'My young daughter shares her room with 18 snakes - she's safe'

"I would never put my kids in danger."

This bedtime routine doesn't just involve brushing teeth and a book, but a slithery surprise we'd all likely refuse. 

Parents Socratis, and his wife Jane, have revealed they allow their daughter to sleep in the same room as 18 snakes. 

They say that the unique parenting technique is completely safe.

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"Unconventional"

They've been heavily criticised for allowing their two children Ariana, nine and Maximus, five, to share their home with 200 snakes.

Ariana, has been holding snakes since she was one and she's loved them ever since.

She calls the reptiles "so pretty" and cute.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

"What started as a fear of mine actually became a passion," her father told the YouTube channel Truly.  

Socratis admits that he and his wife have a rather "unconventional" style of parenting their youngsters. 

"I'm actually giving my kids options and choices, instead of telling them what to do," he defended.

Many snake owners keep their animals in tanks, but this family do things a little differently. 

They let the snakes roam around the house and slither across their children's bodies. 

Image: Truly/Youtube

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"They can bite"

Little Ariana has 18 snakes of her own, and all of them sleep with her in her bedroom. 

"People think that snakes are mean and slimy, but they're not," said Ariana.

Her little brother Maximus is still coming around to the idea. At first he wasn't comfortable. 

"We never forced it on him," Socratis said. 

Despite concerns, the parents do what they can to manage the dangers. 

"I really don't ensure that it's safe because these are wild animals and yes they can bite," said Socratis.

"But I don't have a snake here that has the capability of eating my children."

Socratis says he draws the line with venomous snakes and wouldn't let them roam around the house.

"I have a venomous snake, but I have a lock on my door," he said.

Bites have occurred here and there, but it hasn't been enough to deter from collecting.

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Socratis has spent over $481,000 on his pets, which has led to extreme backlash. 

Comments have stressed that there's no place for snakes around children.

Some have accused him of not being a good father, with claims he should face jail time. 

He says he knows that all of it couldn't be further from the truth. 

"I put my kids' safety first, I would never put my kids in danger," he said.

Originally published as 'My young daughter shares her room with 18 snakes - she's safe'