Please help!!!!

My mom doesn't pay for much, I live at her house with my fiance. He is the one who pays for almost everything.

....though my dad is close to losing his job, my mom is very sick with Lupus and Sjogrens, and they don't make much money, so I don't know how much longer we'll be able to stay here anyway. We'll probably have to move into an apartment eventually if I don't get out of here first....

Not to be harsh, but if you are mature enough to have a fiance and these animals, you are mature enough to have a job.

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Originally Posted by zina10

I'm trying to sit on my hands and not reply, but here goes anyway...

You are young, but even at your age you know responsibility. You aren't doing the snake any good by giving in to hysterics about how much you love and connect to him and can't leave him be...

His temps are not good, as a matter of fact, you aren't even SURE what they are. The snake has a lot of stress, due to non-ideal husbandry, moving, handling, etc etc. This stress CAN kill if you don't manage to turn things around.

Since you love him, do whats best for HIM. Not yourself. Saying "why can't it be me, not him" makes no sense. How can you take care for others, when it would be you that would be down...

Your best bet for now would be to make him a SMALL quarantine enclosure, I used to do that for sick rescues. Get a rubbermaid container, put some air holes in, put it on a heating pad (human ones are fine) Make sure only half of the container sits on the heating pad and CHECK THE TEMPS several times before putting the snake in. You can get a digital thermometer with probe for that purpose. I placed the sick rescue on a soft and thick bath towel for substrate, since it was cushy and held the warmth nicely. Plus it gave the snake a sense of security, being able to kind of burrow a bit into it. The container was then covered by another towel.

Again, its important to make sure the temps are correct !!!! Put the probe on to the hot spot. The smaller container will make the snake feel safe and it will hold the temps much better and not have drafty cold areas, like a glass tank might. A

Get the heating pads with "settings" . They are only like $15 or so...they usually have a soft cover and won't melt the rubbermaid. Put it on the low setting or better yet, connect it to to a dimmer or rheostat.

You cannot afford to "guess" the temps or "assume" they should be in acceptable ranges.

Getting a quarantine setup does take some funds, but really not that much at all. Also make sure the lid closes securely. Check the temps throughout the day, make sure they stay stable. I know I keep stressing all that, but it is that important...

If you cannot provide what the little one needs, and you say you love him, then love him enough to let someone else save him.

Put your time and efforts into finishing high-school ( GED )so you can eventually take care of yourself and all your beloved animals without worry. I know you can do it :)

Good luck with the little one.

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:gj: Zina that was well said.

You have been having a lot of issues lately due to not being allowed to have a job. Your housing for the snakes just about a week ago and now this poor sick baby.. I know you love your snakes, but is it really fair to them that they suffer because of whatever reason prevents you from caring for them? You said How can you trust some one else to keep him healthy, but he is in danger of dying as it is now.. so what is the harm in giving him the best chance you can?


Did you get in contact with a vet?

He has an appointment at noon. Am rounding up money to see if we can make it, if not, he has to go to someone else. :(

Also, I would love to have a quarantine setup with a tub. He has to be in a tank. While I am stuck living here my mom will not allow the snakes to be in tubs. I am sorry I have to keep playing that card but no matter how many times I tell her to read these replies, she won't listen or read them. I am ridiculously limited in what I am allowed to do. I think they probably would be better off somewhere else unfortunately.
I wasn't saying "why not me". I was saying, "what if not me", because I try to keep them healthy and so far they are. This is my brother's snake, not mine. My snakes go to the vet when they need to and are healthy. I think I am trying to take on too much mentally and financially right now. I need to stop.
Despite not having money my snakes eat every week. They go to the vet. I'm just not allowed to put them in tubs. :rolleyes:
I think I might just stop posting here. I know everyone must think I'm a crappy owner. No matter what I do for my babies, it's not enough.
Kids are easier to pay for. It's sad but there are state funded programs for kids. Name one state program that will help me get insurance for my pets so they can see a doctor. There aren't any. :(
It's not fair. Animals are a commitment not just a pet. I'm trying so hard to treat them as such and it makes me feel horrible that in all of your eyes I'm coming across as a selfish owner, a young brat who doesn't want to give up what she can't afford.
I'll do what I can and not what I can't for once....
I don't want to trash my rep though. :(

going to pawn shop. back later. he has to make it. he didn't do anything. :( I'm not letting him go without trying my best. but if i have to he'll go.

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Originally Posted by shelliebear

Also, I would love to have a quarantine setup with a tub. He has to be in a tank. While I am stuck living here my mom will not allow the snakes to be in tubs. I am sorry I have to keep playing that card but no matter how many times I tell her to read these replies, she won't listen or read them. I am ridiculously limited in what I am allowed to do. I think they probably would be better off somewhere else unfortunately.
I wasn't saying "why not me". I was saying, "what if not me", because I try to keep them healthy and so far they are. This is my brother's snake, not mine. My snakes go to the vet when they need to and are healthy. I think I am trying to take on too much mentally and financially right now. I need to stop.
Despite not having money my snakes eat every week. They go to the vet. I'm just not allowed to put them in tubs. :rolleyes:
I think I might just stop posting here. I know everyone must think I'm a crappy owner. No matter what I do for my babies, it's not enough.
Kids are easier to pay for. It's sad but there are state funded programs for kids. Name one state program that will help me get insurance for my pets so they can see a doctor. There aren't any. :(
It's not fair. Animals are a commitment not just a pet. I'm trying so hard to treat them as such and it makes me feel horrible that in all of your eyes I'm coming across as a selfish owner, a young brat who doesn't want to give up what she can't afford.
I'll do what I can and not what I can't for once....
I don't want to trash my rep though. :(

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first of Kids arent any easier.. I have one.. trust me on that.. even with state funding ( which isnt as easy to get or keep as you might think) So maybe not the best example to use...

You dont seem like a horrible pet owner... you seem like some one who due to circumstances is overwhelmed. If you are not in control of the circumstances then it is hard to be completely in control of your life. I think that people on here are trying to voice their opinions and offer you options. No one wants to hear that their pets might be better off with some one else.. but at times it is something that at least needs to be voiced. People arent trying to be malicious or mean when they tell you those things.. they are thinking from a non emotionally connected point of view for what they see as the best interests of the snakes.

I hope you do get the money together to get him to the vet since he is a very sick guy. I also hope that you can see the posts on here weren't personal attacks but suggestions from people on the outside. Everyone on here has a deep love for snakes and wants what is best for them, that is all.

Good luck

Im sorry but:

First: you need to know the temps in your enclosure. You should have AT LEAST one thermometer PER TUB/TANK.

I have one in my boas tub, two in my leos tub, and 2 in my savannah monitors tank. (the only in the boas is a double thermometer, has a probe that can read hot side temp, and then you place it on the cool side to see the cool side temps)

That thermometer cost 7 dollars. PLEASE go buy, one, or two, or however many you need to have atleast one in each enclosure


Second: PLAN

I am not older than 18, and I already have plans in place should anything happen to my animals. I do NOT have a job, BUT the plan is that I am going to pay off my mother for all the feeders she buys me and any vet costs that are needed when I get my job

those are things you have to plan for BEFORE you get pets. If I knew my mother wouldnt buy me feeders or help me with vet bills, and then let me pay it off when I get a job, I would have never even gotten one pet

I dont mean to sound mean or rude but you gotta greatly improve your care for these animals or give them up.

Sorry

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Originally Posted by shelliebear

I think I might just stop posting here. I know everyone must think I'm a crappy owner. No matter what I do for my babies, it's not enough.

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Hon, all we can do is react to what you post here. And I don't think anyone thinks you're a "crappy owner"....I believe you are projecting your own thoughts and fears onto everyone else and assuming they feel the same. What ~I~ see is a very young person who has gotten in over her head and is afraid to consider the hardest choices. ALSO, what ~I~ see is a young woman who loves her animals dearly. That does NOT equate to a "crappy owner."

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Kids are easier to pay for. It's sad but there are state funded programs for kids. Name one state program that will help me get insurance for my pets so they can see a doctor. There aren't any. :(
It's not fair. Animals are a commitment not just a pet.

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I'm sorry, but I really take exception to this. Kids are easier to pay for? Are you freakin' kidding me? I've got three...JUST three...and I spend about $1000+ a month on groceries alone. That doesn't include clothes...school supplies...the myriad of other school expenses no one ever talks about...doctor visits...dentist visits...hair cuts...entertainment ('cause goodness knows kids today gotta be entertained!)....TOYS....furniture...linens............ Shall I go on?

Why on earth should the "state" (ie: ME and everyone like me who pays taxes) pay for your PETS??? Yes, they ARE a commitment....but they are a commitment that YOU CHOSE to take on. You didn't HAVE to get anything at all. I know you WANTED them....but that does not mean you HAVE to have them.

It's time to face some hard facts. YOU are a good person...I've no doubt about that. You've got a warm, sweet heart. But you've also got a tremendous amount of growing up to do....and growing up begins with making hard choices that HURT.