Snakes and Apartments

[lumene]

Hey Guys,

So, I found a place that will allow my snakes- legaly even.

Property Manager knows, Building Landlord knows.
Cats and caged pets welcome provided they stay in the apartment. (And the feature I have lived without for over two years-- A Bathtub! So happy!)

My question today is:

How should I deal with other tenants who may find out about my lovelies?

With summer coming I take my snakes out with me and that will include my balcony.
Sooner or later it will happen- I'm not going to lie, I will be taking my pets through the front door to hang out downtown with my friends and all someone will see is my backpack shifting while Ami (my largest at approx 1100-1200 grams) gets comfortable in her pillowcase.

(I've been kicked off the bus for transporting my supposedly 'dangerous' pets to the vet's office...That was especially hard to deal with).
Part of this is on me, I know, keeping my mouth shut- but my pets are my pride and joy, I don't believe in hiding things I'm proud of. I have a very hard time living within a community and I will be crammed into a building with about 100 other people... but it was pet friendly, enroute to my boyfriends university and the nicest place we looked at. So hopefully we can make it work without killing anyone!

Any advice or personal experience is definitely welcome!

 

[Checkersthecornsnake]

Personally when it comes to snakes, if people don't like them, you'll never really change their mind . They creep some people out (I really dont no why), and a lot of people think are either venomous (enough to kill them) or if you tell them its a constrictor, they think the snake will over power them and kill them. Thats my experience with non snake lovers anyways! Also i think most people dont like them because they fear if they get out not really that you keep them. I would just ensure everyone that asks that they have very secure cages and have never escaped before (even if its not true )

 

[Checkersthecornsnake]

Also snakes will grow on some people but it takes repeated exposure to them, for example someone living with you. My dad doesn't like snakes at all, but now that I have one and hes been living with it, I think its grown on him a little but its only been 2 weeks so hopefully i convert him to a snake lover

 

[Iulia]

This might not be a very welcome suggestion if you are not a particularly sociable person - but why not get out there at the beginning and make as many friends as possible? Introduce yourself to your close neighbours, etc.

Then when they know YOU, you can mention the snakes. If people show an interest, you can show them the pets..

That way you become 'the nice person in apt X who did you know keeps snakes?', rather than the snake weirdo

 

[SnakeAround]

Why do you take them out in your back pack to hang with friends? Do you think they like that? Do you get them out at the hang out place? I understand your enthusiasm about your critters but you have to think of their comfort too, you know.

 

[toxiclight]

I can't speak to living in an apartment with snakes...but in our neighborhood, most of our neighbors know we have snakes. I've mentioned them in passing, and a few neighbors have been curious and asked to see them. We bring out Ambassador Snake (our big female, who's incredibly calm and friendly) for those who are curious.

A few have expressed a fear of snakes, and I respect that. I don't take the snakes out around them.

If you have neighbors in the apartment building that complain, you can just explain that the snakes are kept in secure tanks and only brought out if closely supervised (since I think most peoples' worries are over a possibility of escape). It won't take care of everyone...people who have severe phobias aren't going to overcome it quite that easily...but it should help.

 

[cwillmoth32]

Didn't even think about apartments not being to fond of snakes, or not allowing them at all. I just got my little corn snake and will be moving into an apartment once school starts back up. I think I will try to keep my snakes presence on the down low for as long as possible, i'll just pull the "oh, sorry I didn't know" card if they say there not allowed ;]

 

[skullsnroses]

well to be honest i don't rely have any advice of such, but i think 1 of the reasons folk are not keen on snakes, as when you think about it, its the first animal discussed in the bible as been sneaky and deceitful :crazy02: lol and most children have the bible stories at some point in life snakes just don't get enough good press but you got to love em there so cute and to have one from a little nipper is even better you get to see it all grown up... and others just plainly don't like them

 

[BloodyBaroness]

I'm going to be honest, not a single one of neighbors know I have snakes. None. The leasing company does, but I have not and will not tell my neighbors.

Why?

Most people don't have the warm fuzzies that we reptile keepers have about our snakes. People freak out and think, even though what we keep may be harmless, that the snakes are going to escape and eat their pets. Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of my snakes and love to show them off to my friends. I just choose to operate on a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with my neighbors.

If you do have the snakes out in your hands on the balcony and people see them that's fine. You can tell them what kind of snake and a little about it. Just be careful if you tell them how many you have. People hear "I have 8, 10, 25, snakes and instantly think hoarder. Most people don't understand how reptiles are kept. You can just say, "I have a few" and leave it at that.

If are transporting them somewhere, just keep them in the bag until you get there. If I saw a bulgy bag on someone's back I would not think twice about it, or even care.

Sometimes it's better to air on the side of caution because some people can be down right nasty with how much they hate snakes.

 

[cwillmoth32]

Yeah I agree, a "don't ask, don't tell policy" will probably work the best. I really wasn't a snake person until I held one. I thought they were just freaky, slimy and weird. However once I held my corn snake at the store, which was the first time for me to hold a snake, I was sold. It was not like I imagined which is what others need to know that pet snakes are not like the killer ones in the movies.

My two cents - I think people fear dark color snakes more than bright colors. That's what I have seen with my family. They didn't like the ball pythons or the dark corn snakes, but they didn't mind the bright orange ones claiming "he looks friendlier" lol

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I wouldn't recommend taking your snakes downtown to hang out with your friends. If your friends want to see the snakes, then have them come to your place. I think sitting with your snake on your balcony is perfectly fine, and if someone sees you, well its your balcony.

But bringing them out into a public place where they could escape, bite someone, etc just isn't worth the risk. Not to mention being put into a pillowcase and tossed around in a back pack isn't the safest thing for the snake and is also quite stressful. I would just keep your snake at home.

 

[solo1979]

I would be cautious with the neighbors as well. If they see them on the balcony, as long as you don't have all snakes out there at once, they are probably going to assume it's always the same snake regardless of the color. It's not like they are going to be close enough to really look if you're on the balcony. My neighbors know about one of my snakes, that's it. And that's only because my boyfriend's son plays with the neighbor's kid upstairs when he's visiting my house and told the kid about my first snake before I was able to tell him not to. I had a long talk with him though 2 weeks ago when we came home from a reptile show with 2 more snakes, one of which is his, and said the neighbor is not to know about them under any circumstances. This particular kid's mom is 2 months late on her rent and has a dog that she never told the landlord about, so I really don't want her grasping for straws when the landlord decides to put her foot down and trying to bring up something about me and my pets. You just never know when someone may try to use something against you, so I'd remain cautious and try not to flaunt your snakes in everyone's face just because management says it's ok.

I had management at my last apartment claim they would bend the rules and allow my 3 dogs even though their limit is 2 and they were only allowed to put 2 on the lease. That worked fine for 2 months, until my downstairs unemployed neighbor complained that the dogs walked around too much during the day/night and it was stressing her out and that's why she couldn't find a job. I got a notice that suddenly that the 3rd dog, that they met in person before I even signed a lease, had to leave because it was against the rules. Needless to say, we all left instead. Granted, snakes are a lot different from dogs, but be cautious!

 

[tsst]

... Cats and caged pets welcome provided they stay in the apartment. ...

... With summer coming I take my snakes out with me and that will include my balcony.
Sooner or later it will happen- I'm not going to lie, I will be taking my pets through the front door ...

I would be up front and tell landlord you do intend to take them outside the apartment. If they still agree have it amended to the lease in writing.

 

[cwillmoth32]

Luckily my apartment ill be living in is mainly college kids, as am I, and typically college kids become more liberal, open minded and willing to try different things. So they might accept my killer man-eating baby corn snake ;] I don't expect to many complaints about my snake, because that is nothing compared to the loud noisy partying that occurs! However I do plan on keeping him a secret, just in case, so only my friends who come over will get to see him!

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Cats and caged pets welcome provided they stay in the apartment.

I would be up front and tell landlord you do intend to take them outside the apartment. If they still agree have it amended to the lease in writing.

Ah I missed that the first time. Good catch.

I know we as keepers want to show off our pets like taking a dog for a walk, but it's not worth pushing the envelope.

I have a group of educational snakes that come and go with me a few times per month. They travel in a transport tub that fits in a black tote and no one has any clue what's inside.

Also I'm fairly certain my neighbors have seen me lugging aspen around. They have never asked me what it's for and I'm certainly not going yell "it's for my 30 snakes," as I drag it up the stairs.

Discretion is your friend.

 

[jessicalb]

We tell friends but not neighbors or even our landlord. I see no reason for the snakes to go outside the vast majority of the time and most of the year it would be risky here anyway. Even in the fall and winter I use the AC in the car all the time because it gets uncomfortably hot in the sun. If I wanted naturey shots I'd take them out in a cooler and it would be incredibly rare. Or, set up something in my homemade photo box.

 

[azhketh]

Wish I could tell my landlord about my reptiles so I didn't have to hide them in the closet, but I just don't trust them. My apt isn't very pet friendly, even though they say they are. Lease says absolutely no pets without written permission (not even fish, though I have a tank and they've never said boo), $400 pet deposit plus $10/month pet rent, no dogs over 35lbs, no 'aggressive' breeds. Doesn't sound very friendly to me. =p

 

[lumene]

Why do you take them out in your back pack to hang with friends? Do you think they like that? Do you get them out at the hang out place? I understand your enthusiasm about your critters but you have to think of their comfort too, you know.

I wouldn't recommend taking your snakes downtown to hang out with your friends. If your friends want to see the snakes, then have them come to your place. I think sitting with your snake on your balcony is perfectly fine, and if someone sees you, well its your balcony.

But bringing them out into a public place where they could escape, bite someone, etc just isn't worth the risk. Not to mention being put into a pillowcase and tossed around in a back pack isn't the safest thing for the snake and is also quite stressful. I would just keep your snake at home.

The snakes get to enjoy the evenings outside, and yes, sometimes downtown Because I live near some amazing trails that Lead to downtown. I only take my Adults- one at a time- and Only if they're in a good, non-defensive mood. They can hang out in my hoodie and get some fresh air while I chat with my friends. The only way they'd escape is falling out of my hood- I've had these animals for three years and its never happened. It's not an all day excursion locked in a bag- more like 40 minutes to an hour during their most active period. If they get antsy, I head back.

Simple recreation- everybody safe, very little stress.

For mention of possibly biting- Any Animal Has The Potential To Bite- and the general public should remember that before they start screaming about killer snakes.

I know some people will claim that snakes are only instinct- but do you ever wonder if they try and escape from their tubs because they get bored? In the wild they do Roam from place to place despite danger to themselves. A new environment, with new smells has never killed my reptiles.

And yes, my snakes take the bus, and I am Very careful not to bump them in my backpack. I don't drive and I don't expect people to chauffeur me and my pets to the Vets office.

This might not be a very welcome suggestion if you are not a particularly sociable person - but why not get out there at the beginning and make as many friends as possible? Introduce yourself to your close neighbours, etc.

Then when they know YOU, you can mention the snakes. If people show an interest, you can show them the pets..

That way you become 'the nice person in apt X who did you know keeps snakes?', rather than the snake weirdo

Lol- I do have the capacity to be social, I'm just born and bred country shy and can only stand people for a couple hours before I start itching to crawl in my cave. It will be the constant proximity to other people I have to deal with. Lived in the city 7 years and still have personal space issues.

 

[ceduke]

My suggestion is don't. People can be real unreasonable bastards when they're afraid. None of my neighbors know I have snakes, and I intend to keep it that way.

 

[SnakeAround]

Ok, the hanging out session sounds ok to deal with for the snakes. I do think fresh air is good for them and they might indeed enjoy it at some level. Thanks for explaining!