Should I step in?

The next door neighbor (whom I have never met) has had a glass tank on their covered patio for several months now. I live in Florida, so during the "winter" (:rolleyes:) the temperatures were just fine for an outdoor reptile. But things are warming up quickly. The mid-day sun is really getting strong now, and I am worried about the animal they have in the tank.

It's on a second floor, so I cannot see what's in the tank, but based on the few decorations I can see, and the weights on the screen top, I'm almost positive it's a reptile of sorts. It looks as if they're using a Chinese food take-out box as a hide for it.

It's a 10 gal glass tank.

Should I say something to them? Or leave it alone? Like I said, I don't know them so I don't want to seem a snotty girl waltzing up to the apartment, telling them my two cents uninvited.

Suggestions needed. :confused:

Just go over and ask if the tank is forsale. Tell them you saw it and are in need of one. Then they'll probably tell you whats in it. Then you can go off on them!!

Always a tough call, no one really wants someone else butting in but if there is something in that tank it may just fry. Perhaps if you see them out just start a conversation by asking what is in the tank and take it from there, tell them you have 'pets' too. The trick with that is you may not want to volunteer you have an apartment full of reptiles either! I'm very careful about who knows what I have and who doesn't, not everyone is comfy living next to snakes. Anyway, maybe just idle chit chat on a nice day may get the ball rolling. Get a feel for them and see where it all goes. I wouldn't be able to leave it totally alone but wouldn't be able to be too 'forward' about it either. hahaha, there, that was no help! :)

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Just go over and ask if the tank is forsale. Tell them you saw it and are in need of one. Then they'll probably tell you whats in it.

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Nice opener! :)

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Just go over and ask if the tank is forsale. Tell them you saw it and are in need of one. Then they'll probably tell you whats in it. Then you can go off on them!!

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good idea! or, just say you saw it and were wondering what they've got in it, cause you're a herp lover too. :) common ground always makes things a little easier! if you go about it like you're interested in a positive way instead of a negative, they probably won't be so put-off by you asking. just be like, "hey i've got a few reptiles myself and i was wondering what you've got" :) if they say its something that needs to be inside, just politely say somethin like, "oh man its getting a little hot here for him isnt it??", or "yeah it's about that time of year so i just moved all of mine inside cause its too hot now" (even though they weren't outside, but it would keep them from thinking you're telling them they're doing something wrong). I work in a pet store and i'm always having to tell people what they're doing wrong, so i've kinda got some practice at it lol. hope this helps!

Well, the problem is, I don't know which neighbors live in that apartment. I've never seen anyone come in or out. Plus, the design of my apartment complex is confusing so even people who live here have trouble remembering which door is theirs, unless they look for the number. That means that the chances of me finding the door to that apartment are small. I'd spend a whole afternoon knocking on doors going, "Do you guys have a glass tank on your patio?"

I mean, if it gets much hotter I'm going to have to do just that. I may ask some neighbor friends to see if they know who's place it is.

I had considered just typing something up and taping it to their door. Like, "Hey, y'know, I live next door, saw your tank. Just wanted to warn you that it's heating up and the mid-day sun will magnify as it goes through that glass. So, y'know, bring reptiles in-doors. *point click motion* :gj:"

But I don't know if that's rude. ... I just wish I could go over and be like, "hey buddy. You're killing your animal. Bring it inside or I'm taking it." :cool:

hmm.. thats tough. with the note approach, you could save face and they would never know who it was. :)

ps-- i dont think it would be rude at all, as long as you don't use rude words, tone, etc. there's nothing wrong with being concerned about an animal. if you leave a polite note and they take it as you being rude, then that just says something about THEM, not you. if we didn't have people that were concerned about animals other than their own, then we wouldn't have shelters/pounds and tv shows like animal cops, etc. no worries :)

Do you think I would accomplish more in person or through a note?

In person, they might take more notice of the situation, whereas with a note they could just throw it away.

On the other hand, if I go in person, they may feel like I'm getting into their business or whatnot, and just brush it off. Whereas, with a note, I could get my point across politely and they may be happier that way.


I don't know. :(

hmm, i see what you mean. personally, i think i would talk to them face to face. just stress the point that you're honestly concerned about the animal's well-being and not just their poor husbandry. perhaps you could just start a conversation about what they have, and then go back the next day and say "i went to the pet store yesterday and the topic of [insert their reptile here] came up and i asked them about being outside, and they said it was too hot outside for them. So i just thought you might want to know". that way it's the pet store saying the information and not you personally.

One more thing I just thought of:

Since they're obviously at least a little ignorant, they probably don't have the best set-up either. Should I go into any of that with them or no? I mean, once we're on the topic I should probably at least mention it, right?

Are you sure there's an animal in there? Maybe there used to be, and when it died (or graduated to a larger home or whatever) they just put the old tank out on the patio to get it out of the way?

you know, i had to do that exact thing last night. my neighbors asked me to buy a bp for them at the show this weekend. so i went over there last night to get my bedding back and i said, "oh let me see the little guy! i wanna see how he's doing". they didn't have a heating pad or a hide, so i told them that those were pretty much the two most important things that he needed and he HAD to have them. i went home and got an extra pad and hide and gave it to them. point is, i've had to do the same thing. I just acted really excited to see their set-up and see the new snake just for fun, but i really was concerned about how they were treating it. (not that they meant any of it, they just didn't know). but, they actually seemed really appreciative that i helped instead of thinking i was just trying to tell them that what to do. your neighbors might not take it as badly as you anticipate. :)

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Originally Posted by JLC

Are you sure there's an animal in there? Maybe there used to be, and when it died (or graduated to a larger home or whatever) they just put the old tank out on the patio to get it out of the way?

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ps -- good point, lol.

The two reasons I believe there is an animal in there are: a- They have it set up on a table in the middle of the patio, as if for display or they WANT it to get some sun. and b- they still have weights on the top. If there's nothing in there, why bother balancing four weights on top of this tank, on top of a table that could be used for eating, drinking, whatever?

do you ever see the people on the porch? you should holler up to them and ask sometime. hehe

Not that simple. :rolleyes: No one is ever out there when I am.

Tomorrow I'm going to go over to the main office for our complex and ask them if they can tell me what the apartment number is. I'll knock on the door and just offer "some friendly advice in passing" if they're home. If not, I'll leave a note on the door.

If nothing gets done after a while, there's always animal care and control. I'd hate for it to go to that, though.

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

there's always animal care and control. I'd hate for it to go to that, though.

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That might be a big mistake that could come back on you if you get a ignorant animal control person.I would try the note thing if you dont see anyone ;)

sounds good. just be cheery :). let us know how it goes!! they might end up being glad you said something. :gj:

The suggestions you've already received have been great. I just wanted to add; good luck! :)

If you decide to step in, just make sure that you don't step in it.

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

If you decide to step in, just make sure that you don't step in it.

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That was horrible. :rolleyes: -lol- Good advice, though.

I knocked on the door today but no one answered. I guess I'll be typing up a letter tonight. :(

Just wanted to post an update on this situation. No one at the apartment has responded to anything that I've done. The only thing that has changed is that on really REALLY hot days I see a towel draped over the tank, presumably to keep the sun out.

I've now seen what is in the tank. It is a small snake of sorts, and I'd guess it to be either a corn snake or ball python. I noticed it out and about one night while I was walking in from the parking lot. I could only see its upper half pop up every once in a while so I'm not exactly sure what it is. I'm hoping it's not a ball python as I can only imagine how stressed out the poor thing must be. I feel that a corn snake could tolerate the mistreatment a little better. :(

Should I just forget about it? My best friend wants to attempt a 3am scaling of the building and kidnapping of the animal. I told her not to get too hasty ... :P

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Originally Posted by Mindibun

Should I just forget about it? My best friend wants to attempt a 3am scaling of the building and kidnapping of the animal. I told her not to get too hasty ... :P

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Scale the building!! :ninja: leave them a ransom note too :P