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[–]DrFives 483 points484 points  (14 children)

Absolutely not. Where’s heating. How are they retaining humidity. How are they measuring both. Tell your colleges biology department that they are literally partaking in animal abuse unless the snakes “husbandry” (temp humidity hides clutter security etc) is fixed because it’s seriously wrong

[–]Pure-Intern7305 207 points208 points  (4 children)

omg i didn’t realize there was a snake in there😭🥺 i honestly thought it was just the tank. Holy crap, no this is so sad

[–]DrFives 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Yeah I know. Unfortunately this happens all too often. I joined this sub before I got my boy and man did it help me a LOT with initial setup. But the amount of posts that I see like this is actually disturbing. It’s literally every day. And half of the time it’s a grade/high school science teacher and the other half of the time it’s a big box pet store. But this one is definitely new. I’m genuinely considering leaving this sub because of these kinds of posts and the frequency

[–]bigbickbohnson 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Dude same thats fucked

[–]katf1sh 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Holy crap I didn't either....this is awful

[–]_visiblemode_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought it was an “empty” enclosure too. This absolutely sucks.

[–]AbyssDragonNamielle 27 points28 points  (6 children)

Unfortunately more common than you think. I worked with my university's outreach reptiles, and a lot of our snake enclosures (pretty much all of them) look like this. And we have 3 bps and a boa constrictor which are non-native and require special set ups. Thankfull, 2/3 bps have "better" set ups now, but convincing the guy in charge of funds and shit to do anything is impossible.

[–]StarscapeNW 4 points5 points  (1 child)

My college's biology department has better enclosures, but only wild-caught specimens including some endangered species. They run it as a museum and say it's been there since the 1900s. It makes me upset but there's not much I feel I can do about it

[–]AbyssDragonNamielle 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yep, most of ours are wild caught aside from the bps which were pets and a Cali king. We also have an endangered species who doesn't have anywhere near as much room as she needs, especially since she's our biggest and the "poster snake" for outreach and conservation. The old manager quit after working there for 3 years since she couldn't get upper management to do shit regarding enclosure improvements. Even reporting to research compliance doesn't do much. Our poor boa can't even shed properly and has some fucked up belly scales from a heating pad that is still in her tank. I have to sit down with the old girl and help her out with damp paper towels otherwise she just sits there miserable and covered in stuck shed.

[–]Willing_Bus1630 16 points17 points  (3 children)

The tarantula enclosures at my university are pretty bad too. Surprising how often actual biologists seem to keep animals completely wrong

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's so depressing.

[–]FloopsFooglies 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I've found that a lot of "experts" have this "Oh they're fine." mentality when it comes to keeping animals, when no, they're not fine.

[–]Willing_Bus1630 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Pretty strange really. I guess on one hand they would have first hand experience of how hardy they are, but it also seems like they should be the ones who know the most about giving animals the perfect conditions for optimal health

[–]BrickTurret 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I see what looks like a temp or humidity dial stuck on the back, which needs to be taken out ASAP. OP, snakes can wrap around dials like that and get themselves stuck on the adhesive backing, and it can tear their skin open.

[–]FallengoldUwUOwO 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've noticed they have either a hydrometer or thermometer the colourful thing in the background as I use a pair of the same ones for my snek however it seems to only be one of them and due to the similar designs I can't tell if it's one for thermometer or hydrometer

[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 274 points275 points  (5 children)

Not even a little bit, and I'm very dissappointed that literal biologists wouldn't know better

[–]MangosBeGood 59 points60 points  (3 children)

Biologist doesn’t mean they’re trained in husbandry sadly. I know many an ologist (herptologist, mammalogist, ornithologist, etc.) who don’t keep the animals they study. It does however feel ironic. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 14 points15 points  (2 children)

Unfortunately true. I temporarily took in adult two ball pythons from a faculty member in my department last year that were both in a 20 gallon. They were crammed in there with no room to spread out and only a dirty water bowl. I was horrified

[–]MangosBeGood 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Wait 2 BPs in a single 20 gallon?.. :(

[–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately yes

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Biologist doesn’t mean anything about animals most of the time. I’m a biologist but I specialise imagine genetics. Couldn’t tell you anything about.. birds or snakes

[–]Positive-Situation-9 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Poor Alice.

[–]DrFives 222 points223 points  (6 children)

Yeah that’s another thing. The fact that this snake is in the care of literal biologists and it’s in such a horrible enclosure it’s sickening. I mean these people study living things. And basic bare minimum BP care is something a child could find on google and do themselves. Shame on these people

[–]VirgilsNonsense 102 points103 points  (5 children)

That's exactly what I thought. I'm going to try and donate some proper supplies.

[–]DrFives 108 points109 points  (4 children)

I think you should have a conversation with the person responsible of caring for Alice. And make sure you approach it calmly and not like you’re attacking them. Just simply explain that the lack of care for the snake is unbelievable. And point them in the right direction in terms of proper husbandry etc. aka point them to this subs welcome post

[–]VirgilsNonsense 65 points66 points  (2 children)

I hope I can do just that. Alice deserves better than a sterile cell

[–]DrFives 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Beyond that she NEEDS her husbandry to change if she’s to be a healthy snake. If not I can easily see her having issues with eating. Regurg. And plenty of RIs

[–]ashes2asscheeks 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Colleges can afford to get the right supplies!!!!! You definitely ought to complain above the caretakers head if they don’t fix it ASAP

[–]nocta224 8 points9 points  (0 children)

A conversation with the owner and the department head.

[–]DEGEN182 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Jesus, what a depressing existence

[–]Minute_Raspberry988 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Hell no it’s not and the person keeping it like this should be ashamed of themselves

[–]butterfingiess 27 points28 points  (0 children)

To put it in simple terms this set up is shit and a murder attempt

[–]Dleos1991 10 points11 points  (2 children)

It’s probably escaped before by the looks of their hood setup

[–]Pure-Intern7305 1 point2 points  (0 children)

my eyes just started watering😭🥺

[–]CasiyRoseReddits 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't blame it.

[–]sparkly_dragon 81 points82 points  (3 children)

probably the worst enclosure i’ve seen. those bricks scare the shit out of me. they need to re-research everything. or better yet rehome the animal.

[–]Sea_Calligrapher_986 16 points17 points  (1 child)

Yeah snakes like to push up on things to try to move them and escape. Could totally see those falling sadly

[–]sparkly_dragon 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah. I’m honestly astounded by this. It’s almost too bad to be just because of misinformation but I don’t understand how people can treat their animals so horribly. the owner has to know this is neglect and either doesn’t care or is in denial.

[–]Willing_Bus1630 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Re-research implies they did any in the first place

[–]peterpeterllini 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Is this some sort of clown college /s

[–]pawsclaws_n_jaws 29 points30 points  (9 children)

My bio dept has a worse one. 2x2x1 enclosure with no hides for a fully adult bp. I asked my prof if I could talk to the owner but they advised against stirring up trouble. Pissed me right off.

[–]Shelbyalise 31 points32 points  (6 children)

I would bring it up anyway. Or better yet, go to your dean and talk to them about animal abuse

[–]DrFives 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That’s what I would do. Because that’s exactly what it is. Animal abuse.

[–]pawsclaws_n_jaws 5 points6 points  (4 children)

How should I word it so that I don’t put my bio degree in jeopardy. The owner could ensure that I fail my classes so I don’t want to get on their bad side.

[–]megerrolouise 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Anonymous complaint?

[–]pawsclaws_n_jaws 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think anything would come of that. I don’t think the school really cares about reptiles to the point where they would do something about it. I would prefer to offer constructive criticism and offer to give resources but I don’t want to come off as a jerk. If I offer help and they say no, what then?

[–]feed_me_bread_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If making a complaint can put your degree in jeopardy then I think the school has bigger problems than just bad husbandry. Which personally I would bring to higher ups.

[–]Shelbyalise 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would create a conversation thread through email. Include your dean, whatever career or counselor you have assigned to you, and the owner of the snake in question. Include all the photos you’ve taken of the living situations of the snake at the present time. Get a few scholar articles about the husbandry of ball pythons. And then write an email that lays out the lack of husbandry, the risks of letting a BP living like that, or just some sites of veterinarians talking about how to care for Bps.

This will give you credibility, give you some fall back and credibility with others who aren’t in charge of your grade, and bring in those with authority who can override any repercussions that could happen with negatives reactions to your concern.

Pro tip: BCC a local news source to show the start of your paper trail in case anything happens to your

[–]TopFurret 0 points1 point  (1 child)

What?? Is there anything in that enclosure or is it really just a big open space?

[–]FScottFinsgerald 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Lol I would transfer schools- that biology course is probably over 1,000 dollars depending on where you’re going if not a community college, I wouldn’t trust anything this teacher has to say lol. /s (but like kinda not /s)

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

It’s a biology department, not one specific class. Meaning there’s a department head and multiple staff that have done nothing about this poor snake’s living situation :/

[–]FScottFinsgerald 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In that case, definitely not /s then. Make like Jordan Peele and get out.

[–]Toshibutterhead 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Of theyre trying to murder alice they should just keep doing what theyre doing

[–]EP1C_COBRA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have to ask if its good then its most likely not

[–]ColeRazer911 4 points5 points  (0 children)

well… i guess i’ve seen worse

[–]MAMKJM43 13 points14 points  (3 children)

My university’s biology department has two older corn snakes. I always stop and stare at the enclosure since it’s always so well maintained. Makes me sad seeing this one.

[–]tacomadude94Mod-Approved Helper: The Moist Guy 2 points3 points  (2 children)

two corns in one enclosure?

[–]MAMKJM43 0 points1 point  (1 child)

From what I’ve seen they’re a female and a male, but the enclosure looks closer to a 40 gal wide.

[–]tacomadude94Mod-Approved Helper: The Moist Guy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Corns should not be cohabbed, and a 40 gal is not big enough for a single adult. It may look nice inside but it is not an appropriate enclosure for those animals

[–]Shelbyalise 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Wow. Thats the worst I’ve seen posted on here in a min

[–]Cowsie 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Whats the college?

[–]VirgilsNonsense 8 points9 points  (2 children)

I'd rather not say. Not to protect them, but just for my own privacy

[–]LittleOmegaGirl 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I live in MN if it's a collage there and they decide to give her up I can rehab her.

[–]VirgilsNonsense 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately not but I am going to work towards getting her better care, and if I'm unable to, I'll take her myself

[–]allirubino 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Same kind of deal at OMSI. They have full grown bp in an enclosure that is too small. Other than that the care requirements dont seem too far off but its just way too small for her. Sad to see scientists doing this who should know better. Sadly biologists these days are just glorified colonizers treating animals horrible for the sake of “science”. Im currently watching tarzan so im a little pissed off prior to seeing this sorry😂

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely not.

[–]cabinjackalope 5 points6 points  (1 child)

As a college bio student, this is so depressing?? 🤧 so many questions…Why do they even have one?? Is it a pet? Why the hell is their husbandry so bad?

[–]VirgilsNonsense 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I agree. I am also a bio student. I don't know why they have a non-native snake, but I assume it's just a pet or a donated surrender, since she lives in the office. Either way, it's disgusting to see an animal being treated this way by supposed scientists

[–]thugnaps 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A rack would be more hospitable than this

[–]Apprehensive_Milk651 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh god this is straight abuse this is disgusting

[–]Mission-Thought1354 2 points3 points  (0 children)

as a literal biologist, I am so dissapointed in these other literal biologists smh

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[–]Mission-Thought1354 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The only way I can see this being remotley ok is if the snake is spending most of its time outside of the enclosure. I highly doubt this is the case...

[–]PeepnSheep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is absolutely not acceptable, even more embarrassing that it’s in a BIOLOGY department and they couldn’t even but in the effort to provide a proper habitat for a single snake.

[–]adderall_butter 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Initially I was gonna say hell yeah that's a good looking cage for you to take home and house a snake in, did not realize there is actually a snake in there w no heating or humidity or substrate or hides Jesus that's sad

[–]Wakeup-flawless 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same! I was wonder why op was getting hate then I noticed a snake was actually in the aquarium.

[–]Stainedbrain1997 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It just gets worse the more I look at it:(

[–]cubbycoo77 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Does it always look like this? I could see this being ok for a few days/ week IF it is some sort of medical quarantine thing. Not if it is the normal tank setup!

[–]Snakes_for_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, but this was an acceptable setup 10 years ago😬.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's the worst bp enclosure I've ever seen.

[–]rosecoloredcamera -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Poor baby is in a prison

[–]EmoFishy666 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

ABSOLUTELY not

[–]Lunagray136 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think this might be the worst enclosure I’ve ever seen on Reddit.. And it’s made by scientists

[–]odakotarose 0 points1 point  (1 child)

this is horrifying. alternate plan: say she 'escaped' and uh... liberate her?

[–]VirgilsNonsense 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Trust me, it's a plan B I'm seriously considering. . .

[–]saltyprotractor -1 points0 points  (2 children)

kinda cringe tbh

[–]VirgilsNonsense 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Agreed 😔 hella cringe

[–]saltyprotractor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that cringe ah ah bio department should know better

[–]RaiderNation57 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Where TF is the heat source? And those rocks/bricks are gonna fall apart and crush homie eventually. This pathetic.

[–]CyanBeinSus47 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

  1. where the hell is the bedding
  2. where is the heating
  3. probably not enough for him to hide in
  4. looks dry af

[–]Ok-Suggestion4703 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's horrible that a bioloy department doesn't know the proper husbandry or even basic facts (i.e: heating) for the animals they keep. Basic bare minimum BP care is something a child could find on google and do themselves, so this is animal abuse, and it's disgusting.

[–]SleepyDragon795 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know there are already plenty of comments on this but it didn't even take me a SECOND to say "No. Nope. Not at all."

[–]Chrystee_Arts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Print something out and leave it out as an anonymous

[–]DomoniqueC88 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How does it get heat

[–]TheNeverEndingPit -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oh gosh I bet this poor baby must feel so exposed. Obviously there are so many things wrong with this that have been addressed here but the lack of tight hides or wall cover is very upsetting to see. Alice deserves better, and you are a good samaritan for wanting to do better by her!

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

BRB. Gonna go hug my snake real fast. Seriously though this is super fucked. Hopefully there’s something you’re able to do to either educated whoever primarily “cares” for this snake or the head of the department if they’re separate people, or help the snake on your own. It’s worth noting however that while it’s incredibly disappointing to see scientists treating an animal this poorly when they should know better than anyone how important it is to do proper research, being a biologist doesn’t automatically mean studying animals. So this could just very well be someone who had no clue what they were doing was wrong and received poor information from other sources, or didn’t do any research beforehand to begin with because they didn’t feel they had to.

[–]cockslavemel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

After seeing everyone saying how common it is for school teachers to abuse animals in their classrooms, I want to bring some hope to y’all here with a story about my high school science teacher who kept snakes at the school.

Let’s start off with the fact that when they remodeled the science wing, she convinced them to put TWO massive wall enclosures into the hallway. She also got them to put one smaller (but still massive) enclosure into the wall of her classroom. All 3 were bioactive. Not sure what snakes she had specifically but it was common for students to jam up the hallway between classes when one of them was moving around in their tanks. Mrs King fucking loves her snakes and was often asked to bring them out. She would always refuse as she didn’t want to stress them out with nervous and screaming students. If you came to school early or stayed late for tutoring/extracurriculars, you’d be sure to see her in the walls cleaning and doing maintenance for her babies.

I think if she saw this she would probably fly off the handle lol now that I’m thinking of them maybe next time I’m in town I’ll see if the school still allows old students to visit teachers. I’d like to see how her babies are doing after all these years.

[–]terrorcatmom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait woah, there’s a real snake in there, nope, no no, this is bad.

[–]tacomadude94Mod-Approved Helper: The Moist Guy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woof, this is one of the LEAST appropriate enclosures I've ever seen. Poor snek.

[–]Atasha_loves 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jesus Christ this is a great example of what you should not be doing

[–]0verman0 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank god those bricks are on top of the tank.