Keeping BPs in an apartment

[Guiding Golden]

We currently own our own home but will be moving into an apartment within the next several months. I only have a single mojave now, but will at least be getting one other snake...we all know it will eventually be more than just two.

So, my question to those of you who live in apartments and keep BPs and other herps is, how does it work for you? Have you found landlords to be resistant to it? Have you simply not broached the subject with them, as they are small, easily contained animals, unlike dogs, cats and other pets that may be disruptive or destructive? What other issues are there to be taken into consideration when keeping BPs and other small herps in an apartment?

I'm just curious about what I'll be up against, when we get closer to the time we'll be moving.

[Edit for typos]

[The Serpent Merchant]

I currently live in a apartment and so far it has worked out really well. I wouldn't advise trying to hide them from your landlord, chances are they won't mind if you can assure then that they re harmless and won't escape. Mine seemed freaked out at first but didn't have any issues with them.

[Mft62485]

I had 5 snakes in my old apartment, but I just never told the landlord.

[mshadows]

.....Since it's contained I didn't have to pay a pet deposit like i would have for a dog or cat...

[cecilbturtle]

Maybe this is totally wrong but as long as the state and local laws allow them and there is nothing in the lease that says you can't have them or have to disclose to your landlord that you have them then I just wouldn't tell them. My lease actually states "No pets of any kind without prior approval." So I asked if I could have an aquarium or caged animals. Then I was specifically asked if I meant snakes. I was honest and had to give up most of my collection. I have two snakes now. When I took my current job I had to move fast on a place to live. Cape Cod apartments get rented out rather quickly during the summer. The place I live in is less than half a mile from work and is at a great price for the area so I had to do what I had to do.

[Argentra]

I've lived in apartments most of my life, in three different states. Here's what I learned:

1- Be Honest. There are a lot of managers and owners out there who automatically think 'snakes' means 10 20 foot monsters that will break out of their cages and end up in the plumbing or walls... Seriously. As a snake owner, it's your job to let them know the facts in a polite and gentle way. Myself, I explain that my snakes are smaller, totally harmless (so many people also think all snakes are 'poisonous'), and live in cages built by me with locking doors. Most of them accept it (some reluctantly) and just give a warning that if they 'ever see loose snakes in the complex they're coming to me first', or some such thing. Being honest, and possibly having to look at more than one complex, is MUCH better than maintenance showing up while you're out for some inspection or work and finding animals you never disclosed. And it does happen.

2- Make sure you have good, secure housing for any reptiles. Just hearing, and seeing, that the cages you have are totally secure does wonders for your chances with management.

3- Keep the numbers down. Apartments are not the best place to have tons of animals, even in racks. In Denver, I started out with 2 snakes... and ended up with 16 shortly before the economy forced us to sell half and move. 16 may not sound like much...but the office ladies were keeping the number from the manager for me and the two maintenance guys that would dare to enter also kept it quiet or we would have been in trouble. Better to keep from getting into that situation and either find a friend to house extras or pare the collection down.

4- Stackable cages or racks are a must! With the limited space in apartments, you want to go up up up with caging.

5- Be prepared to look elsewhere or really cut down on the collection. As cecilbturtle just said, sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Usually you won't have to pay a deposit, as reptiles are not 'free roaming' and can't do damage to the place, but you never know. Make sure you get any agreements in writing and keep all copies of lease and other agreements with you just in case. As happened to me, you never know when the management will change to someone who hates reptiles.

[Sand]

When I moved into the apartment complex I currently live in, I asked about pets and was informed if I wanted pets I would have to pay a deposit unless it was caged 90% of the time and not a bird. That was when I mentioned I had 4 snakes(at the time) each in a secured enclosure, and once i set them up I allowed the maintenance man as well as her come in and inspect.. Now 3 yrs later I currently have 20 snakes in 2 home made rack systems and each time the maintenance man comes in to do routine maintenance he asks how the collection is and if I have any prospects for more and if I do, just let him know.

Had I opted not to tell them, I would most likely not have been able to keep them, or the apt.. Now I admit when I mentioned snakes both the manager and maintenance man were against the idea, when I started explaining my setups the manager accepted the idea.. Now I don't have any issues.. provided my collection doesn't blow up too much.. And as mentioned before racks are a must.

[PorcelainxDoll]

I currently have 3 in my apartment and 2 cats. My property manager doesnt care about my cats. Its in my lease you have to pay 100 deposit for any animal. She never made me pay so i just keep the snakes hidden. If maintenance comes in they get hidden for how ever long there there lol.

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[BP Newbie]

I live in very nice apartments and it's a 1k deposit to have a cat or dog, but I didn't have to pay that since snakes live in containers. I didn't bother telling my landlords since I'm pretty sure people don't tell them when they get a fish tank.