Going to college... What do I do with my Ball Python? - Page 2

franks · 06-21-13, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

I had no idea there were so many righteous human beings in these forums. Nobody ever partied in dorms, went to a girls dorm that they weren't supposed to, smoked weed, drank before 21, sped on the highway, cheated on a test, nothing right?

I did 5 of 6 of those things in my one semester at college. So... I got 17% on your righteous test.

Lickeypie · 06-22-13, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

I had no idea there were so many righteous human beings in these forums. Nobody ever partied in dorms, went to a girls dorm that they weren't supposed to, smoked weed, drank before 21, sped on the highway, cheated on a test, nothing right?

Everyone knows that kids go to college to follow all the rules!
Get off your high horses, you all break the law some how. I wasn't encouraging her to do it, but the same time I highly doubt they will permanently kick her out of the university when they usually just give students who do much worse a slap on the wrist or an F in a course or something.

I guess I'm just a rebel without a cause, I've rolled through a few stop signs in my day.

I agree with you. College students do much worse than sneaking a bp into a dorm room. I had my leopard gecko with me all last semester. And I've kept hamsters with me in my dorm rooms my whole college career.

I'm not saying that you should sneak him, I'm just saying that it is possible.

sweatshirt · 06-21-13, 09:40 AM

It's true though that maybe OP shouldn't risk her education.
This thread has me thinking what I'll do when I go to college. I know she'd be safe with either of my parents but they'd never hold her.

**Aaron_S** · 06-21-13, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweatshirt

It's true though that maybe OP shouldn't risk her education.
This thread has me thinking what I'll do when I go to college. I know she'd be safe with either of my parents but they'd never hold her.

1. You can live off campus.

2. I don't know the personal school or policies but depending on the day the "manager/supervisor/RA" or whomever is having could decide the person's future there.

sweatshirt · 06-21-13, 09:45 AM

Eh... I need to research on college more :/

smy_749 · 06-21-13, 09:53 AM

If you get an F you can retake it and replace the old grade in most universities.
And you missed my point. I don't drink or smoke and commuted 5 days a week 2 hours driving everyday. I didn't even go through the college 'experience'. My point is, if she is anything NEAR a normal college student, shes going to be doing alot stupider, more risky things, than having a ball python in her room. And if they do 'catch her' with it, they will probably just say get rid of it and forget about it. They won't throw away your education because you wanted to have a little pet. They just have the policy so every dorm doesn't turn into a zoo. As for encouraging her, I didn't say she should do it. I said plenty of kids do it, and they don't get caught so she would probably have nothing to worry about IF she chose that route.

If you've ever studied engineering, you'd know that an F is not the equivalent of dropping out, at all. The average engineer at my school had a 2.3 or 2.5 gpa....and that was fine, they all got jobs and lived happily ever after. My close friend had a 2.0, and he makes 90g's a year at Boeing so.....

Oh, and lastly, the F thing was about if your caught cheating in a course. I don't see how a ball python would cause you to cheat and receive an F in a course....

Oh, and I was a mechanical engineer for 2 years, and got 3 F's because I never showed up to class. I switched to molecular and cell bio and I have a 3.4 and I never replaced the F's...Its not the end of the world.

bcr229 · 06-21-13, 10:34 AM

Here's the problem that goes beyond just "breaking the rules": if OP does take the snake to school with her and it's discovered, she likely will be given a very short time to dispose of it before being evicted from the dorm, assuming the university doesn't call Animal Control immediately to deal with it. The likelihood of her pet getting a soft landing at that point is nil. At least if the OP starts looking now she has a better chance of placing this girl into a good home. Heck, it's an adult normal female BP, a local breeder may just snatch her up.

I don't doubt that I broke some rules on my way to work this morning, but the consequences of that would fall solely on me and no one else. Breaking rules where other people or animals could get hurt is a no-no.

Lankyrob · 06-21-13, 11:19 AM

Forget about hreaking the rules, theat isnt a good way to start the next stage of your life. Tell us where you are and someone on here may be able to board the snake for you iuntil you finish college or suggest othre options for you.

There are plenty of options that dont involve lying on your first day.

Concept9 · 06-21-13, 11:26 AM

Just send the snake to me.

Problem solved.

Lupinus · 06-21-13, 12:17 PM

Hit up local boards or FB groups. See if any friends not going to college want it. Heck, put an add on Craigslist if all else fails.

It'll be better than being told to get rid of the snake NOW, or getting kicked out on your behind. Only other option is if your school allows off campus living for freshman don't live in the dorm. And then you have a land lord that has to be OK with it.

thomas1123 · 06-21-13, 12:34 PM

Hey there, sorry about your situation. But I just finished my freshman year of college and honestly youll be fine with it. You just have to be smart about what you do. You could get the snake rack and put it under your bed disguised as a clothes rack like you said. The RA's are NOT allowed to go through your belongings or and of your things. When they did room checks at my school they come in and look to see if you room is clean and that is about it. At my school we only had 2 room checks the whole time I stayed there. People had hamsters and other reptiles that they just hid. Idk how much different your school is from mine but usually RA's are students and they usually dont care because they ave their own thing to do. Oh and also even if theu do somehow find out you have a snake you they usually give you like 2 days to get rid of It so I would just take it to a friends room from those two days after room check bring it back.

Ourobouros · 06-21-13, 02:02 PM

College tuition is a gateway to destitution unless your getting a free ride. Sounds like you are but just in case... It's a common misconception that you HAVE to go to some big fancy college to be successful. I did just that and it's almost ruined my life. I could have a house now full of snakes if I just knew how screwed up the system really was to begin with....

Mark Taylor · 06-21-13, 03:06 PM

If it was me..

I would try to find someone that will look after the snake properly (Reputable breeder or collector).
Come to some sort of agreement that you pay all expenses for your snake plus some for time cleaning etc. And have access too, so you can get to see your snake live a happy healthy life while you are away.
When you finish your education you still own your snake

If you are unable to find that person I would sell to someone who has experience and wish it all the best.

possum · 06-22-13, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Taylor

If it was me..

I would try to find someone that will look after the snake properly (Reputable breeder or collector).
Come to some sort of agreement that you pay all expenses for your snake plus some for time cleaning etc. And have access too, so you can get to see your snake live a happy healthy life while you are away.
When you finish your education you still own your snake

If you are unable to find that person I would sell to someone who has experience and wish it all the best.

Good advice, IMO. You might also check with any veterinary clinics in the area...some vet techs might welcome some reptile experience without charging you an arm & a leg. Just to be safe, if you decide to "board" your snake with someone & intend to get it back or be able to visit in the meantime, be sure to make it a written agreement. Reputable people will understand. Also check with nearby zoo's (not that a zoo wants a BP, but a staff member might?) or herpetological societies in the area? Same goes if you just decide to rehome it.

I would not advise sneaking it into the dorm though... remember your pet needs proper conditions and cages set up incorrectly can & have started fires. You could face ALL kinds of penalties (including financial responsibility!) if that were to happen, not to mention the ugly death of your pet.

Also, most dorms (& apartments for that matter) routinely spray to kill bugs...if pets aren't supposed to be there, it's just tough luck if it dies as a result. (that happened to me when I was in college & had a hamster that wasn't supposed to be there...someone in the bldg. had a cat, & before you knew it the entire bldg. needed fumigated for cat fleas...there was no warning...I came home to a dead hamster & no apologies.)

Best of luck!

Chu'Wuti · 06-21-13, 03:24 PM

Keep in mind that different universities have different policies and different disciplinary actions for violations. While one school's RAs may not be allowed to do room checks, another school's RAs may do them.

At some schools, freshmen are not allowed to live off campus.

Many people have advocated breaking the rules, but I encourage you to consider the possible consequences and how they might affect both your future and your snake's future. Are you willing to accept any possible consequences that might occur? Instead of thinking, "It'll never happen to me," consider carefully, "What if it DOES happen? What will I do then if I'm [kicked out of the dorms/lose my snake permanently/have to pay a huge fine/????]?"

You might check your local herp society, or find out whether there is a herp society near the school you plan to attend, and ask whether they have a member who might be willing to foster your BP. You might also contact the zoology/biology department there to ask if there is anyone who might be able to help you. Someone might be willing to allow you to move your BP into the corner of a classroom. Another possibility might be to check with a highschool or middle school science teacher in the area--would one of them welcome a BP living in their classroom if you went and fed and cleaned each week?

These are just some possibilities off the top of my head. I hope you figure out something that feels comfortable and workable for you and your snake!