Pesky Parents!

[leafcutter]

Hey guys,

I've finally (after nearly 2 decades) been allowed to keep my very own ant colony in the greenhouse! Was wondering if anyone on here had any problems with their misunderstood family members not allowing you to keep some critters (how did you manage to persuade them?) and if they've managed to keep any 'creepy crawlies' hidden secretly (and if so, got any good pointers?). As well as ants, I've been into all sorts of critters which I haven't been allowed to keep and had to settle for a hamster (no where near as creepy!) which was quite annoying when I was a young boy. I've got plans to keep a tarantula and a praying mantis as well and I'm surveying some areas I can keep these beautiful besties secretely!

Sam

[TenebrousNova]

My parents seemed to think it ominous when I suddenly bought home my Lasius niger queen, but after seeing that she hasn't escaped and overrun the house with her offspring, they thought it wasn't so bad. They didn't mind the Lasius flavus queen either.

The problem was when I got my first pair of Messor barbarus queens, my parents thought they were massive and looked nasty- particularly the super-majors, who I showed them a photo of on the Internet. When I was allowed my Pheidole pallidula, no one complained at all- they are just so tiny, and besides, they are used to my little pets now. ;D

Just get your parents used to the idea of having pet ants, and prove to them that they aren't so bad.

[Phasmid]

My parents originally wouldn’t allow me to keep anything stereotyped as nasty such as ants, spiders and roaches. Disobedience worked a treat for me

[Wood~Ant]

Fifty years ago I suppose I was lucky, as my parents never objected to my keeping ants or stick insects. My dad's motto was, "it's fine as long as you (meaning me) are prepared to look after them", or in other words I had to feed them etc.
This was fair as I was the one who wanted them in the first place. Keeping ants in the house was fine too as long as I kept them under the stairs.
My younger sister even showed a mild interest in ants for a time; but what aggravated my dad was when I was helping him around the garden, I would spend ages just looking at ant nests instead of digging up weeds ;D

[Kyle]

I've been kind of lucky really, as it was my dad that got me into them in the first place (aged 8), and it just progressed from a small ant-world with Lasius niger, to what it is now over the years, although I do from time to time get moaned at either by the dad or GF (who can be worse than my Mother ) if they ever get out.

Mind you when I said I was getting cockroaches he did object abit, but same goes with everything else, "as long as it don't get out it can stay indoors".

_Kyle

[Blem12]

Good afternoon,

well I have to say that I too had quite a bit of luck. I have always had a passion for animals and insects and keep numerous pets. When I mentioned ants to my parents, my dad did not seem to be very happy but my mum was alright with it. She said that as long as they kept good and none of them escape I can have as many as I want and inside.

[angelicdefender]

My dad is a strange one. When I suggested getting a Mexican red-kneed tarantula, he drove me to the pet store to get one. When I requested a wolf spider, he walked with me to the forest. When I wanted a vinegaroon scorpion, he tried to get me one. Yet when I asked to keep my first Tetramorium ant queen, he said, "No no no no no in the name of all that is holy no God no I swear to the cross and Jesus Christ no no nononononononononono..."

[myrmica4ever]

after battling with my parents over this topic for about two months my I have had a minor victory my parents said "you are allowed to keep them in the consevatory once we see the can't escape" which is where I wanted to keep them in the fist place I no its not much but it's the first sign of giving in they've shown (on this topic anyway) there is table in the consevatory which I am planing to take over. my parents probably won't mind because its dirty and me and my dad propagate a lot of plants on there but first I will have to something about my lemon seedlings. ;D

[myrmica4ever]

lol same I always miss them too I went up to my carvan when the mating flights happen in our area but there was a lot more vairiety of ants up there I could't get any beacause I had nothing keep them in.

[jennifer]

I just got a flat out "NO way are you having insects in THIS house young lady.” And was given a cat and told to be *normal*

Even to this day my mum when visiting won't even look at the ants I have, I'm 28 and she still hopes I'll grow out of it, she says "Jen you are just so weird at times I just don't understand you, ants, insects, that sci-fi fantasy stuff, that Fist author and those creepy books.. Who is this Edgar Alan Poe anyway? It’s like you want to live on a different world like you want to be something or someone else...you need to get some healthy interests, have you tried reading a magazine or getting a bloody rabbit? I blame your dad he got you into that star trek and medieval stuff and those fairy books"

To which I say, "normal is subjective I like my life, I like writing and insects, especially ants, and sci-fi thats just me, just because I think X factor and I’m a celebrity get me out of the jungle while ballroom dancing on ice is pants, and I don't like magazines on who is dating who and what mascara is hot this season not to mention I cannot stand pop music written by people who are out to make money rather than a decent record, (every year she would buy me music I hated for my birthday, like steps... )
"Look I don't spend time reading who Jordan has slept with this week and does not make me weird mum it means I have an IQ... and its Feist not Fist would you like a cup of tea?"

Mum "Sure but none of that weird tea that you drink...”
Me "You mean Earl Grey?"
Mum "No the other weird one"
Me "Chi tea?"
Mum "Yes that Chinese one"
Me "It’s Indian"
Mum "Yes that weird stuff and you should wear more colours"
Me "Mum I'm wearing blue and my top is green and I do have Tetley you know"
Mum "Jeans don't count have you seen Jane Norman's autumn collection you would look good in something floral and feminine"
Me "Oddly enough no....... “Gives her the raised eyebrow.
Mum "Oh you will never change"
Me "Nope"
Mum “But ants... that’s just not normal"
Me "Tell Mark Moffett then"
Mum "Who"
Me "Oh he is some famous... er dancer for Beyonce he likes ants too"
Mum" never heard of him get us that cuppa then"


Anyone want to swap mothers!!!!!!!!!!

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!

[samp666]

My mum thinks ill spend loads of money on them then, immediately bored of them. The first time I had ants she made me promise they wouldn't get out. I then tryed to show them to her so she wouldn't be scared of them. She was on a rant and then stopped, screamed and shouted WHATS THAT!!!!? It was just a tiny worker ant that had escaped and got lost. In about ten minutes I was forced to cover the entire set-up with selotape!!!!!
She is really pedantic!

[Jenny]

Have you tried showing your mum Sam, this forum to gain her interest?
Covering the edges with sellotape can make it tricky for getting food in and out unless you have external access via an airline to a foraging area.

[samp666]

I could show her the forum but she probobly will not be interested. She assumes I'll be bored with the ants in a few days

[Jenny]

In that case prove her wrong, she is probably going by any past interests so continue with this interest. I have seen lads given ants up around 18yrs old only to take the hobby up again in their late twenties. Wood has been keeping ants since he was 10, and so have many others and never grew tired of them

[samp666]

Thanks for your advice I'm going to continue with this interest until I'm older then maybe she`ll understand