Snakes During College?

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Originally Posted by Valentine Pirate

As a college student, I'd say it all depends on your situation. I'm just going to keep it to two balls until I know I can support more. You have to remember that on top of text books and tuition and living expenses you'll have to pay for food and vet bills. Thankfully, snakes don't really get expensive until they're sick. I'd consider them one of the lower maintenance pets as far as I'm concerned. At least they're less work than my fancy goldfish were xD Geckos require more room, so I'm not so sure about that. But hey, live off campus and cheaply, you should be fine

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Well I'm looking to trade the leo for another snake anyway, so I don't really need to worry about geckos. And my other snake should be feeding on smaller rodents than the ball anyway, I don't think it'll be too much of a problem. Maybe I'll take one up, then if I feel comfortable I'll swing back and pick up the other.

I go to WVU, and all I can say is make sure you're out of the dorms and in an apartment before getting another animal. One of my friends was actually kicked out of our dorm because of her ball python being found when maitenence was "cleaning her bathroom". How they were able to find a snake in a tub in her closed dresser drawer while cleaning the bathroom, well, I guess we'll never know. Anyways, it's easier to just wait until you're out of the dorm and either in an apartment that allows animals or one with a lax landlord. Our landlord doesn't know I'm living there (and not on the lease) let alone the 3 snakes we have in tubs under the bed because he's NEVER around.

Anyways.... If you're going to dorm, wait to get another snake, if it's not required and you can find an apartment, I would say go for it. As for money, I feel our snakes are alot cheaper than paying for a dog/cat. Buy some f/t rodents at an expo and you're set for a few months.

College and snakes can/does work out. Steve and I are even going to Japan for a year through school and are still able to have our snakes because we've made arrangements for someone to watch them and have bought enough f/t to last that entire year. They don't have to worry about paying for food, they just have to feed and clean every once in a while. (Perhaps this could be another option for you if you're required to be in a dorm room a certain amount of time.)

The girls across the hall from me sophomore year had two ferrets, which they kept in their closet when the RA would come in for inspection. Kind of a crappy thing to do to any animal, and they did eventually get caught. Then what happens to the animal?

Be thankful your parents are allowing you to have the reptiles you have. I wasn't allowed ANY reptiles growing up, and didn't get my first until 2005 when I was 23 years old, and that was a mere horned frog. My first snakes didn't come until I moved into my own house in 2006.

Why don't you try to get a job working for a pet store with a good-sized herp section while you get through college? You'll earn money and get to play with lots of unusual herps, and it will give you good ideas for once you do graduate and are on your own, with your own rules.

I go to TTU and now have 2 snakes with me. My family's the same...they don't really like snakes well enough to take care of them for me. I do agree with what was said earlier : you can't really get a snake in the dorms without someone finding it. If your dorm would allow snakes, I'd say go for it! But as far as I know, most don't...so just wait until you move out (it's cheaper anyway) of the dorms and then you can bring your lovely reptiles home with you!!!

You could try contacting any biology teachers in the school. You might be allowed to keep a few snakes in a classroom and stop by every few days for cage cleanings and feedings. Has anyone ever tried this?

im in college and i have 12 right now and plan on about 20 by breeding season. but i also have a house. its all about space and how much time/resources you have

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Originally Posted by SpartaDog

Alright, so I have three reptiles at the moment, two snakes and a leo. Mom says no more until after college because my parents will have to take care of them during college. I understand that but...I can't see myself waiting six years to get another one. So, my question is, is there any way you can think of to convince mom otherwise? Or is it possible to sustain yourself and a snake during college? If it is I'm willing to either get one during college or bring one of them to college with me.

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My advice is to pick a commuter-friendly school that allows its students [including freshmen] to live off campus. You then have all kinds of options between renting a place with some of your friends, or finding someone near by with a room to rent [especially the way the economy is a lot of people are trying to save on their bills by renting out their spare bedroom]. Just make sure any place you do pick is ok with snakes. You don't want to have to worry about eviction-type drama while you're in school.

Another option I would seriously consider is going to a school near where your parents live and live at home until you finish school. College is crazy expensive as it is, there's no real reason to increase your debt just for the shake of having a "college experience." Particularly since if you can't get a job within so many months after graduation that debt really becomes a burden fast. You can defer if you can't get a job right away, but with a lot of loans that just piles up more fees & interest to pay later. The less you need to take out the less stress you'll have after graduating.

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Originally Posted by SpartaDog

Alright, so I have three reptiles at the moment, two snakes and a leo. Mom says no more until after college because my parents will have to take care of them during college. I understand that but...I can't see myself waiting six years to get another one. So, my question is, is there any way you can think of to convince mom otherwise? Or is it possible to sustain yourself and a snake during college? If it is I'm willing to either get one during college or bring one of them to college with me.

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THANKFULLY I just recently had this experience. I actually got my first snake while in college, living in the dorms (not allowed haha). It was very easy to keep them in college (and I still am in college, just not a university anymore). Since they only cost roughly $4 or less a week to feed they made the perfect pets. My corn only costs a dollar a week. I bought my mice and rats from the breeder I got my corn, ball, and boa from so it was cheaper. Since you already have the equipment needed to care for them you should be fine. If you can't keep them in the dorms check to see if your roommate is cool with you stowing your little friend away. Either way, you'll be able to move to an apartment at some point and bring all your critters with you. I know my friends that still attend the university all have dogs, cats, sugar gliders, snakes, you name it. Reptiles (snakes especially) are easy to maintain while in school, which is why I ended up with my current small collection. :gj:

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Originally Posted by tiny_tiger60978

I go to TTU and now have 2 snakes with me. My family's the same...they don't really like snakes well enough to take care of them for me. I do agree with what was said earlier : you can't really get a snake in the dorms without someone finding it. If your dorm would allow snakes, I'd say go for it! But as far as I know, most don't...so just wait until you move out (it's cheaper anyway) of the dorms and then you can bring your lovely reptiles home with you!!!

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I had all four of my snakes in my dorms for a year and half and no one knew...
I had them in a rack under my bed (was raised). They had a light that I turned on in the mornings and off at night. I had some movable plastic shelves that were in front of the rack that I'd move if I needed to get to them. I was very good friends with the RD, ARD, and RAs and none knew that they were there. Even when my dorm had tons of people in it no one knew until I moved out and showed them. Not to mention that rooms were searched several times a semester. No one found them. ALSO, talk to your RA when you move up there. A lot of them have the "if I don't hear it or smell it and it doesn't get out, then you don't have it" attitude. At least at CSU it was like that. I had friends who had rats, mice, tarantulas, ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas, and hamsters in the dorms. At a no pet school... Now that I switched schools I can spoil my snakes (i got rid of the rack and bought them big cages). But it's up to you if you're willing to risk it. My parents were willing to care for them if I had gotten caught. I knew that if I was found that I would have serious consequences, but the "fish only" rule was killer. I couldn't relax with a gold fish after a stressful day ;)