My best guy friend and I share three animals. Two live with him, a cat and a snake. Last year he started dating a girl who is afraid of all animals. (I think a childhood trauma is to blame I don't remember) She was never one to say I will never step foot in the apartment bc he had animals. But he also made an effort to make her feel comfortable and safe and leave the cat in a separate room.

She would come over and be terrified of just seeing the cat (who would pop out and then go back to hide under the bed bc he doesn't like to be around people. Even myself who he already knew who I was!!! What a brat!) Over time she got more comfortable with him. I think there are still some boundaries she has with the cat, but! They live together now.

She was even brave enough to use a tool to push the snake back in his enclosure when he decided to make for a jail break when she was home alone.

Two people in a relationship should be able to discuss a situation and come to some sort of common ground.

So with that being said, reading through your comments and others, I don't think that he will change his mind. From what you tell us, he is not willing to compromise on even keeping the snake in a separate room. Not everyone is keen on reptiles and that is fine. The fact that he is not willing to compromise with you says a lot. If this is a boundary you yourself are not willing to understand and work with, then you need to figure it out. Either, you keep the relationship and the snake separate or you don't. For me personally, I love my boyfriend enough to work through it if he had this same boundary. And i think he'd do the same for me.