How can I hide my snakes in my dorm at college?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

To get a pet approved as a therapy pet, you do have to have a condition diagnosed and documented by a relevant medical professional. It can be anything from anxiety to Asperger's/ASD to depression, and a whole range of physical disabilities for which that pet provides some kind of relief. And usually you have to explain how the pet aids you in alleviating symptoms; usually not that hard, pets of all kinds have been proven to lower stress levels simply by existing with their humans.

---

Before you think of trying "this" you might want to think about how it could affect your future. :soapbx:

Even if you have a single, the room will probably be subject to inspections.
Terrorist bombs, drugs, whatever. That is just our cultural climate right now.

However, let's back up a bit.
Are you already committed to a college?
What is your intended major, and what do you want to do with it?

A community college doesn't care where the students live.
Same for trade schools.
These can also be less expensive choices (and less of a student loan trap). Specific training can get you a job that pays better than what most liberal arts majors are going to find. You can work on something else later if you want a change.

Just some thoughts on the bigger picture.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Before you think of trying "this" you might want to think about how it could affect your future. :soapbx:

---

This is true. One of the reasons I haven't pursued a possible autism diagnosis is because of the amount of (often completely legal) discrimination that could be applied to me because of it. Such as I could be denied an organ transplant on the ground of a "more normal" person could have it instead. Yes, this is actually legit a thing.

On the other hand, if you do have a diagnosable disability or condition and you do seek a professional evaluation, you can gain access to a lot of community, health, and other assistance resources that you might not have been able to otherwise. It's a very personal decision, and it come with both benefits and draw backs, so you'll have to weigh your options carefully.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

I know Justin Kobylka got his start in breeding during college because he made and agreement with his university's biology department to keep and breed his snakes there! Doesn't hurt to ask any of the professors in the science departments if you could keep your pets in their labs or classrooms. Other students get a benefit from viewing live captive animals, and you get a safe place to stash your critters for the duration of your college stay.

---

I started out by hiding them in my dorm room. They rarely did inspections and I kept them in a corner of the room and shielded with a blanket + under the bed. So unless they were being especially nosey they wouldn't be found. That worked for about 18 months. Thankfully thankfully, the Biology dept did allow me to keep the snakes in a room in their dept after the doom evicted my animals... But I wouldn't count on your university doing that... I'd suggest working out that possibility first... Don't get caught in a bad situation, its not worth the risk to the animals.

It worked out for me but it could have easily been a VERY difficult situation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

This is true. One of the reasons I haven't pursued a possible autism diagnosis is because of the amount of (often completely legal) discrimination that could be applied to me because of it. Such as I could be denied an organ transplant on the ground of a "more normal" person could have it instead. Yes, this is actually legit a thing.

On the other hand, if you do have a diagnosable disability or condition and you do seek a professional evaluation, you can gain access to a lot of community, health, and other assistance resources that you might not have been able to otherwise. It's a very personal decision, and it come with both benefits and draw backs, so you'll have to weigh your options carefully.

---

FWIW, I'm diagnosed autistic. And I have a good job, and a great wife and kids. There are challenges, sure, but it's not the death sentence that some greedy organizations try to scare everyone into thinking it is. Once you get out of school, you're pretty much aged out of any useful benefits. Whatever you do, don't get your info from Autism Speaks. Those people are awful money grubbers. Check out ASAN for the real deal.

Good luck.

Not trying to pile on, but a college dorm room is not a safe place for anything really, let alone snakes. Not much of my stuff survived the dorm without taking some damage.

I'd recommend either having your family take care of them, or finding someone local to your college who will let you house them at their place (hopefully another herp lover).

Look up whatever the local herp society is and maybe attend a meeting or post on their forums if they have them. The other option is to look for a local breeder who can board them for either a fee or having you come help out periodically (as was mentioned here).

Get creative and you don't have to give up your snakes.

First use completely blacked out containers so no one can see what's inside or out. Second label the container with the most boring thing you can think of that no other college kid could possibly even be remotely be curious to investigate while intoxicated/high/sober/etc. (Very important to think of a name which would contain something everyone would have to respect if they are decent human beings); "Lord of the Rings Collections" (unless your friends with a ton of fan boys/nerds a common series that is nerded out about should deter most) , "Photos of Mother" (That one would only work if it was common knowledge of dead family member), "Medical Enemas" (Would you want to touch someones medical enemas that were so delicate needed a thermostat/ proper humidity to be stored?), "Violin Container" (I'd recommend something like this because then you have an excuse into why you need proper humidity/heat for said container; "Oh violin get's out of tune if not properly kept") etc. Hide them in a place where no one would look unless they were being peeping toms. For example buy a large compartment dresser and put said container with your underwear. With hiding snakes everyone always forgets food DO NOT HIDE FROZEN THAWED RATS IT WILL GET FOUND AND HOW WOULD YOU POSSIBLY JUSTIFY THE HOBBY OF CAPTURING RATS AND SECRETLY FREEZING THEM (They will assume you killed the rats and put them in ziplock bags and for some reason KNOWINGLY hide them). Get live food from your local breeder it will be a pain in the large intestine but you chose to buy that snake and you chose to go into college knowing that having a secret snake wasn't allowed.

On my own advice nothing is a greater chick/friend deflector to college girls/guys (There are exceptions to every rule but it's safer to assume said person won't like snakes than to assume they do) than openly saying you own hundreds or multiple snakes; majority of the time they will look at you as if you just massacred a Vietnam village due to the common phobia of snakes in western society. Plus if your frozen rats get discovered you'll be known as the biggest creeper on the planet if no one finds the snake. This all depends on who you hangout with or what college you're at because different social classes tolerate/open to more uncommon ideas/hobbies.

This type of maintaining of snakes is completely short term and will give you a year to finally set your bearings in your dorm and then jump out of there into an apartment complex.
DO NOT get caught by roommates even if they opened your container labeled "Medical Enemas" they will use the snake as black mail or report you 67% of the time.
P.S i do not personally do this but it's fairly easy to hide something you need given the proper well thought out excuses if someone ever were to discover said container.

^ that's a bad and unfunny post. stop promoting bad practice/behavior (even if u are trying to be funny).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ax01

^ that's a bad and unfunny post. stop promoting bad practice/behavior (even if u are trying to be funny).

---

Sometimes you have to give advice on how to secretly take care of an animal. This is 500x better than releasing his ball python in the wild and the possibility of it becoming a invasive species like you see in the Florida Everglades with Burmese pythons.

Plus like i said in the post it's his choice and i made numerous examples of how it's a pain and not really worth it but it's his own actions for buying the snake in the first place. If you aren't Immanuel Kant you have no right to ride a moral high horse over this dude's decisions being "bad" or "good". :sarcasm:

Why would you even want to live on campus? I tried that for one semester and it was miserable worst living conditions in my life. Just get a group of buddies and get a house.