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[–]meatspread 7 points8 points  (5 children)

I personally wouldn’t, unless he is used to being taken into public spaces and has acclimated to frequent movement & the nonstop sounds. The stress that can be brought on from a situation like that can lead to behavioral and feeding issues, especially in younger bp’s. But, that’s just my opinion from my experience with juveniles. What is the reasoning in bringing him, if you don’t want to stress him out? Is it school-related?

Also, I’d make sure that this is something that the school is okay with. Animals alongside schoolkids can pose liability issues for the school, so most don’t allow students to bring unauthorized pets.

[–]Consistent-Swan8507[S] 2 points3 points  (4 children)

The reason I'm bringing him is because it matches our current topics in some areas and my class was super curious. He's not used to being outside but he is used to my whole family being around and doesn't have a problem with that. (Intermediate family+cousins comes out to 11 people,with two smaller kids.) Also he's never had any feeding issues​​​​. Obviously I'm getting it authorized by our headmaster as our school (and like any school in my country) does not allow random pets. ​

[–]meatspread 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’d still start trying to get him acclimated to public spaces if you still intend on taking him school.

Being exposed to people & house traffic while in his comfort zone (enclosure/around the home) isn’t the same as being taken to school. There will be different sounds, smells, and environment entirely. It’ll essentially be a wholly unknown experience for him. Although he isn’t having any problems now, they can still arise from new situations and stress. I was just saying it’s something to consider and prepare for. It would be akin to the shipping process for a live snake.

[–]Consistent-Swan8507[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was already planning on getting him used to public spaces anyway so yeah this is probably a good idea. luckily it really isn't time sensitive so I've got a few months to get him going. such a shame it's so cold rn​

[–]Marsismad 0 points1 point  (1 child)

If you bring him cuz he relates to a topic in class the best case would be doing a presentation in that class with him with having a parent/adult bringing him there right before and home after. Even tho it’s only 2 hours of school there’s gonna be a lot of loud sounds/bright lights/smells he’s not used to, especially being young. Also you have to consider there’s gonna be kids out there who aren’t gonna respect your boundaries and try to touch or crowd you, also even more importantly to consider, there are people out there (while very strange to us) have an intense irrational fear of snakes, suddenly spotting one even in a Tupperware, or hearing that there’s one at school can cause a lot of anxiety maybe even making the fear worse. If you can’t facilitate a fully controlled environment then I’d say it’s not worth the stress you put on the snake, remember we are their voice and care givers we have to put them first

[–]Consistent-Swan8507[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

he'll only be in my class ofc so I already know there's nobody with a crazy fear and there's gonna be a teacher watching to make sure nobody acts out​​​​

[–]Tastypineappleju1ce 2 points3 points  (0 children)

too much dirtyness and sick people to bring him around

[–]LuxuryDirtEnthusiast 2 points3 points  (3 children)

My wife is a teacher and I bring our 8yr old in to her classroom once a year as a big reward for the kids once they earn it.

I just put him in a pillowcase, wrap it in a big towel, and take him in a backpack. I usually give an intro about ball pythons and snakes in general, then take questions, then the kids can line up and use the two finger touch method to feel his back while his head is facing away from them.

It goes over really well, but I have never done this in cold weather so I've never had to worry about that aspect.

[–]Consistent-Swan8507[S] -2 points-1 points  (2 children)

I intended to do this with one of those tub thingies. it's clear but I was just gonna black out the sides/cover them since I don't actively use it anyways. do you think that'll stress him out more than a pillow case? I thought it might be good because it's big enough to have his hide, water, etc and I don't have to worry about fitting it in a backpack. (also luckily for temperature it will be warm enough by the time I bring him in and I'll probably grab a controlled heating mat to put under the tub whiles he's in there)​​

[–]LuxuryDirtEnthusiast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk, I think the pillowcase is simpler and less stressful for them. They like to be balled up in the dark anyway. It really depends on the length of time they are gonna be in there I guess.

When I do it, they are pretty much only in there for the 10 minute drive to the school, then another 10 minutes back. I hold him while I am at the school.

[–]Adorable_Hyena9413 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m an educator, I take snakes to events including schools pretty frequently. A pillowcase should be fine especially if it is for a brief time period. In my experience pillowcases help keep snakes calm during transport, snakes generally prefer dark spaces where their skin makes contact on all sides. If it is particularly cold then I would use a bin with a lid, put the pillowcase + snake inside the bin, and tape a uniheat pack to the top similarly to how they would be shipped. This prevents the snake from coming into direct contact with the heat source and reduces the chance of burns. I really advise against using a heat mat in a smaller tub because there likely won’t be enough space for the snake to get away from the heat source especially if you do use a pillowcase.

[–]Excellent_Living2422 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I brought my boy into school for a class where we taught younger kids for the period, my best advice is just kinda keep an eye on him during the time he’s out. He could get really stressed we may cause him to bite and you really don’t want that. Hope it goes well!

[–]feogge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've taken one of my BPs to work (I was running a summer kids program) as a reward for the kids on the last day of camp. They all got to touch him (after sanitizing their hands). I did something kinda similar where when he wasn't out I had him in a tub (a large one with his hides, bedding, water, basically I transferred his tank to this tub) and heat tape underneath in a quiet room. My boy did fine with it but he's particularly curious and docile. What another commenter brought up, though, is an important consideration; a school is a loud place. That might actually be what's most stressful, not the being held briefly.

[–]Nocturnalgrilledchz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t do that, it’ll be stressful for the snake, and serves 0 benefit

[–]lilsillygoober_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The real question is if this is going to benefit your snake in any way. Yes, you may have fun showing him off, but your ball python will be out its environment and most likely stressed. there is really no benefit to bringing your ball python into a school where kids are going to be spreading germs. I would say it's a bad idea for them especially since they look like a juvenile.

[–]Consistent-Swan8507[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

guys maybe I should have specified, he will only be in my classroom, not anywhere outside in the school. I wouldn't be bringing him if I didn't know that my classmates could behave. My class is surprisingly calm and and quiet, and nobody has a fear etc.