Should I?

My roommate keeps coming up with reasons not to bring any animal into the apartment - even if it's a tank or caged animal content with being confined to my bedroom. I've decided on a corn snake, which with patience and proper exposure to people, is completely happy to explore a person's hands, arms, head, and body, doesn't create a noticeable odor beyond the surrounding area, and does not make any noise.

I love caring for a pet, it calms me and it makes me feel like I have a purpose (which lately has been a hard feeling to achieve). They also don't complain and take you as you are. No fear of rejection in their company. My roommate doesn't mind snakes and his girlfriend, who visits often, even said she "loves" corn snakes. There are two adults at the local pet store, only a couple of years old (according to the man who helped me with them). They are tame, wonderfully socialized, and come with all the fixins (habitat, substrate, large hide away). Their diet is less demanding or expensive than that of a cat, dog, or even a hamster. These two also have a good 12-15 years left in the hands of a good keeper, and it's the short lifespan of many small pets that turns me off from them.

I find it really hard not to go back to the store and adopt these two snakes. I do have a couple of important questions to ask the salesperson. But I just thought I'd see what others have to say: Go with my instincts and accomodate my own needs, or respect the feelings of my roommate and not adopt any pets.

What are your roommate's excuses? If they seem valid, I'd at least try and compromise. How long will you be living with this roommate? Obviously, you should respect the wishes of your roommate. How many times have you tried to talk about it? Have you given your valid reasons? i.e. it's calming, I have a purpose etc...

My questions would be, what are the reasons your roommate is giving you to not get a pet? Have you talked specifically about getting a snake (given it is a lot different than getting a dog or cat-cage, restricted to your room, not smelling etc.)? What are your roommates worries? Without knowing these, I can't really give an informed suggestion.

When you describe your roommate as "coming up with reasons", what I seem to hear you saying is that...

-- you don't see any of the reasons he's come up with as very valid, and

-- you suspect he's objecting for some other reason that he may not be quite clear about, himself.

If you were to go ahead and bring the snakes home without coming to some sort of agreement with your roommate, I'd expect these same issues to come up again in other conversations, something like this:

Imaginary future quote
-------------------------------------------------
Not actually posted by Roommate:

Today you left your socks in the living room.
Yesterday you left your dishes in the sink. Last
month you got those snakes after I asked you
not to. You don't respect me!
-------------------------------------------------

Right. i forgot to put those in. Haha. I had to downsize my post a lot, it was pretty lengthy before I posted it.

He says he doesn't like the idea of frozen mice in the freezer, which I told him I can pick up the food at any pet store as I need it. After that, he just keeps muttering, "I dunno man, I don't think it's a good idea." I haven't pushed it further than that. I have told him I'd like to get a corn snake. I called him when I was at the store, after holding one of the adults I'd like to adopt. And a few hours after going home I brought it up with him and his girlfriend. She says she loves corn snakes. He seems uneasy about having anything other than humans in the apartment.

He's lived with dogs all his life, his parents having three labs. Then when he and his girlfriend moved in together, they had a large fish tank with various tropical fish, and a dwarf bunny. He loves animals, but I think maybe he's just sick of having them in his living space.

I want an animal that won't be in his way and yet is completely okay with limited space. A snake best fits that description. I love the animals, not as cute cuddly pets but as something to tend to and sort of, study and learn about. I think owning a snake is more of a learning experience than a companion experience.

I will discuss it more with him I guess, but if he says no any further I'm putting my foot down >:| He works nights and sleeps all day. I have NOTHING to do other than apply for jobs and hope for work. I'm lonely

I agree with all responses so far. I have a tendency to be blunt...so my opinion is that you should respect the wishes of your roommate. It's what you'd expect from him, right? It is your home but it is also his home
That doesn't mean the subject is closed. Maybe his objection is based on something that could be resolved with discussion and more information.

I wouldn't do anything that might create conflict for you. You never know with people these days. I know what it's like to want a pet for company and not be able to have one. But one will come along at the right time for you. I now have three cats, two parakeets and a fish tank! Sometimes I wonder what I've done to myself, lol.
Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I guess I knew what I should do from the beginning, I was just hoping there were other impulsive people to be my shoulder devil and convince me to be selfish. :P

Good news is I bought a brand-new, unopened 20G fishtank for 50% off. I can save it for when I am able to bring home anything from fish to hamsters to a snake or lizard, or I can sell it online for full price and make a 50% profit off of it