Ball Python Safety Letter for Landlord

[Randall Nelson]

Hello everyone,

We've had our beautiful ball python for 13 years now, and she's currently 4.5 feet. Very docile, not aggressive at all, well fed, and she's housed in a custom, very wonderful, secure terrarium, and we just moved into an apartment where the landlord is asking for some sort to "letter" from a vet, or other authority, stating that our ball python is not dangerous, nor poses a threat to anyone else in the building...or something like that.

We've lived in plenty of apartments over the past 10 years, and have never been asked for something like this.

We have no idea where to get that's type of letter, so we searched Google and ended up here. So, we're reaching out hoping that someone can offer some advice.

We live in Long Beach, CA.

Thanks.
Randall

[JLC]

I don't know if I would count as "authority" or not, but if you think he would accept it, I'd be happy to write a letter as an Admin/Onwer of BP.net. I can include a really nice color brochure about ball pythons as well. Shoot me a PM if you think that would work for you.

[jmitch]

I reptile vet could most likely get you a letter, or maybe some type of pet store. The sad thing there is alot of people who do not know about ball pythons and seem to think they are some killer snake that gets to be huge. I would try to talk to a vet or a local pet store that deals with reptiles and is family owned.

[OtterGoRun]

If you need it right away, try a reptile vet or local pet store/breeder.

Do they think it's venomous or something?

[decensored]

A vet is probably your best bet. JLC is very kind to offer you a letter! Talk to your landlord ask them if that would do. A letter from a vet will probably cost you some money, but at least than you could keep it for your own records in the event that this problem arises again in the future.

We have lots of reptiles in our 1 bedroom apartment and have never had a problem with the landlord. Mind you we haven't told them :\ LOL but I checked the lease and there's nothing about exotic pets, or pets in general. Good luck and I hope things work out for you!

Cheers/

[Valentine Pirate]

Just sounds like paperwork they can use in case of an escape (as experienced keepers I wouldn't expect it from ya at all, but maybe they're trying to think of worst case?) so that they can calm down anyone who attempts to panic. Maybe get the letter from JLC, and the brochure to be signed/ok'd by an exotics specific veterinarian so that there's someone local for them to reference

Good luck! Glad to see that they're letting you move in with the snake, even if the requirements are a bit odd

[benwallage9]

Go to your local vet that see's reptiles pay for a check up and ask if there is anyway he could write you a letter. You could also try your states department of fish and wildlife, they are the ones that decide what animals are dangerous and which aren't

[CLSpider]

I'm pretty close to you. The only exotic vet I know of is Dr. Greek...but I'm sure there are others somewhere nearby. Maybe you could email or call him and ask if he'd be able to write something up for you?

[Maixx]

You got a lot of good advice above so I'm just going to rant instead....
Thanks to ignorant media hype and THE PETA Planet network, the average uneducated person hears "python" and thinks of a 20 foot killer snake that regularly feed on large game like deer or alligator, and when given the chance small children.
Thanks to this your timid little friend is viewed as a dangerous animal.

Positive side of this - they didn't say no, and are willing to work with you, and that its just a letter not dangerous animal insurance.

[Maixx]

No that I finished my rant I thought of something constructive to say, you might also go to a chain petstore and get one of those fliers about ball pythons, they give a species description and talk about their temperment. Also helps being a published document compared to a hand written letter.