Donate a Ball Python

fuglyfarmhand · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:29 PM

Ok I was talking to a petstore owner yesterday and she asked me if I knew anyone that wanted to donate a snake to the local school? Well here are the requirements 1: nothing over 8ft, 2: nonvenomous,3: has to be donated. Well i told her I didn't know. So I dunno if this is the right place to go but here I am. The one she donated last yr went home with a student for xmas and got loose. The thing is I may or may not be having baby b.p.'s and then I'd just give one but, I dunno if they are actually breeding. She asked me to ask if there was anyone that would donate one and it doesn't have to be perfect just eating. So any suggestions on where to go?

boaterr · #2 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:37 PM

So you are asking someone to donate a ball python to an institution that was so careless that they let a student take it home and get loose? Sounds like the last thing they need is another snake to suffer at their hands.

fuglyfarmhand · #3 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:40 PM

No there is a new policy of no students taking it home. And all I was asking was if anyone knew anyone that would do something like that and I can pass on info. It's their decision. I'm just a middle man. The teachers and school still have to ok the snake and whoever does it has to make arrangements with em.

BlackLava · #4 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:45 PM

lol, asking for a ball that eats

and why on EARTH would they let an underage student take the last one home? how old was that kid??

fuglyfarmhand · #5 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:50 PM

The kid was in middleschool so I quess 13-14yrs old. The eating thing is they got 1 that wouldn't eat and had to bring it back. Then got the one that got loose. Like I said I'm just the middle man. I dunno all the details but, it's a school and reptile ed. is kinda high on my list.

Dunno why they let a student take it home but they did. My kids bring my snakes to school for a few hrs then I bring em home. Yes I'm there but it is more for the science class and everybody gets to play.

fuglyfarmhand · #6 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:53 PM

Well gotta go so if anyone has an idea pm me and we'll go from there. Thanks

BlackLava · #7 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 08:02 PM

if they wanna do reptile education, they should know how to actually take care of them, and they should know that balls typically go off feed. then of course they should know some of the tricks to get them to go back on feed.....just my thoughts....while im all for reptile education, whoever is in charge of it needs to know how to take care of them before they get a herp for the program....

Lucille · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 09:43 PM

Knowing one snake got sent home with a minor and got loose, I just wonder if the donor might have liability in such a situation. Bites, pranks, losses, diseases from rodents, you could see where those things might happen and you wouldn't want your name associated.

Remember that one has tort liability for damages caused by wild animals and snakes are wild animals. The salient point is how closely they would look at the donor and whether it was responsible to donate under the circumstances.

Ordinarily one would think that the current owner would shoulder all liability but you know how some lawsuits go these days.

John_White · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 10:09 PM

I always direct teachers/educators to this page:
The Special Needs of Classroom Reptiles
Most of the time after realizing all the challenges of keep a classroom snake, they reconsider.

mongoose5971 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 03:14 AM

I have quite a few customers that are teachers and have had class pets growing up and sending class pets home is common practice. Honestly, most of our teacher customers, though they may mean well do not take very good care of their animals or are simply misinformed which totally baffles me. I do know of exceptions but I would definitely make sure the person knows CORRECT information and tell them to contact you if they have any problems. I know we have a plethera of adult snakes at our shop that are just sitting around and will probably never be sold that were dumped off by previous owners so maybe you could look into having a reptile shop nearby donate an animal. And honestly I think a snake or fish would be the best classroom pet in that they are less high-maintenence than mammals such as ferrets or birds and do not make noise. It is also helpful to expose children to snakes at an early age so that they do not grow up to fear and hate them.

mongoose5971 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 03:21 AM

Also, I would suggest an adult or subadult corn or kingsnake as they are less suceptible to cold and humidity and feeding issues. They also will never grow large enough to cause serious harm, or require large caging and prey.

angrybananapeel · #12 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongoose5971

Also, I would suggest an adult or subadult corn or kingsnake as they are less suceptible to cold and humidity and feeding issues. They also will never grow large enough to cause serious harm, or require large caging and prey.

As soon as I saw this thread, I was thinking a cornsnake might be better, too. BPs can be a major pain sometimes, but a couple of these:

Can't go wrong.

fuglyfarmhand · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 07:17 PM

They had corns before and the "new" class has to vote on the snake they asked for a b.p. and the shop owner's breeder was out so like I said I'm just a middleman and think a corn or pine may be a better choice. But reptile ed is kinda close to heart since I got em. Thanks for the replies. The shop owner told em to wait til spring and if not then get a corn or pine.

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