Hiding my ball python in a dorm?

[hylian]

It's good that you're thinking ahead, but it's definitely not an easy thing to do. I did it with 6 of my ball pythons. One was in a 15-gal tank, the others were in tubs. You really can't do it without the full consent of your roommate(s). I asked my roommates before I even bought my first snake 6 months before we moved in if they would be okay with it. And even then, after a year of living with my snakes, there were several times in which they threatened to have them removed while I was away. At that point, I moved out of my room and lived 20 minutes away at my friend's mom's house to protect my snakes. Not trying to scare you, but want you to really think about the fact that it's not an easy thing to do. On that note, they also got me through the toughest year of my life (I only had them during my senior year). There's nothing like taking a break from the hell of studying and just having a moment holding your snake. Best stress relief ever.

However, if your future school is like most schools in the country, you will not have a car for your first year (some places, like where I went, you wont be able to have a car until your junior year). How will you get to the nearest pet store easily when you run out of mice/rats? What if the snake ever got out? My school had cleaning ladies come into the rooms weekly along with monthly health and safety inspections - all times when I had to make sure everyone was hidden. There were times when things in the room broke and repair guys had to come in to fix them when I wasn't there - queue the frantic calls to the roommates to make sure my kiddos where out of sight or sprinting to the room between classes to do it myself.

In addition, it was absolutely critical to me that no one outside my roommates and one or two trusted friends knew my snakes existed. These animals' lives are in your hands, so it's up to you to make sure they wouldn't be caught and confiscated or whatever might happen (I don't have a clue - hopefully they'd just tell you to get them out and you'd take them right back home and pay your parents lol)

Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be a huge intimidating chunk of text, just want to get the gears going in your head. Very good thing you're starting to think about it now, but the fact that you are trying to "hide" something forbidden is an indicator that you know it's wrong And fish shouldn't be a problem. Most schools allow freshwater tanks 10 gal and under.

Thank you for being one of the few people who didnt freak out on me (:

[kat_black181]

I would think if there's any way possible to live off-campus, then do that. Maybe you could split rent with a roommate who is cool with reptiles, or has some of his own. In the long run, you will be less stressed of something happening to your pets. I know I would be crushed if something happened to mine.

[zach_24_90]

Haha I hid mine for 2 years. I screwed wood onto the sides of my racks and put a door with a lock on the front. Simple as that. Nobody knew the difference just thought it was a cabinet

[MrLang]

Please do not.

[kat_black181]

Haha I hid mine for 2 years. I screwed wood onto the sides of my racks and put a door with a lock on the front. Simple as that. Nobody knew the difference just thought it was a cabinet

That's pretty ingenious! Lol

[Mephibosheth1]

Do we (speaking of members of the community) really want to encourage behavior that involves breaking rules/activity that is against regulations??

[zach_24_90]

That's pretty ingenious! Lol

Haha yeah thanks it worked great.

Do we (speaking of members of the community) really want to encourage behavior that involves breaking rules/activity that is against regulations??

Man come on get over yourself already your "i can do no wrong" attitude is getting really old. We don't need you policing the forums we have already established that. Your not an admin, your not a mod. I never said "do this" I simply said what I did.

[Mephibosheth1]

Opinions can be voiced
i don't want someone's actions at one school to affect my ability to own snakes.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Thank you for being one of the few people who didnt freak out on me (:

No one is freaking out on you people are pointing out the reality of what you are planning on doing, and instead encouraging you to be a RESPONSIBLE owner.

The actions of one person when it come to reptile ownership, rules and laws reflects not only on you but also an entire community.....read the news lately?

Do YOU want to be the next headline "Local authorities called to ? University, so many Ball Pythons ceased from dorm room"

[kat_black181]

Do we (speaking of members of the community) really want to encourage behavior that involves breaking rules/activity that is against regulations??

The guy is probably gonna do what he's gonna do anyway. Maybe it's not right to encourage it. I'll give you that. But, if he's going to do it anyway, I'd rather not put an effort into flaming him.