Advise needed!

[Scott6446]

Hello everyone!

Let me start off by introducing myself, I am new to the herp society, I have only recently purchased my first crested gecko about 2 weeks ago and loving it. After doing extensive research I fell in love with the Ball Python. I will be moving to Churchill Manitoba in a few days, which is an isolated town in Northern Manitoba. For example: there is no road access to that town, only boat/train/plane. My conundrum is as follows:

I can get a python for about 100-150 everything included. I can get it shipped to Churchill from my house here in Winnipeg for approx. 75 bucks. Which to me, is a rather good deal (200 for a fully set up python). My parents are strongly against me getting another reptile... with emphasis on the "strong". I can order dead mice/rats and freeze them no problem, and I have no doubts I can securely house a ball python without any issues...

Please do not take offence from the following - - - Their main argument being that reptiles are stupid and useless and I should buy a cat if I want a small animal that would give me love. I do not want a cat, or dog, or fish for that matter. I love reptiles, and I would like them to understand that.

I would just like a few opinions on the subject, should I wait a year or more until I move back into the bigger city? or should I cave and buy another companion to bring up with me?


Thank you in advance


Scott!

[Skittles1101]

Do you live with your parents? If not, I say do whatever you WANT. If reptiles are your thing, then go for it, and who cares what anyone (including your parents) say about it. Now, when you say complete setup, is that one of those "kits" they sell? If so, pretty much everything it comes with is junk, I'd research supplies such as UTHs, thermostats, digital thermometers, hides, substrate, etc, and buy it all separately.

You know how many times I've been told I should get a dog instead? I have 5 snakes and 2 hermit crabs...and guess what. I live alone...and do whatever I want....and tell people to mind their own business. Good luck!

[Scott6446]

Nope, I have been looking at the classifieds on my local Kijij... Python comes with 2 UTH's lamp, cage, hides, 2 yrs old and eating frozen rats regularly. He claims to have worked with snakes for a long time and seems to be respectable. I woud only need to invest in a rubbermaid, indoo/outdoor thermo/hygro, and thermostat. and also only use ONE of the UTH's in the bin.

Thanks for your post!

I appreciate your support

[Skittles1101]

And the lamps are useless, tell him to keep them lol. Good luck

[ogdentrece]

As LGray has said, I wouldn't touch the lamps until nothing else works. Its rubbish and dries everything out. Try it with just the UTH and thermostat first and see how it goes.

As for the question on what to have for a pet, Id say its totally up to you. People who aren't interested in (or even scared of) keeping snakes would NEVER understand this hobby. They ask what you can do with it. You don't display it like a fishtank or love and interact with it like cats and dogs. That's their argument anyway. I find that pretty lame. The only reason you should stop or withhold just for a while is if your bringing a snake home is going to make anyone at home never wish to set foot in the house again. Oh and please note, its not only about the snake, if anyone around has some phobia of rodents (dead or alive) as well, you really have to find a way to keep it way out of their space and lives. Just be considerate I guess.

[Jay_Bunny]

I have a question for you though. What happens if your snake gets sick or injured? In such an isolated place, would there be a veterinarian that could properly diagnose and treat a reptile? If not, I would not consider a reptile. Getting one, housing one, and feeding one are easy. Its if they get sick that you have to worry about. I live less than 10 minutes from a herp vet, and there are at least 2-3 more within a 30 minute drive. I have so far only had to take 1 snake to a vet for illness (rescue) but they are there just in case. While you may take great care of your reptile, there is always the IF. Animals get sick.

Other than that, perhaps sit your parents down and have a talk with them about why you want a reptile and give them all the pros to having one (No litterbox to clean, no hairballs in the carpet, you don't have to take it for walks, it doesn't meow or bark, or drink out of the toilet, etc) Perhaps arrange to have a personal freezer for you to keep the feeders in so that your parents don't have to see them when they reach in the freezer.

[kitedemon]

Scott the debate about a fuzzy against a snake is one that I make a lot.

Snakes are the perfect modern pet. They don't need constant care the way a cat or dog do food every day litter every day attention and care everyday. Most people I know whom have a fuzzy pet always felt guilty as they do not have enough time to spend with it. They get home late and rush about to walk the dog feel badly that they were late or worse race home let the dog out then dash off somewhere. A snake doesn't mind if you don't spend time with it you are not depriving it of a pack structure. It doesn't need fresh food everyday or water changed everyday for that matter fresh every few days is fine.

Cats and dogs don't love the owner, they are pack animals and have a social structure and people just fit into that structure. Snakes might not relate to people as part of a social structure but they do make an equivalent shift. A new snake unused to people will see a human as a predator and something to be feared. They show typical reptilian fear responses at first. However at some point in many cases there is a change that you become something to to fear and something else, not food or a sex trigger just an animate landscape. In their own way that is as much perhaps more of a commitment than a social animal acceptance into a social structure is. One of my snakes completely ignores my actions in the enclosure and is more interested in what is on my desk than what I am doing. That last little bit of tail that anchors him from falling and contact with something that is familiar and 'safe' is a deep commitment to me, not a dog or cat but something very deep. It is you are not prey nor predator but a warm moving tree. He is like this with me and to a lesser extent my partner but no one else he treats everybody else as something that might want to eat him. It is so completely un natural for a snake that when it does happen it is quite a magical experience.

[Scott6446]

You have all made some very good points, my main concern however, is the town is a very small community. The chances of there being a qualified herp vet are probably low... unfortunately. As disappointed as I may be, will it be in the reptiles best interest to avoid buying a snake for ths reason? As previously mentioned, shipping things are not an issue (medicine and or other things), but having local vet access will most likely not be available.

[Johan]

You have all made some very good points, my main concern however, is the town is a very small community. The chances of there being a qualified herp vet are probably low... unfortunately. As disappointed as I may be, will it be in the reptiles best interest to avoid buying a snake for ths reason? As previously mentioned, shipping things are not an issue (medicine and or other things), but having local vet access will most likely not be available.

Personally, I would still get a ball. I believe the best medicine is prevention for the most part. I go hiking for week long trips without medical facilities around. I also travel t areas with garbage doctors. IMO there is risk in life and you just need to manage it as best you can. As you mentioned, you will probably move in a year or so anyhow.

As far as reptiles being dumb...well I agree. Ball pythons are pretty dumb snakes. However, this is one of the very reasons I love them so much. They are really cute guys and have a lot of funny behavior. Sure they cant solve puzzles, but they can sure make your day. I love my ball python more than any cats--I cant stand cats to be perfectly honest with you.

[kitedemon]

I have lived in an area (NS) where herp vets are rare (there was one whom moved away and there is one whom is studying now) The real question is there an open minded vet by you. Someone who you can take your research to (buy good medical guides...) and you can work together to solve problems. The vet I have gone to in the past had no experience so I'd arrive with a sick herp and a books and pages marked and we'd sit together look over the info and bat ideas around and they make a evaluation and proceed from there. He had experience enough to run the right tests and give shots and was secure enough to listen and admit I have more herp experience than he did. We worked as a team, if you have a good fair minded vet that might work as well in your case.