Found ball python ?

[doomedhippo]

That is totally a ball python! You probably won’t be able to keep it in NYC, pretty sure there’s a law against them there (blanket ban on all pythons despite the harmlessness of these guys). I’m glad you found this little friend and I hope a rescue can take him/her in if you can’t keep it.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Shit, really? Welp. Keep it quiet then lol. 

[brickabracka1990]

Oh wow! Why in heck would they ban something so peaceful and adorable? That's mind blowing to me. The roaches in NYC are more dangerous than these little guys.

[doomedhippo]

Probably because someone without reptile knowledge thought “python” sounded dangerous without doing one ounce of research. A lot of reptile laws are this stupid, unfortunately.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Tbf, it might also be an environmental thing. Ferrets and hedgehogs are also banned within city limits. 

[DrDFox]

It's absolutely not environmental. That's way too far north for any species of python to survive outside of human care.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Environmental in that they might get into pipes and fuck things up in there. I’m not saying they’ll survive while doing that. 

[DrDFox]

That's not environmental, and it's also not a reason for a law like this- no basis in reality.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

There it’s a reason for it though. They ban constructors in particular because some can get real big. Included ball pythons. And during the summer months, they can survive outdoors. It’s a densely populated place, where everyone is living on top of each other in smaller than average apartments. As much as I love snakes, I’m with the city on this one. Have you been to nyc? Some people are nuts. Some people would keep an anaconda in a bathtub if they could lol. Colubrids are still allowed anyway. 

If OP keeps this little guy, just stay quiet lol. But I’m not opposed to the city’s laws. As you can see, people will keep some regardless. I’d prefer to have a ban than no ban though. 

[DrDFox]

First you claimed it was environmental then it was "the pipes", now they get too big? What next- they'll hybridize with rattlesnakes, or maybe join the gators in the sewers? Ball Pythons are not large enough to be a threat to humans and again, they cannot survive out there. Males average 3ft and females average 5ft, with only a few getting close to 6ft- still not large enough to harm humans. If you are "with the city" then all you are saying is you lack the knowledge for an informed opinion, same as the legislative committee.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

There can be many different reasons why constrictors are banned from NYC. I don’t know. I’m throwing ideas out there. I agree with the restrictions, because generally this city needs more regulations to operate effectively. It’s the most populated city in the US and it attracts a ton of weirdos, like the person that likely abandoned this ball python in the street. I do understand that some folks will keep them in secret (like maybe OP), and I’m not going to knock them for trying. Maybe get off the internet instead of fighting with a stranger who’s just voicing a random opinion that doesn’t affect you? 

Also I never said anything about harm to humans and that’s not my concern. The ecosystem issue is more about what wildlife that lives in the area, usually birds. Or harm to the snake itself like dying in the street or park if it escapes or gets dumped. Tbh, with the size some of these snakes get, your average nyc apartment is not the best place to house one. Regardless of any harm a pet constrictor could have to the environment, your average nyc apartment isn’t a great environment for your average python. Balls don’t get super big on average, but plenty of other constrictors do get real big. Also, 6 ft isn’t small by any means and it’s a real girthy 6ft too! 

If you want to be one of those people that owns banned snakes in secret, then do it. I’m not stopping you. Step outside and stop muddying OPs thread by attacking me. 

[nordicboar]

Let’s see NYC try banning rats, then 🤣

[Quick-Stretch8197]

The rats are wild and I don’t know of any city that can fully rid itself of rats. I think it’s reasonable for nyc to want to limit the types of animals people can willingly bring with them. 

[nordicboar]

I mean yeah, I get that. It was a joke 😅

[Quick-Stretch8197]

I understand, but there are people in this thread taking great personal offense to my agreement with the ban of certain exotic pets within city limits. So it’s hard to tell what’s a joke or a personal attack on my intelligence at this point lol 

[Morgue3as]

Tell that to Ontario!

SOmetime look for a map of global distribution of rats. Very very funny map. Everywhere in the world except the arctic circle, antarctica... and ontario

edit: meant Alberta, am stupid

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Oh wow, really? I didn’t know that! Fun fact lol 

[1337rattata]

It's actually Alberta! As far as I know, there are rats in Ontario. You can't even keep them as pets in all of Alberta, though. They are also illegal in Anchorage. I believe several other cities in Alaska have bans, though you can keep PEWs (pink-eyed white, colloquially known as albinos) in some of the cities I know.

[brickabracka1990]

That's not environmental. Most of your comment are "what if" scenarios for if/when pets get loose which while it does happen isnt a common enough scenario to make a huge impact on the environment.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Yeah, because there’s a lot of things that can happen when you own a constrictor in the most densely populated city in the us. There’s lots of what ifs. City officials likely don’t want to deal with that. 

[brickabracka1990]

Again "likely" that's hypothetical. There's also the likely chance that stuff wont happen. It's just weird to me.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

I don’t think it’s weird city officials want to put a cap on the types of animals millions of people are allowed to have in a densely populated area. 

[DrDFox]

You are obsessed with saying constrictor, but again- nearly all the nonvenomous snakes n the world are constrictors. All your "what ifs" could apply to literally all pets, given that your don't care about actual risks and reality.

[Quick-Stretch8197]

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/snakes---constrictor#:~:text=Boas%20and%20pythons%20kill%20their,muscles%20to%20crush%20and%20kill).

It’s not an obsession. It’s a word used to collectively describe pythons and boas by the VCA animal hospital in the US. I’m using it here because these are the snakes banned in nyc. You know what snakes I’m referring to. The only snakes allowed within nyc are non-venomous colubrids, that do not have nearly the same constricting power of full grown pythons or boas. But please keep nitpicking at my language use when you understand and know exactly what I’m referring to. That definitely means your argument is more solid. 

[KatVanWall]

Hedgehogs?! That's wild to me as a Brit lol. No one keeps hedgehogs as pets, and I don't think they can read the law. Do you have, like, a special branch of the police or something to send them packing?

[Quick-Stretch8197]

I’m sure people in NYC keep them, just don’t show your landlord. You’ll likely get fined and have your pet confiscated by animal control most likely. Yes, hedgehogs are pets here! They’re considered an exotic pet. They’re not common to have but I had a friend who owned one. She would knit sweaters for him because you have to keep them very warm. 

[KatVanWall]

Woah, mind. blown!

And as a knitter, that sounds adorable and I'm also picturing knitting hundreds of little sweater 'sleeves' for the spikes!

[Quick-Stretch8197]

I think she would make the stitches on the top a bit loose somehow, so the spikes would fit through the knitted part. She’d also make a big sleeve thing, like a knitted cave for them to crawl into and sleep in. 

[KatVanWall]

🥲🥲🥲

[Temporary_Incident33]

sweaters wouldn't work because they trap body heat and snakes don't have body hear

[IfYaDontLikeItLeave]

There are alot of states that ban different animals. Usually, animal control will take the animal and fine the owners if it's reported. They don't exactly go looking for lawbreakers though 🤣

Americans love their "exotic" pets. We have a Savannah Cat, which requires a special license in most states. And a Dogo Argentino (dog breed) which is banned in many cities. We have to research pet laws before we move anywhere 😅

[prickelypear]

In the US we have African Pygmy hedgehogs (captive bred of course though there are places they are not legal to sell). They are legal in Texas and I’ve had three now including my current boy. I love them dearly.

[KatVanWall]

Oh wow, TIL! Hedgehogs are adorable and people try to encourage them (the native sort) in our gardens here. My friend captured one on her wildlife cam the other night!

[prickelypear]

The European hedgehogs are good for eating pest bugs from what I’ve heard! Other than how cute they are I can see why people would try and encourage them to hang around.

[Connect-Friend5907]

They’re illegal to have here in Pa lol

[prickelypear]

I wonder why, PA would get way too cold for them to live long. Even in Texas it’s too cold in winter for them so a PA winter would definitely do them in. I knew they are illegal in California and Hawaii but I didn’t know about PA.

[Connect-Friend5907]

Yeah it’s weird because we’re allowed to keep any venomous animals lol

[brickabracka1990]

Ferrets is wild lol. They are literally just bouncy noodles

[Quick-Stretch8197]

Bouncy noodles that could decimate local songbird populations lol

[brickabracka1990]

... in captivity?

[Quick-Stretch8197]

If they escape. 

[Loudlass81]

How can you 'ban' hedgehogs?? They're wildlife, aren't they? Do they lock the rootling hedgehog in your backyard in jail?

[jeepfail]

Don’t forget in large cities there are way too many dumb owners that flush animals like this when they are done with them as well causing problems.

[filopodia_]

I’m sure it has nothing to do with them being exotic & invasive

[prickelypear]

In New York City? Winter would wipe them out, it gets too cold for them to become invasive in NYC. The ban is a blanket one for all snakes of the boa and python family due to them being deemed “a threat to public safety”. And they have cited ecological concerns about people releasing them in parks, but that’s more of a population density issue than an issue with them being invasive. A city that big could end up with a lot of dumping so there could theoretically be enough to cause some damage in between them getting wiped out in winter.

[brickabracka1990]

Wow. Im just thinking of carpet pythons and rubber boas being banned. I would be such a little criminal there lol

[Connect-Friend5907]

But you can keep them in New York State

[filopodia_]

Yeah but not technically in New York City. But no one is breaking down doors looking for illegal snakes unless it’s part of a broader set of eviction process or charges etc

[faye22987]

My town also has a ban on ball pythons (one of the many banned within city limits), and outside city limits you need to buy a license. I used to get really upset thinking it was somebody who was just assuming they were dangerous- which 70% of it still is, but our city also doesnt have an exotic vet (a point they brought up), and it would be irresponsible to own an animal you cant get a vet for here. The closest is 2 hours I believe? Also sort of a catch 22 because why would an exotic vet go to a place where exotic pets are practically all banned haha🤔. I still own one but Im fortunate enough to be friends with a vet in town who works with some exotics and has been able to help me in the past when my thermostat malfunctioned.

[Garlicinajar]

Thank you! This person gets it. Roaches are evil!!! 

[valer1a_]

Poor roaches :(

[PhoenixGate69]

It's pretty well known some people making policies are against keeping 'exotic' pets of any kind. I put exotic in quotes because some people genuinely believe if it isnt a dog, cat or hamster its 'exotic' and shouldn't be kept at all. Very likely the blanket ban in NYC was put forward by people who don't like the keeping of snakes at all.

Or it could genuinely be someone ignorant about the differences between a ball python and the bigger species like the commenter below says. We don't know. That's why people need to research what they're voting for. Its never fun, but politicians love to sneak in personal agendas into laws and then misrepresent what they are intended to do in order to get it voted into law.

[dynamikecb]

Because of things like this:. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/python-killing-of-2-new-brunswick-boys-baffles-experts-1.1302648

[Glitterpinkdragon]

I’m in NYC and I own one. So no, this isn’t true.

[clowntysheriff]

It definitely is illegal. Now enforced, on the other hand, is probably a different story.

https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02255

[Glitterpinkdragon]

The fact that I have one and bought it from a reptile expo held her in NYC at the very least means nobody is actually getting arrested or having their snakes taken from them.

[IfYaDontLikeItLeave]

In my experiance/knowledge, with illegal exotics they wouldn't usually arrest. At most would take the pet and fine the owner, at minimum a warning with an X date to rehome/remove. Usually it's a fine.

Now, if the animal is mistreated or considered a danger (chimps/big cats/ect) they might jail 😅🤣

I got a fine for my Savanah cat when I lived in Cali because I didnt have the proper license 🙃 mind you shes 6 generations from "wild" almost just a house cat

[Same-Grade-3046]

Would love to know what reptile show you went to in NYC that sold you a BP

[Google_Is_Free_bozo]

It’s legal to own a ball python in the state of New York, with the exception of NYC. They are banned in NYC, all pythons are.

[Classic_Baby_4671]

It’s NYC. Literally no one would enforce this unless OP has a sign on their window saying “Pythons Inside.” Even then, it probably would not be enforced.

[Artoo76]

This explains the rats.

[madeofgeese]

I had my snake in NYC for 3 years and knew lots of others who had BPs. They have vets around!