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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Escaped Snake

74 replies

ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:01

Am after some opinions here on whether the snake should be rehomed or not.

My stepson is 15 and has an adult corn which is about 5 and a half feet long. It is not poisoness or a constrictor but can carry salomenella on its skin.

We had issues with him not providing it with water, but this has picked up after we threatened to rehome if he didnt act more responsible. It is not handled no where near enough which is a welfare cocern to me. DH picked SS up on not shuting the tank properly previously. When you open the tank, the other side opens and you have to check its closed. He has a tank lock but doesnt use it.

Yesterday after they had all gone to school and work I jumped into the shower in the en suite leaving DD of 5 weeks in our room. Usually I leave her on the floor on the soft changing mat while in the shower as she is happy there. After this, I opened our bedroom door to find snake at the door, and about a foot of its body in the air. I dont like it, but can accept it in its tank, so this scared the hell out of me, and I managed to shut it in DD nursery after it moved in there.

What concerns me is if I had left our bedroom door open a jar, it would have been in our bedroom with DD while I was in the en suite. If she had been on the floor, it would have been on top of her.

The snake had also been downstairs because there was a poo trail. Not only could it have remained hidden for me and my DD to encouter later on, the dog could have gotten hold of it and killed it.

I would like to see it rehomed and know of some friends who we could consider, DH wont, saying im favouring my DD above the other children, and the catch he has now made for the tank should resolve it, but this is dependent on SS using it.

It scared the hell out of me, and I cant stop thinking how easy it could get to being around the baby. I so careful about the dog and cat, but feel I have no control over the snake.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes / typos, breastfeeding.

OP posts:
kreecherlivesupstairs · 20/01/2012 18:05

It would be out of the door before you could say Jack Robinson. Apart from anything else, it isn't fair on the snake. I understand they are pretty delicate and not having water is neglect.
As far as the salmonella goes, it would have to be exposed to it surely? I don't think salmonella develops spontaneously.

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:08

They can carry it on there skin so you have to use antibactetial handwash after using it .

OP posts:
Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:08

I mean handling it .

OP posts:
PurplePidjin · 20/01/2012 18:12

I would give SS a time scale to prove he's a responsible pet owner or it goes.

How is rehoming a pet comparable to exposing the baby to a dangerous illness? Shock That's massively biased in SS's favour imo!

RevoltingPeasant · 20/01/2012 18:14

Eeeeeeeek! I don't mind snakes/ reptiles but that would freak me out.

What did DSS say when you told him about this incident? DH?

I think I'd

a) talk to a reptile specialist shop (there is one in Leeds called Snakes-n-Adders e.g., they do exist) and ask them if a corn snake is likely to be at all dangerous to DD. Would either give you peace of mind or ammunition!

b) talk seriously to DSS about how scared you are, try to shake him up about it a bit

c) agree to a 'two more strikes and it's out' rule with DH and DSS meaning if there any other incidents then DSS is on final warning and after that it's gone.

Do you thinkDH would agree to that?

hellhasnofury · 20/01/2012 18:17

I'd rehome.

DS was 15 when he got his first snake, a corn. He now has a boa too but the rule has always been 'his snake, his responsibility'. If I found it going without it's basic care I would not hesitate to rehome and DS knows and accepts it as the agreement for keeping Fluffy and Taboo.

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:20

DH said if tank is left open or catch found unlocked then we will rehome, but finding the snake with no water after picking SS up on it was meant to be the last chance . He seems to have a lot of last chances .

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 20/01/2012 18:20

A corn isn't dangerous at all and they're timid things. It's quite unnerving to have one near a baby I guess, but it won't attack anybody. Captive bred snakes are far less likely to carry salmonella than wild caught ones from what I've read.

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:21

The supply of water does seem to have picked up though .

OP posts:
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 20/01/2012 18:22

Blimey, how can he not handle it enough? My mum recieved a baby boa constrictor for christmas and she is in love with him, she handles him every single day. If she hadn't have got this new one I'd suggest you could rehome it to her :o

hellhasnofury · 20/01/2012 18:23

DS says snakes carry salmonella as standard, it's on their skin so good hand hygiene is essential when handling/feeding/cleaning out. Not handling will mean it's aggressive when you DO need to handle it, for cleaning out or medical purposes. It wouldn't attack a baby even if hungry but he says it would be kindest to rehome the snake.

DS studied reptiles and worked with them at college, they are his great love second only to raptors and despite his young age (19) it is a subject he is extremely knowledgable in.

RevoltingPeasant · 20/01/2012 18:24

Arctic I know nothing about this but this says corn snakes are constrictors.

Admittedly only of small mammals but still. It is wikipedia though....

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:25

hidden , when I opened the door we both froze trying to work out what was going on . I then started screaming and it scurried off into the nursery at speed !

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 20/01/2012 18:29

Grin ArcticRain it must have been a shock as they are pretty extreme looking things, but it honestly won't do you any harm. They're tiny compared to other constrictors. It was probably as shocked as you were Shock

GoingForGoalWeight · 20/01/2012 18:32

Rehome! Baby more important than snake. DSS is irresponsible and the novelty has worn off.

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 20/01/2012 18:33

arctic that is titchy as hidden says, my mums boa is a rare type that have been known to grow upto twelve feet long. She hopes he won't grow to that size.

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:36

Spaghetti, I'm under 5 foot so it is big to me! And DD is so tiny.

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 20/01/2012 18:38
Shock
NatashaBee · 20/01/2012 18:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 20/01/2012 18:44

Oh I guess it is big to you then. My mums only 5ft 3 so it'll be interesting to see how she'll manage when he's about 6ft :o

Original poster
ArcticRain · 20/01/2012 18:44

Natasha , yes . He has a tank lock but it wasn't used . DH has put a catch on the side too .

OP posts:
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 20/01/2012 18:46

I can't see the video hidden, stupid phone :( Angry

kreecherlivesupstairs · 20/01/2012 18:48

nice gaff Julian. Well done hidden for finding the least tastefully decorated home on the internet.

peggyblackett · 20/01/2012 18:49

Oh god, there's no way I'd keep a snake in my house if there was any chance of it being on the loose - dangerous or not.

Much kinder to the snake (and you) for it to be rehomed!

LunarRose · 20/01/2012 18:50

OMG the snake has to go. I really could not live with a snake escape artist in the same home