So sad..

[Skyrivers]

I found out last night that our neighbor has a Ball Python. I knew he had a snake but didn't know what kind, never saw it.
His enclosure is a 40 gallon tank with some substrate on the bottom a hide and a water bowl. No heat lamp, no nothing else.

He says he makes sure the house doesn't get below 68 and that she's been fine like that for 15 YRS !!! He says she's mostly
mean and is constantly striking. Only every now and then can he take her out if he waits til she's up and in a "good mood" he says.

Ya know, my son went over and above (by listening to all the GREAT information here and all the research he did) to make his little once comfortable and safe, and yet the neighbor has one that has absolutely NOTHING and has been living like that for 15 yrs.

I feel bad for her now.

Have you tried to hand them a care sheet that suggest proper setup for the BP? If you can afford to, I would gift a UTH and thermostat to the BP and offer with the care sheet along with another hide. Suggest that that might make her a little less grumpy and healthier.

Some people simply don't care or don't know.

I have to admit years ago before education is what it is today, I kept corn and kings in cages that only had a over the tank heat lamp and was unregulated. I made changes once I got educated. In all honesty they were healthy despite my foolishness.

I now make sure that they have all their needs met! I am older and wiser also.