Ball Python Safety Letter for Landlord

I know when I told my friends and family that I had added a BP to the household, everyone freaked out (and no, they don't even live with me!). LOL I got messages on my facebook, phone, and inbox with panicked: "You're playing with fire!" "Be careful, I've heard of so many python owners who wind up being strangled by their pets!" and "Sometimes they can even eat their owners..." :confused: I had to educate and reassure them all that it was a perfectly harmless pet (much more harmless than dogs and cats, in my opinion) and that I was going to be just fine. For those not initiated into the world of snakes, a ball python is the same as a Burmese Python which is the same as an Anaconda that sometimes, when it's dark and there's a full new blood moon, will sneak into your house, envenomate you, and eat your rotting corpse. :O

Just tell him that it's harmless but enjoys a picky landlord once in a while :D

Oh my gosh, I second all of the "CAREFUL, YOU COULD DIE!" comments, so encountered that when my friends and family found out I got a ball. People just don't know, it is up to us to educate them that "python" is a family of snakes in all different shapes and sizes, not one beastly monster of legend....

You could find countless websites saying what great pets ball pythons are. Your landlord probably wants something more official, but the smart a** in me would have told my landlord, "why don't you just google it."

Because I don't feel like dealing with it, I have a pretty blanket that I throw over my terrarium any time my landlord or maintenance comes it. Then I put a couple house plants on top and a candle or two. Just looks like furniture by the time I'm done. "Ask forgiveness, not permission" is my motto in these situations. :P

The landlord may be just covering his own butt for liability purposes. If he didn't want you to have the snake he could simply tell you that you can't have one.

It wouldn't hurt to come up with some sort of "Ball Pythons are not "poisonous" and can't eat your children or cats" one page thingie that people could just print off and present to a potential landlord. The net has plenty of care sheets but a fact sheet for landlords could come in handy too.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Thats a very nice offer of assistance Judy..well done, its nice to be nice :gj:
I think the Land lord is simply seeking a reassurance that the snake poses no risk to other residents in the building in the event the snake escapes, it is quite a reasonable request imo..I dont see any problem, Im sure the offer of assistance from Judy would be acceptable, if not simply contact a vet and request a letter confirming the fact that the snake is a harmless species..good luck

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Originally Posted by OtterGoRun

Do they think it's venomous or something?

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I bet you anything they heard the word "python" and thought "burmese".

A vet can also give you a health certificate. That way you can show your pet has been examined by the vet and found to be in good health. You can attach it to your "safety letter". It might be that little extra documentation that may put your landlord more at ease.