What makes a better pet for housemates?

[TimmyG]

Ball python

Emperor Scorpion

[icygirl]

Depends on your housemates. Both are equally as quiet and unobtrusive. Scorpions require getting crickets, and balls require frozen or live rodents...

So you should probably be asking, are my housemates uncomfortable/afraid of any of the following: snakes, scorpions, small feeder insects, dead/live rodents?

Or ya know, just screw em and get what you want

[Smith285]

my roommate loves my ball python. And I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're going to receive some very biased opinions on this

[Ophiuchus]

Ditto on what everyone else said, but another factor is that the scorpion takes up less space, and can be "hidden" easier than a BP.

[bsd13]

Like as a community pet that everyone helps?

I'd say one person has to be ultimately responsible every day for the animal and if they are lucky the other people might help here and there. In order for the animal to get the care it needs I think that's how you have to look at it.

[SecurityStacey]

I say ball python... but I might be biased here...

[WingedWolfPsion]

Ball python: An easy going snake with a generally docile personality--most can be easily handled.

Scorpion: An arachnid prone to pinching painfully to defend itself which may even decide to employ a very painful sting. Not handleable unless you're trying to impress someone (lol).

[TimmyG]

thanks, i expected the bias so i also posted this on a scorpion forum. the reason i ask is that my land lord is making a fuss about my new bp saying my housemates are complaining ect. but when i signed the lease my land lord knew i kept a scorpion, when she died i replaced her with the bp. Just thought id get a little support that the bp is not as bad as the scorpion, tho i think ill have to make some legal arguements aswell lol

[WingedWolfPsion]

Although more people have an irrational fear of snakes, the ball python is quite harmless. The scorpion could be potentially deadly to someone who has an allergy to fire ant venom, which is cross-reactive (which means suc a person could have an allergic reaction to scorpion venom even if they've never been stung by a scorpion before).

[dsirkle]

thanks, i expected the bias so i also posted this on a scorpion forum. the reason i ask is that my land lord is making a fuss about my new bp saying my housemates are complaining ect. but when i signed the lease my land lord knew i kept a scorpion, when she died i replaced her with the bp. Just thought id get a little support that the bp is not as bad as the scorpion, tho i think ill have to make some legal arguements aswell lol

If your roommates are smiling in your face and then running to the landlord to complain about the ball python but had been tolerant of your scorpion I would say that you have answered your own question for your particular situation.