Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can you believe this? I found this Ball Python in it's cage sitting right by the dumpsters at my apartment complex. I found it at 2pm in the afternoon, and when I talke to one of my neighbors he said he saw it at 7am in the morning. I don't know how long before that it was out there, but it was really cold when I found it. The cage was absolutely filthy with feces and shed skin all over it. The substrate was dirt. I cleaned everything, got new substrate and a light, put a heating pad underneath and he's now resting under the light. I don't see why anyone would do this. They could have given him to any pet store, rather than throwing it away like trash. We already have 3 Uromastyx, a Bearded Dragon, and a pair of African fat tailed Geckos, and now this snake fell in our lap. I guess we like reptiles more than we think...

-Paul & Angie

2 Saharan Uromastyx
1 Mali Uromastyx
1 Australian Bearded Dragon
2 African Fat Tailed Geckos
and now...
1 Ball Python

He is now in the care of someone who appreciates him/her.

Good luck with the ball, and good find!!

Joel

>>Can you believe this? I found this Ball Python in it's cage sitting right by the dumpsters at my apartment complex. I found it at 2pm in the afternoon, and when I talke to one of my neighbors he said he saw it at 7am in the morning. I don't know how long before that it was out there, but it was really cold when I found it. The cage was absolutely filthy with feces and shed skin all over it. The substrate was dirt. I cleaned everything, got new substrate and a light, put a heating pad underneath and he's now resting under the light. I don't see why anyone would do this. They could have given him to any pet store, rather than throwing it away like trash. We already have 3 Uromastyx, a Bearded Dragon, and a pair of African fat tailed Geckos, and now this snake fell in our lap. I guess we like reptiles more than we think...
>>
>>-Paul & Angie
>>
>>2 Saharan Uromastyx
>>1 Mali Uromastyx
>>1 Australian Bearded Dragon
>>2 African Fat Tailed Geckos
>>and now...
>>1 Ball Python
>>
-----
- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

JOEL
Did you know about a year ago they found an 80lb burm in a dumpster in Ayden. It was taking to Guss Keels vet office and it later died due to RI or other infections.It could of been much worse. It could of killed someone.

>>He is now in the care of someone who appreciates him/her.
>>
>>Good luck with the ball, and good find!!
>>
>>Joel
>>
>>
>>>>Can you believe this? I found this Ball Python in it's cage sitting right by the dumpsters at my apartment complex. I found it at 2pm in the afternoon, and when I talke to one of my neighbors he said he saw it at 7am in the morning. I don't know how long before that it was out there, but it was really cold when I found it. The cage was absolutely filthy with feces and shed skin all over it. The substrate was dirt. I cleaned everything, got new substrate and a light, put a heating pad underneath and he's now resting under the light. I don't see why anyone would do this. They could have given him to any pet store, rather than throwing it away like trash. We already have 3 Uromastyx, a Bearded Dragon, and a pair of African fat tailed Geckos, and now this snake fell in our lap. I guess we like reptiles more than we think...
>>>>
>>>>-Paul & Angie
>>>>
>>>>2 Saharan Uromastyx
>>>>1 Mali Uromastyx
>>>>1 Australian Bearded Dragon
>>>>2 African Fat Tailed Geckos
>>>>and now...
>>>>1 Ball Python
>>>>
>>-----
>>- Joel Smith
>>
>>"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"
-----
Thomas Jones
aligatorhunter@earthlink.net
(252) 757-3879

My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, I Sure Do Miss HIM!!!

I didn't know that, I know about the burm you rescued from Grimesland. 80lb, wow.

>>JOEL
>> Did you know about a year ago they found an 80lb burm in a dumpster in Ayden. It was taking to Guss Keels vet office and it later died due to RI or other infections.It could of been much worse. It could of killed someone.
>>
>>>>He is now in the care of someone who appreciates him/her.
>>>>
>>>>Good luck with the ball, and good find!!
>>>>
>>>>Joel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Can you believe this? I found this Ball Python in it's cage sitting right by the dumpsters at my apartment complex. I found it at 2pm in the afternoon, and when I talke to one of my neighbors he said he saw it at 7am in the morning. I don't know how long before that it was out there, but it was really cold when I found it. The cage was absolutely filthy with feces and shed skin all over it. The substrate was dirt. I cleaned everything, got new substrate and a light, put a heating pad underneath and he's now resting under the light. I don't see why anyone would do this. They could have given him to any pet store, rather than throwing it away like trash. We already have 3 Uromastyx, a Bearded Dragon, and a pair of African fat tailed Geckos, and now this snake fell in our lap. I guess we like reptiles more than we think...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>-Paul & Angie
>>>>>>
>>>>>>2 Saharan Uromastyx
>>>>>>1 Mali Uromastyx
>>>>>>1 Australian Bearded Dragon
>>>>>>2 African Fat Tailed Geckos
>>>>>>and now...
>>>>>>1 Ball Python
>>>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>- Joel Smith
>>>>
>>>>"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"
>>-----
>>Thomas Jones
>>aligatorhunter@earthlink.net
>>252) 757-3879
>>
>> My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, I Sure Do Miss HIM!!!
-----
- Joel Smith

"If you're not part of the solution, you're still part of the problem"

I read your post aloud to my wife. When I reached the place where you asked why people would do something like this, her response was, "Because some people are a**es."

I think that about covers it.

Wonder if the twits who tried to just throw him away even realize that they could be arrested for doing so?

What kind as dild0 can do that to such a nice snake, or any living thing. From your discription, the caging sounded horrible, and it was in hell. I'm sure the ordeal it went through that morning was nothing compared to the months spent in that hell hole. What kind of jerk is too lazy to pick up a few craps once a week, and remove a few pieces of skin.

Then as if it were trash, try and throw it out. Sheer stupidity people have these days, it's just amazing what some idiots will do.

Consider yourself, and the ball python lucky. You get a free snake from the ordeal, and the snake gets a great home. Perhaps it was fate that that bp should land in the hands of a good keeper.

In the mean while, find out who this chump is, then go bust in his/her teeth.

Bless your heart! What that poor snake must have been going through!
I have 4 ball pythons right now who came to me under similar conditions. A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a man who casually stated that he'd been starving his BP, because it bit him. He said if it did it again he was going to throw it against the wall. I told him to not mess with it, and I'd be right over to pick it up. You just can't do that! Saly, when I got there the snake was dead. He said he "didn't know why it died."
I have recieved snakes who have been starved, burned, and one 7 year old female who had been kept in a shoebox all her life!
Why do poeple do this? Because it's "just a snake!"
Perhaps the snake you found had accicentally bit its owner out of hunger, so they threw it away. In any case, like someone stated before me, it may well be the best thing that could have happened to that snake-to be thrown away! It got him out of what was obviously a horrid situation-possibly for years-and into the care of someone who will (hopefully) treat it with the care and respect it deserves!

Best of luck to you and your new snake!
GratefulFred
-----
GratefulFred

Getting bit by the snake is an "excuse" to abuse it? Hmmm...

My friend who has raised snakes tells me that eventually, for one reason or another, keeping a snake means you're going to get bit someday. It might be accidental when the snake strikes at the prey and hits the hand instead. Or, maybe the prey smell is on the fingers and the snake triggers on it. Maybe the animal is uncomfortable or in pain for some reason, and just not in the mood to be handled.

My wife and I have had many pets over the years. Even the best of them can suddenly turn "snappy" if something is wrong. I've had terrific dogs suddenly snap at my hand because I accidentally hit a sore spot on them that I didn't know about. It's not malice; it's a pain reaction. Pet birds are the worst for being likely to bite. They experience almost everything through their beaks, as well as expressing all their displeasure through them. I've had cats bite almost hard enough to break the skin just in play.

Heck, when the kids were toddlers and teething, they had to be TAUGHT to not bite. We didn't throw them away because they reacted in an unacceptable way. It's part of the process and has to be dealt with properly (one reason why I use long needlenose pliers to present the prey to my snake. Not only keeps my hand out of strike range, but also keeps the snake from associating the hand with food).

People have to get it into their heads that pets are not toys. They are living things that we make a commitment to by taking them in. If we cannot continue in that commitment, we need to find a home for the pet where someone else can take over the proper care.

You bet people make a commitment when they get a pet, of any kind. I am dissapointed that someone would trash this snake. Everyone in my apartment complex knows that I have lots of reptiles, I wish that person could have just knocked on my door rather than leave the snake in the garbage.

As for being bitten, if that was what caused this person to dispose of this snake then they never should have had it in the first place. My first exotic pet was an Argentine Horned Frog I got when I was 10 years old - it bit me about 20 times. I think that caused some sort of Peter Parker/Spiderman reaction though...

I have left a note with my phone number on it by the dumpsters where I found the Python. If this person want's to talk to me about their mental problem, I can't wait... I just hope they don't have any other reptiles that they are mistreating.

-Paul

I was in no way condoning this kind of behavior. Simply stating that this is the kind of ignorance that often leads to this kind of behavior. Kind of like the man who shook his newborn baby to death because it wouldn't stop crying, and he didn't have the sense to give it a bottle.

I love my ball pythons that bite! They do not bite out of meaness. They generally bite because of a strong feeding response. It's so frustrating when a snake won't eat, that I am grateful for my biters! They are my best eaters!

I do not believe that there are many animals who are fundamentally mean. (With the exeption of the Homo Sapien) Many animals are abused and mistreated out of ignorance and misunderstanding. It sickens me!About all we can do though, is do our best to educate people, and offer loving and understanding homes to the ones who do make it long enough to come our way!

Peace,
GratefulFred
-----
GratefulFred

Here is a better picture of the cage with the Ball in it. I found the whole thing just like this, but a whole lot dirtier and with no lights.

You're right. Getting bitten is a good sign to me also. 'Cept for when it was a Gold Tegu... that wasn't fun =(

-Paul

I hope your new Ball does well now that it will be taken care of properly..

You'll find that snake is WAY easier to take care of than all those darned four-legged reptiles you've got!

If you have any questions about husbandry, just ask away here and people will be glad to help. If I can make a couple of suggestions based on what you've told us...No need for a light unless you are having trouble maintaining the proper warmth. Also, a plain paper substrate makes it easier for you to keep the cage clean.

Good luck with your new snake!

-Joan

I am glad to hear you found the snake and give it a good home. It wouldn't surprise me if the previous owner just moved out and dumped the snake there so they wouldn't be 'burdened' with it anymore.

I would check the snake for any mites though, just in case. snake mites are likely to attack your other reptiles but to be on the safe side, it would be good to check for that and even get a fecal done by your vet to ensure the snake is in good health. The filthy conditions the cage in could mean alot of internal parasites...hopefully it is just recently left in that condition and it is still healthy. It seems to look good in the picture you provided but I am no python expert.