Speaking of vacation

[SarahMB]

What do you all do with your reptiles when you do go on vacation?

We had planned on going to Hot Springs Arkansas this year, first week of October. I have been asking around my friends and family, and not one single person is brave enough to watch our snakes.
I just can't fathom leaving them unchecked for a week. So many mornings I wake to find high humidity levels due to a massive peefest, or tumping a water bowl, or getting wads of newspaper in the water bowl. And some mornings the smell of poo about knocks me over, so I wouldn't want to leave a snake in there uncleaned for days.

Anyway, we've decided to cancel our trip and stay in Dallas doing stuff we don't normally do too often. We'll hit 6 Flags a couple of times, Ripley's Believe It or Not and Palace of Wax, Texas State Fair will be in town, etc.

So what arrangements do you all make? Or is it just fine to leave them alone for days at a time?

[rabernet]

I'm going to be gone for a week, starting this Saturday. I'll just have to really clean when I get back. I don't think that any harm will come to them to be in a dirty cage until I get back.


My plan is to clean everyone the night before and make sure everyone has fresh water.

Karl will be home, but he's a big baby - so they won't get any assistance from him! LOL

[JLC]

I wouldn't hesitate to leave mine alone for a few days...making sure they have clean cages and such before we leave. When we went on our extended trip to Dallas earlier this month, though, I had to make arrangements...mostly because we also have a lizard that requires daily care...and I really didn't want my Kisasa to go THAT long without someone checking on her to make sure her t-stat didn't burn our while we're away or something catastrophic like that.


Anyhow...I'm fortunate enough to have a friend here who does house/pet-sitting for a living...and he owns a rosy boa...so I know he's at least comfortable around snakes. I hired him to stop in and take care of the lizard and keep an eye on the snakes. Both snakes shed while we were away and we came home to find the shed skins draped over furniture, looking neatly pressed. LOL

My advice would be to check around your local area for a pet-sitter...preferably one that has experience with snakes. Or ask around here for someone local. I'm not sure how close Cueball is to you, but maybe you could make arrangements with him or someone like him to look in on your babies every couple of days?

[jotay]

I go away all the time for usually in the 5-6 day span.
If I go for that long I have a friend who lives close by who comes in to feed and water the cat so he checks on my bp ie checks temps, that everything is good and no bulbs burned out or heat cable, T-stat working.
He also will swing by in the event we have a storm to double check the breakers/elec in the house and in Ozzy's cage.
He doesn't open the cage or change water and he knows in the event something wrong to call me and I will instruct him from there.
If Ozzy needed to go to the vet etc he wouldn't have a problem and knows how to get him out and transport him. He is not a snake person but I have instructed him well and now he is an old pro.

If I go away for a weekend I just make sure he has water and the cage is locked, double check his cage settings and the heat/ac settings in my house.

I leave my friend a cheat sheet with all settings etc on it and diagrams of everything.

I still worry

[SarahMB]

Robin, yeah, I might feel better about it if someone were at least in the house.

Judy, a pet-sitter sounds like a good idea. I might be able to find one just by asking at the pet store where I buy my feeders.
Cue is a good ways away from me, so I wouldn't ask him to make such a long drive. He's so nice, he would if I asked him to, though! lol

Jotay, you are Judy are so lucky to have friends willing to do those things. When I asked around, everyone just got a terrified look and went all pale on me. I just don't understand that at all.

[frankykeno]

Also Sarah call your local herp vet. You may find that one of the techs or even an office staff person there does pet sitting or would consider doing it for you if your gone for more than a weekend. If none of the staff do pet sitting for snakes they may well know someone who does. A cheat sheet posted near the enclosures with emergency numbers, normal heat/temps, etc. would be perfect.

[SarahMB]

Oh, very good ideas, Joanna! I will definitely do that next time.
We're going to go ahead and stay home this time, as I'm actually kind of excited about doing the local stuff.

[iceman25]

Anyway, we've decided to cancel our trip

Have you been to Hot Springs before Sarah? I made it there once and am still kicking myself for not taking my camera with me.

[SarahMB]

Oh yes, I lived in Texarkana for 8 years, so going up to Hot Springs was just over an hour's drive. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures either, as my ex husband lost all our photos in a move.
I was really looking forward to taking my family.

[frankykeno]

Well I know someone (name withheld to protect the not so innocent) who lives right near Graceland and has NEVER gone. Yes I know this is terribly shocking isn't it! Imagine not going at least once to pay their respects to The King. Or making the annual August 16th visitation and supplication. Heavens!