Ball Python Safety Letter for Landlord

Hello everyone,

We've had our beautiful ball python for 13 years now, and she's currently 4.5 feet. Very docile, not aggressive at all, well fed, and she's housed in a custom, very wonderful, secure terrarium, and we just moved into an apartment where the landlord is asking for some sort to "letter" from a vet, or other authority, stating that our ball python is not dangerous, nor poses a threat to anyone else in the building...or something like that.

We've lived in plenty of apartments over the past 10 years, and have never been asked for something like this.

We have no idea where to get that's type of letter, so we searched Google and ended up here. So, we're reaching out hoping that someone can offer some advice.

We live in Long Beach, CA.

Thanks.
Randall

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.

I reptile vet could most likely get you a letter, or maybe some type of pet store. The sad thing there is alot of people who do not know about ball pythons and seem to think they are some killer snake that gets to be huge. I would try to talk to a vet or a local pet store that deals with reptiles and is family owned.

If you need it right away, try a reptile vet or local pet store/breeder.

Do they think it's venomous or something?

A vet is probably your best bet. JLC is very kind to offer you a letter! Talk to your landlord ask them if that would do. A letter from a vet will probably cost you some money, but at least than you could keep it for your own records in the event that this problem arises again in the future.

We have lots of reptiles in our 1 bedroom apartment and have never had a problem with the landlord. Mind you we haven't told them :\ LOL but I checked the lease and there's nothing about exotic pets, or pets in general. Good luck and I hope things work out for you!

Cheers/

Just sounds like paperwork they can use in case of an escape (as experienced keepers I wouldn't expect it from ya at all, but maybe they're trying to think of worst case?) so that they can calm down anyone who attempts to panic. Maybe get the letter from JLC, and the brochure to be signed/ok'd by an exotics specific veterinarian so that there's someone local for them to reference

Good luck! Glad to see that they're letting you move in with the snake, even if the requirements are a bit odd

Go to your local vet that see's reptiles pay for a check up and ask if there is anyway he could write you a letter. You could also try your states department of fish and wildlife, they are the ones that decide what animals are dangerous and which aren't

I'm pretty close to you. The only exotic vet I know of is Dr. Greek...but I'm sure there are others somewhere nearby. Maybe you could email or call him and ask if he'd be able to write something up for you?

You got a lot of good advice above so I'm just going to rant instead....
Thanks to ignorant media hype and THE PETA Planet network, the average uneducated person hears "python" and thinks of a 20 foot killer snake that regularly feed on large game like deer or alligator, and when given the chance small children.
Thanks to this your timid little friend is viewed as a dangerous animal.

Positive side of this - they didn't say no, and are willing to work with you, and that its just a letter not dangerous animal insurance.

No that I finished my rant I thought of something constructive to say, you might also go to a chain petstore and get one of those fliers about ball pythons, they give a species description and talk about their temperment. Also helps being a published document compared to a hand written letter.

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.

Quote:

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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

Quote:

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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.