years. (Ie the lifespan of a pet) you will be landed with the damn thing because the uni halls/ landlord/ new girlfriend / housemate won’t allow/ hates snakes /there isn’t time now I’m working/ I don’t have a freezer for the mice ..... nope.

18? Surely he’ll be in temporary or rented accommodation at some point in the next decade and might struggle to house the snake? Or is he planning to live with you until he buys his own house?

If you are not happy with it then no. One of mine wants a cat and I’ve told her of course she can have a cat, after she’s moved out.

DGS has snakes and lizards - no problem if properly looked after.

Am shocked at how many snake owners there are, like it’s a casual thing😲

We have a lavender corn snake called Pike. He's beautiful and about 4.5/5ft long. I won't post a pic though so I don't upset the folk who aren't fans.

I love snakes and spiders which is lucky as ds has had a good few since age 13. He s 30 now. We actually do the feeding and cleaning together but that's coz I like handling them.i would imagine it would be horrid if you're phobic though.

Nopety nope. My house, my rules. No pet arachnides, snakes or insects.

I'll get a snake for the room if they make space by moving the fuck out.

How long do snakes live? Will you end up stuck with it when they move on?

At 18 I would say no. Is your child planning to go to university or travel? Who would take care of the snake then? If they want to rent/house share in a few years, what would they do with the snake? If they get into a relationship with someone who doesn't like snakes, would they re-home the snake? Snakes are a serious commitment; cornsnakes can live up to 20 years, and royal pythons up to 50!

No way. My house, my rules.
My 3 DC have long since left home and have their own DC and they also say to their DC: my house my rules.

No way. I don’t like snakes but also is it not very cruel to keep a snake in a cage in a bedroom? Really? Because they need to be walked twice a day? . I have a snake and he's no bother. They're super easy to care for, just put a lock on the tank. You do need to keep rodents in the freezer but they're much more preferably to wanting a free roaming animal like a dog or cat.

Just sat waiting for someone’s brothers, roommates, dogs, best friends, Dad who owned a snake once but it stopped eating and when they took it to the vet, the vet said it was sizing them up to eat them! this is the worst old wives tale ever please never believe it thanks

Absolutely not, as I am petrified of snakes. Also, an 18 year old doesn't need to be making long term commitments about pets as they don't really know their long term plans. I've seen so many families end up with the dogs/cats/ferrets/rabbits that their teens just had to have, but then they ended up backpacking around Europe for a few years and leaving the animals behind. I'm a dog breeder, and unless mum is vigorously on board about getting a puppy, then they don't get a puppy, because it will always end up mum who does most of the work, no matter how much the father and kids promise to do it.

'When you get your own home, you can keep whatever pets you like'. I imagine YOU will be the one looking after it much of the time.

Never in a million years

MrsHoodWink that’s scared me bit I’ve heard that before as well. Ewwwwwwwwww

No to a snake, or any other animal.

You want a pet snake? Yes darling by all means. So get yourself a nice little flat/house of your own because you are definitely not keeping a reptile in mine

Sorry, no I wouldnt. My neighbours pet snake escaped and I was a terrified wreck! I had visions of it slithering into my bed at night! I didnt sleep well, and had to leave the lights on. I was so relieved when they found it.