Partner who isn't reptile friendly?

[bitterbeauty]

I was talking to my mother today about my future plans of moving out and having a room in my new house dedicated to my reptiles and how I would set it up etc. Then she ask me "What if you meet someone and get serious with them who doesn't like reptiles? What are you going to do if you have children?"

Apparently she sees this as a phase but beyond that she brings up a good point. Im not worried about the children part I have no desire have any (but I didnt tell her this because she wants grandchildren) but as far as the partner who does not like reptiles thing....I am now wondering about that.

So I would like to discuss it a little with you guys. What are your opinions and thoughts on the subject?

If you met someone and it got serious and they didn't like reptiles would you get rid of your collection for them?

Or If you have experience with this, let say this situation happened to you before...how did you handle it and what ended up happening?

 

[Bodon]

I have a girlfriend who is CONSTANTLY saying, "you dont NEED more animals!!!" however, she understands my love for them and most of the time just laughs and shakes her head when i get something new. Besides she really likes my leo and dumpy tree frog and watches my turtle so the point im trying to make is, if they love you, theyll at least understand your love for reptiles and if they cant handle it and make you choose well then it probably wasnt meant to be...

 

[Haligren]

I agree with Andrew. If you the person you meet really cares about you, they'll make a compromise. I think this issue has been addressed in other threads but it's something I can really relate to. My husband cares very little for anything that doesn't have fur. He's very tolerant of me and my new found love of leopard geckos, however, it's mostly under the condition that he never has to feed them (he's got a very bad fear of creepy crawlies) and that I don't let them crawl on him. Which sucks because it's really funny to freak him out sometimes. XD

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Andrew, I couldn't have said it better!

 

[supperl]

my gf also ins´t reptile friend but we came to the point if we ever move together I will get my own Room for my babies ;-)
Love breaks it I mean she know I love to work with them and as I never would forbid her something she wouln´d forbid me. Even thought I would give up for her(but she doesn´t know it and would never ask me to^^)
I found most horrible thing for her are the feeders *G*

 

[bitterbeauty]

This is very true Andrew Love is compromise I suppose

I didnt realize this had been discussed before, sorry guys. Here I was thinking I was bringing something new to the table... lol.

Maybe we all should start looking for our soulmates at reptile shows? lol Then there would be no issue...

 

[supperl]

Hey Tiffany no way! What if your soulmate just isn´t at daytona *G*

 

[Jenn]

My hubby does not care for animals or reptiles but as long as i happy he is happy. he does his thing and I do mine LOL.

 

[lizardlove]

Hm... Not seeing anyoen right now and don't plan to, I have my degree to get and all. But if I started seeing someone I would make it very clear that I have animals that I love. A big warning sign for me in relationships is how people treat my animals, if they are disrespectful to my beagle, then it probably means they have no respect for me as I love her very much. The same would go for my gecko. I probably wouldn't continue a relationship with someone who can't at least tolerate Sappho and Maya (the beagle). One time I had a friend (girl, not someone I was dating) who actually had the audacity to hit Maya to the point where she yelped and ran away. No one treats my dog like that and she might as well have slapped me in my own house. I told her to get the **** out. If someone's constantly complaining about Sappho and won't even hold her for three seconds while I change her carpet, I'm sorry, but that just won't do. They don't have to love them, just be respectful, tolerant, and minimally helpful every so often.

 

[Jenn]

I have a beagle as well and heaven forbid they lay a hand on my Hunter. My hubby does not get attached to animals and tries to play all big and macho but I see the way he looks at them and just gets all mushy lol.

 

[Haligren]

Hm... Not seeing anyoen right now and don't plan to, I have my degree to get and all. But if I started seeing someone I would make it very clear that I have animals that I love. A big warning sign for me in relationships is how people treat my animals, if they are disrespectful to my beagle, then it probably means they have no respect for me as I love her very much. The same would go for my gecko. I probably wouldn't continue a relationship with someone who can't at least tolerate Sappho and Maya (the beagle). One time I had a friend (girl, not someone I was dating) who actually had the audacity to hit Maya to the point where she yelped and ran away. No one treats my dog like that and she might as well have slapped me in my own house. I told her to get the **** out. If someone's constantly complaining about Sappho and won't even hold her for three seconds while I change her carpet, I'm sorry, but that just won't do. They don't have to love them, just be respectful, tolerant, and minimally helpful every so often.

I'd smack HER until SHE yelps and see how SHE likes it!

Sorry. People like that just piss me right off.:main_angry:

 

[rawson5084]

Honestly I disliked reptiles :main_no: but about 5 years ago my boyfriend wanted a ball python and he did so much research on them and ask me what I would do if he bought a snake? I was like I have no idea:main_huh: lol When He got her he asked me if I wanted to hold her and I hesitated but I held her and fell in love :main_yes:she is the sweetest baby. Now I would rather get a reptile over furry animals lol So maybe if you find someone that doesn't like reptiles you might be able to get them to like them. you never know

 

[Bodon]

I also own a beagle but my girlfriend is planning to go to the reptile show this Sunday with me, she really enjoys a lot of the things there because she kept an open mind and did something with me that i enjoyed doing instead of just being a hater. And after her first show, she was hooked like i was. If someone doesn't love you enough to even TRY to understand something about you then how much can they really love you?

 

[LeapinLizards]

Bottom line is if they truly care about you, and want it to work out, they will learn to at least accept that the reptiles are a part of your life that was there before they were.

My husband was NOT crazy about me getting my first gecko. Actually, it was a LARGE argument. In the end I got my way (of course, right? ) and got my first gecko. About a year later he found 3 on craigslist, and drove me 3 hours round trip to pick them up. Needless to say...a lot of "anti-reptile" people change once they get around them. He sees how happy they make me, and how much the mean to me. He may not choose them as a pet, but he respects me and at least TRIES to help when he can. I've even caught him holding them once or twice without me begging first

 

[Lady_Kiya]

If the person loves you, they will understand your love of reptiles. (Though it is beyond me how someone cannot love them ) If anything, in a relationship you should be able to come to some kind of compromise.

 

[hoppslover]

Tiffany I would tell you it’s like this. If you have them when you meet this special someone; they will know that you are into them right off the bat. I would think this could be a deal breaker right off the bat if the other person isn’t into reptiles. If you do get serious, and the person knew you were into reptiles then I guess you have to decide which is more important to you. There are plenty of people out there that like reptiles. However you might be able to make a compromise with this person so that you can have both things that you love. My girlfriend isn’t really into my reptiles that much. I can get her to hold a couple if I am there to take them away when she is done holding them. I would tell you that they have grown on her. She worries about them when the power goes out and stuff like that. I really think that if this person gives the Leos a chance they will see that Leos aren’t that bad. Maybe a little more people friendly than say snakes or spiders. Just my opinion.

 

[bitterbeauty]

I agree Tim. I believe Leos are much more people friendly than snakes or other reptiles. I myself am not all that comfortable with snakes and tarantulas but I would never criticize or ostracize someone for owning them.

Thanks so much guys for these insightful replies!

 

[Lena]

I'm really lucky in that not only does my boyfriend support my hobby.. He's getting into it, too! It started with him coming with me to reptile shows, then just a month or two ago he got his first reptile, a Tokay! (Soon after he bought his second, a white-lined gecko. He's already talking about breeding 'Gekko geckos'.)

But even if your future spouse doesn't like reptiles.. If they really love you, then they'll overlook it. If it gets to be a "me or the reptiles" situation, that person obviously isn't for you.

My boyfriend likes seeing me happy and would support me regardless of whether he likes reptiles or not. That's part of what a good relationship is.

 

[bitterbeauty]

Double Post! Oops! lol

 

[earls413]

Hey, when my husband and I first started dating he was aware I had a dog in the house and at first didn't approve. He even acted jealous at times that I loved my dog so much, he eventually warmed up to the idea, and still jokingly tells people that if it was him or the animals who were leaving he'd be looking for a new place to stay. He has really come around and we now have 3 dogs, a turtle, and a gecko. The gecko was his idea, even though I brought it home as a suprise for him. He's just as passionate about animals as I am now and it's a blessing. He even got upset recently when our turtles of 6 years mysteriously died. He went out and bought me another one the next day, although she's mean as hell she's coming around. If you show how much you care about something eventually if the person really cares about you they'll tolerate it, or as in my case love it as much as you do. I've been blessed.