Why do some people return their ball pythons?

[Bogertophis]

Owning a home isn't possible for me just yet (I'll still be in school for approximately 5 more years because I'm going for a graduate degree), but apartments that aren't pet-friendly are definitely out of the question for me. Even if I don't get a ball python, I already have a fish tank that I love, plus I don't see myself going too long without finding a cat... I've always lived with some type of animal and it would feel incredibly weird not to.

It's heart-breaking to have a pet you have to give up because you're renting/leasing. More & more rentals are saying "no" to pets not because they hate animals but because of inconsiderate previous owners causing damage. The more responsible you appear & sound, the better your chances. Pet snakes seem perfect since they don't make noise, chew, or dig up the carpet.

The problem for landlords with pet snakes is that they scare other tenants (or the landlord themselves), not that they cause literal damage. And they can escape & cause the building to be unrentable until found, so you can't blame landlords entirely- they have a point. Another problem with reptiles is the increased risk of fire that insurance companies object to- the lights & heat are not always set up safely, so the companies give the landlords no choice. Some even object to fish tanks, because they can leak & cause serious damage. And cats are great at spreading fleas in apartments, making the whole building need to be fumigated- been there, seen it, wasn't my cat but a neighbor's. And they fumigated without warning, & I was in class, so my pet hamster died as a result.

And college room-mates can be a different sort of nightmare- even IF pets are allowed, many ppl fear snakes, & sometimes they do get loose. You might have a good room-mate for a while, but then they're gone & you need to find another. Please try to think of all this before getting a pet- I KNOW how hard it is not to have a pet for a while, believe me- I'm the same way. But think twice while you'll have to be renting or sharing a place to live.