Advice needed. Moving into an apartment.

I've had a male normal ball for about five years now. I've been away at college for the past four years. My parents have been taking care of my bp. I would have brought him to college if I could, but I lived in the university's housing for the whole time (they didn't allow snakes). Anyways, I have graduated, recently acquired a job, and am moving about 5 hours away from home. I have been apartment hunting and I really want to take my snake with me. However, my parents are dead set against it. But then he just ends up here at home again... My parents keep saying, "They won't allow him and you can't hide him. What if he gets out?" (He has never escaped in the past 5 years that I've had him). -.-

Anyways, I need advice. Does anyone live in an apartment that allows snakes? Or does anyone live in an apartment that does not allow snakes but still keeps them? What should I do?

5 years ago my bp was an impulse buy, but he is very important to me and I know he is my responsibility (In my opinion pets are not dispensable).

Help! :O

I live in an apartment. Never seen one that has any rules against it. Some have rules against large fish tanks. Just cause of water damage but never seen one against reptiles. Ask to see pet policies but dont directly ask about snakes. If its not in the existing policy they cant just make up something to suit personal needs..

You mean he hasn't escaped the whole time he was in your parents care ;)
First work on finding an apartment that will allow reptiles. Don't try to hide him unless you want a chance at being evicted as soon as they find it. Now you will be homeless and he will have to go back to your parents again.
You could also try to find a small house to rent.
The more you try to hide the bigger the risk.

If I were you, I'd try to find an apartment that allows reptiles. If you can't find one that does, I'd sneak him in. We're talking one small, harmless snake, not a collection. It will affect NO ONE else. However, you'd have to be willing to take your lumps if you're caught...

I'm a college student and I live in my own apartment which allows all pets, and seeing as how reptiles don't destroy flooring the manager has no issue with it. I have a zilla 40 gallon breeder critter cage with the sliding screen top and a lock latch. I just got a small mini lock and it works like a charm.

Most apartments do not care and would rather you have a snake than a person who lets their dog tear up the place.

However, I would really find a place that explicitly states there's no issue against snakes or else you could have unwanted problems. I would look for a place that's not a high rise and is smaller, these places are usually more lenient and managers are willing to work with you. My apartment manager loves my snake.

I forgot to mention if you do ask about the policy mention you were thinking about getting a "small" reptile and gauge their reaction and see what the actual policy is.

Most places have issues with cats and dogs but none with 'caged' pets. My sister just got an apartment and is taking a chinchilla, 5 snakes, and an aquarium (20 gallons) but doesn't have to pay a deposit for pets. Just check the policy when you move in. Some places have pet deposits or pet rent, but never try to hide an animal. You don't want an eviction following you around.

I live in a basement apartment and made sure to ask permission before acquiring any pets. She doesn't mind any number of reptiles, but I'm not allowed to have furred pets. Every place is different.

I might be totally off here but you have left your snake with your parents while you where away at school,
four years of careing, feeding, cleaning and time.
Now you want to take him five hours away?
If I 'm right sounds like your parents are attached and want to keep him,
if that's the case, let them, they must be doing a good job after four years.
Take the opportunity and buy a new baby after you get set up with a place to live.
Win, win.
Then again I could be totally off base.

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Originally Posted by brock lesser

I might be totally off here but you have left your snake with your parents while you where away at school,
four years of careing, feeding, cleaning and time.
Now you want to take him five hours away?
If I 'm right sounds like your parents are attached and want to keep him,
if that's the case, let them, they must be doing a good job after four years.
Take the opportunity and buy a new baby after you get set up with a place to live.
Win, win.
Then again I could be totally off base.

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This is also the impression I got.

Find an apartment complex that permits pets - especially cats since they tend to be very destructive - and then go find a scale-baby on CL that desperately needs an upgrade.

My parents took care of my pets while I was away at college, but it doesn't mean they didn't want me to take them as soon as I was able to do so.

I called around to some apartments once asking about snakes... the responses were fairly uniform... People said "eww, snakes, why would you want one?" Then said a small one would probably be ok, and asked what kind. When I said ball python, 100% of the time people said "A PYTHON?!? No, we would never allow that!" I suspect they had no idea what a ball python was, and assumed something giant.

So... try at all costs to avoid using that python word. I'd ask about "smell reptiles" or even just "small caged pets". For the most part, pet policies have to do with cats & dogs that run loose & can cause damage to the property, and fish tanks that can cause damage if they leak.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brock lesser

I might be totally off here but you have left your snake with your parents while you where away at school,
four years of careing, feeding, cleaning and time.
Now you want to take him five hours away?
If I 'm right sounds like your parents are attached and want to keep him,
if that's the case, let them, they must be doing a good job after four years.
Take the opportunity and buy a new baby after you get set up with a place to live.
Win, win.
Then again I could be totally off base.

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Then again that's not really fair to the OP, who also seems to really want their pet after not being able to for the past 4 years. It's not like they bought the snake and then dumped it on their parents while they went off and partied. They did the responsible thing while getting their education and left their pet well-cared for at home (I've heard so many stories of people either getting caught and in serious trouble by their school for having snuck their pet in). If his parents have found a love for snakes after caring for OP's Beeper, then they can go out and get one of their own too. ASSuming OP was the one who bought the setup and paid for the care and keeping of the snake, why should they then have to go out and spend all that money all over again just because their parents decided that now THEY want a snake too? I know I would be pretty upset if I agreed that my parents would care for my snake while I was at school, then when I came to get her they said "You know what? We've gotten attached to your pet so now WE want it."

From the small summary, I got the impression that OP is going through all the right hoops: not trying to sneak a pet into school with them, making sure it was well cared for in his or her absence and now that they have graduated and are looking for a place of their own they are looking for a place that they can legally keep their pet with them.



OP, I would find an apartment that will specifically agree to let your snake live with you (bring credible information on Ball Pythons with you, showing they will not grow into man-eating giants which seems to be the main concern about them), then go to your parents and explain nicely to them that your landlord has agreed to let you have a snake in your apartment and that their reasoning of "they'll never agree to let you have a snake" or "you'll just have to hide him" are not a concern. Also bring up that if they have come to want a snake of their own, you would be more than willing to advise them in purchasing a set up and a Beeper of their own. :)

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Originally Posted by brock lesser

If I 'm right sounds like your parents are attached and want to keep him,
if that's the case, let them, they must be doing a good job after four years.

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I am very thankful that they have continued to care for him while I was away. The only reason they did it is because they knew how much he meant to me. They are not attached to him. My mom thinks he looks like a "turd" and always makes comments about him having a sad life because he lives in a cage (tank). I'm not sure what my dad thinks. I doubt he is attached though.

Does anyone else get that comment? That your reptiles have a "sad" life because they live their life in a tank? My bf thinks that as well. :colbert:

When I continue my apartment shopping I will surely ask about their policy on reptiles.
Question: Should I specifically use the term "snake"? I'm worried that will scare them right off the bat.

I really do appreciate everyone's advice. My parents think I have wishful thinking. I am just frustrated that I may not be able to take my snake with me because he is seen as a viscous reptile that would kill a human (despite the fact that he has never struck a human since I've had him nor weighs even 5 lbs). -.-

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Originally Posted by kc261

My parents took care of my pets while I was away at college, but it doesn't mean they didn't want me to take them as soon as I was able to do so.

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I'm not sure my parents even want me to take him. They just want me to find him another home. I can't do that. :tears:

Some people don't do well with caged pets - my husband is one, but he knows it's a psychology quirk in him, not a real problem for the animals.

My advise would just be find somewhere they are legal. Ask to see their pet policy. Inquire about caged pets, and/or reptiles. If they push for information or you can't evade, don't lie. You'll find somewhere. This isn't like trying to rent with a large dog. I would advise, however, to go with a leasing agency/rental COMPANY rather than an individual. Policies covering lots of properties or units are going to likely to be WAY less biased than talking to some individual and your ability to rent with a snake depending, basically, on how they feel about snakes.

(I will be keeping my kid's snake when he leaves for college in a couple of years. Not going to lie - I am going to be really sad when the snake goes. I *am* attached. Reminding myself that I can get a new one then might get me through it. Maybe.)

I live in an apartment, and have two snakes. A Boa and a Python. They are only around 4ft long. Guess it depends on who your landlord is. My landlord had no problem. In fact, his daughter has snakes too. I tell him I keep locks on the lids, and etc. They wont be outside like a dog, crapping all over the yard to be stepped in later. Or a cat that meows all night long. They don't stink like some animals. Guess, it would depend on who your landlord is. There are no rules against having snakes cause apparently there aren't enough people trying to move into an apartment with snakes. All you can do is ask, and explain how it will be caged, and etc and see what happens...

Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I'm not sure my parents even want me to take him. They just want me to find him another home. I can't do that. :tears:

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Well then since they don't want to keep him that's a new ball game ( pun intended ) I would definitely be taking him.
So I would ask about caged pet policy's and if they press tell them you where thinking about a purchase and see how it goes.
Around here as long as the pet is caged it's usually not an issue.

The apartments in my town are backward IMO, they allow a cat or a dog under 20 pounds but no caged pets whatsoever. I could see them being hesitant about escapees, but really... a dog could be urinating and pooping all over the carpet, chewing the walls, barking and disturbing the neighbors, getting hair everywhere, leaving poop out in the grass. In comparison to that, what harm would say a toad in a ten gallon do? :rolleyes:

Good luck with your search!

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.
If it weren't for ya'll I may have not even bothered asking the apartment complexes about whether they allow "caged reptiles" ;p
My parents kept telling me that I'd never find a place that would allow my snake. I was beginning to believe that notion myself. I was thinking "why even ask?" I was essentially fearing rejection and the confirmation that my parents may have been right all along.

Anyways...I have recently gone apartment shopping. At every apartment I asked," What is your policy about caged reptiles?"
Almost all of the responses went along the lines of, "No, we don't have a policy. We allow any small animal/reptile (bunny, lizard, etc.) and there isn't a deposit to keep them."

I was thrilled and still am!!

I can bring my sweet snake along with me when I move! Life is good :D

I'm so happy for you! It's a great feeling! You'd think more people wouldn't mind caged animals seeing as how they don't really destroy the apartment

Glad to hear the outlook is good. My policy was always to just ask about caged pets and aquariums, and not be too specific about size or contents. Though I think the last one might have regretted it a bit when he realized I had tanks going in size from 20 to 110gal , plus a few reptile cages. That was back when I had more fish than reptiles. Now I have a house, so the only person I have to clear anything with is the wife.

Grats man. And good on you for doing it the right way.