Keeping snakes in storage?

[brylecc1989]

I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of this. I read about this guy who kept his collection in a temperature controlled storage unit. He'd go there once or twice a week to feed/change water and spot clean etc.. At first i thought it was crazy, but was thinking snakes are usually happier left alone anyway. What do you guys think? Is this irresponsible keeping?

[stephanbakir]

There is a well known retic keeper who keeps all of his animals in storage type units. They are well maintained and insulated, he checks on them every other day. (Each snake has a 15X8X8 ish unit) They all do fabulously and are in great condition.

[brylecc1989]

So he has an individual storage unit for each retic? That's sweet. What about like keeping multiple tanks in a single unit?

[NennaMeerkat]

Good god could you imagine if dude forgot to pay the rent for the storage units? They go in on auction day...open up the storage unit and *boom* face full of hungry rectic LOL

Honestly though I would want to keep my snakes where I can see them multiple times a day if I wanted. Would be to paranoid of theft or something happening to the snakes due to them being in a "public" space.

[stephanbakir]

He has them well maintained, and most high end storage areas have good security.

[Gungirl]

Why would you want to put your pet in a storage unit? I don't get the point in having them if thats how you are going to keep them...

[NennaMeerkat]

He has them well maintained, and most high end storage areas have good security.

Oh I am not saying he doesn't take care of them or anything! Just was making a joke...and stating my own paranoia.

[brylecc1989]

So you both agree that if done correctly snakes can be responsibly kept in a storage unit?

[stephanbakir]

I think they can be, but at the same time I'd personally prefer to keep them close by, for my own peace of mind. And so I know exactly what my animals come in contact with.

[brylecc1989]

Agreed. Thought it was an interesting concept

[Dehlida]

Some people do it, it's part of the reason I go to the auctions every month :)

[brylecc1989]

Is the units temperature controlled by the renter or by the storage facility?

[Lankyrob]

I woulsnt mind having a separately heated reptile area on my property but would definitely want them close enough that i could check on them daily and easily.

[infernalis]

My snakes are display animals, I could never keep them "not on display"

[NennaMeerkat]

My snakes are display animals, I could never keep them "not on display"

Totally this :)

[brylecc1989]

I understand and respect all your personal preferences. However I am curious as to your opinion on if this can be done responsibly as a keeper, with no detriment to the snakes. (barring robbery or some other catastrophe)

[stephanbakir]

The high end ones are made securely, and they are temperature controlled. Not sure about humidity because most of them are made to ward off humidity, and keeping a large space humid is hard. A large humid hide might work.

[NennaMeerkat]

I guess it wouldn't be a *bad* thing so to speak. I don't have enough experience with the controlled temperatures of those places to really say one way or the other. To me it is to risky cause you aren't there 100% of the time to make sure everything is working correctly. Since most people don't "store" animals in these places...if the electricity falters, pest people called in, ect. they aren't taken into consideration if something goes wrong. They are in the business to store boxes, furniture, and such. Who cares if the electricity goes out for 12 hours or so for that stuff.

[brylecc1989]

Good point!

[stephanbakir]

I guess it wouldn't be a *bad* thing so to speak. I don't have enough experience with the controlled temperatures of those places to really say one way or the other. To me it is to risky cause you aren't there 100% of the time to make sure everything is working correctly. Since most people don't "store" animals in these places...if the electricity falters, pest people called in, ect. they aren't taken into consideration if something goes wrong. They are in the business to store boxes, furniture, and such. Who cares if the electricity goes out for 12 hours or so for that stuff.
Allot of antiques, collectibles and preserves need to be kept at more or less controlled temps to preserve them in their current condition, if it starts to cook for freeze people will be angry and start freaking out. I'm sure the storage company has safeguards in place.

[kabigat]

At the moment I only have room for one snake in a 3 foot viv so the thought of a unit just full of snakes sounds appealing but I would be there all the time so I don't think my wife and kids would be very happy.
Or would they......?

[brylecc1989]

Exactly!! This opens up a whole new world of opportunity. A 5x10 unit is 64USD a month. I probably pay that in electric heating 4 tanks! If it was close to home and one had time to spend there as often as they liked or at least often enough to maintain the animals this seems like a somewhat appealing location for a collection!

[Gungirl]

I know that the storage units near me are kept at 60F no warmer and in the summer they are kept at 85f no cooler. They also spray for insects on a normal schedule and paint things near as see needed. They do not have any sunlight for day/night cycle and you can not plug things in. If you where to put snakes in to a storage unit how would you give them a day/night cycle or keep them warm/cool?

You also have no Idea what someone is putting into a unit next to it. What if someone puts something that lets off fumes? ( i know your not allowed to put things like these in units but it happens all the time)

I just wouldn't trust the health and well being of my animals.

[Jay]

Why would you want to put your pet in a storage unit? I don't get the point in having them if thats how you are going to keep them...
they are not pets....

[Gungirl]

they are not pets....

Then why have them at all?

If it is a business, they are still pets in my eyes just pets you make money off of....

[brylecc1989]

Pet-a domesticated animal kept for pleasure not utility

Snakes will never be "domesticated", therefore are not "pets". However i see your point in a less lieral sense. There are many reasons for keeping animals. Breeding. Attraction to something rare or beautiful. Attraction to danger. Interes in the species. The list goes on. I feel that if the animal's needs can be met, which is pretty basic for a snake, and the owner is still getting "pleasure not utility", theres no reason to rule out storage units.