Reptile Rescues

[Smurf]

Hi I was just wondering what people's thoughts are on getting a snake from as a rescue?

I can see the possible hiccups and disadvantages in this course but also the positive of giving an unwanted snake a good home. Has anyone had experience of getting any snakes via this route?

[Forbidden-Feline]

I personally would get a snake from a rescue centre. It would be fulfilling to know I am giving that snake a second chance in life, however there may be disadvantages to this depending on the conditions the snake was rescued from. If I knew it stood chance of a full recovery under my care, then no problem. I would even rehome an agressive snake if I knew I could handle it and hopefully calm it over a period of time.
Unfortunately, I havn't had this opportunity yet as I don't know of any Reptile Rescue rehoming centres anywhere, so I can't help answer that part of the question. But should it be an option, I would go for it ^^

[makarok]

I have rehomed four corns (so far). Two were from a rescue somewhere in the northeast whose name escapes me. My other two were from Denise at http://www.reptilerescuedennorthwest.org.uk/, who will doubtless spot this thread soon
I have also recently picked up a corn at a discount from a shop because of his bad attitude (don't you just love a challege!).
I haven't had any problems with any of them and I like the idea of providing a home for an unwanted snake. In all honesty, if I had more room/money I would rehome more than I have.
There are plenty of rescue societies around, it depends on how far you can travel and what homecheck requirements there are, if any.
About the only thing I have come across I didn't like was that my first two rescue snakes have chips in their necks. It doesn't seem to have done them any harm, though and is less prominent now than it was a couple of years ago.

[Smurf]

Thanks my thoughts were towards homing one that really needs it as an option other than buying. I'm going to have a search and see if there are any rescues in the london area that deal with reptiles. The other downside with this theory is that it took take me forever as I want an adult male royal.

What's the old saying 'what's for you won't go by you', so my snake is out there somewhere just waiting for me to find him

[CaseyM]

I have a male WC rescue royal python here at the moment who is driving me insane, cant get him to feed and hes bitten me more times in the last week than i've been bitten in 12 years of keeping snakes!! LOL

Rescue animals can be a challenge but always rewarding i think.

[masticophis]

Yes go ahead and get a rescue, make sure you are happy with it before you take it away as they can be older snakes and set in their ways.

I have two a radiated ratsnake and a florida king. The radiated is just thinking of food all the time and will bite when i go to get him out, but no aggression there at all.
The florida is just grumpy in the viv but soon settles. Both are great snakes.

Mike

P.S. Don't get a rescue crow though.... mine is busy destroying the house as I speak.

[corvid2e1]

quite a few of my animals I have rescued personaly, rarther than getting them through another organisation but the principle is the same I guess. many of the behavioral problems that you expect from rescued animals are not such an issue with reptiles, as often the reason the animal was abandoned etc, is because the owner did not know what to expect from the animal when they bought it, rarther than the individual animal having problems. as such a lot of "rescues" are perfectly health, docile animals that the owner just doesn't want anymore because it got too big, or started to cost too much to feed etc.

out of my collection my iguana, skinks, both rat snakes, both kingsnakes, one of the corns and all the snails are rescues.

the ig was cold and thin, and un-naturaly docile due to a bad diet, but after a bit of feeding up he is fine.

the skinks are perfect, the owner just didn't want them anymore because their son had lost intrest.

one of the rats had just grown too big. she was a little snappy at first but soon calmed down and is now one of the calmest snakes I have.

the other rat was perfect, just found in someones fireplace!

one king was found in someones garden. he was thin, covered in paint and has burn scars, but after a clean up, a good shed and a few good meals he was fine. he is still a little tempremental so you have to test his mood daily, but I think that has more to do with him being a king than a rescue.

the second king was the only one to have major problems. her story is in another thread in the snakes section.

the corn is a perfect baby amel that escaped from a pet shop, who then refused to take responcability for their animals getting out, so wouldn't take it back.

the snails someone just got sick of and dumped them. no problems with them exept the vast number of babies that came with them!

so yeah, I would totaly recomend it.

[corvid2e1]

Originally Posted by masticophis

P.S. Don't get a rescue crow though.... mine is busy destroying the house as I speak.

send it my way if you don't want it! I love them. I actuly don't have any at home at the moment (got a couple at work, including a jackdaw that attacks everybody exept me and sweares at anyone he doesn't know. he came from a pub) but I have had rooks, jackdaws, jays, and a magpie living in my shed, kitchen and garden, sometimes all at the same time! they realy do do a good job of the house don't they! its great finding small objects shoved in holes all over the place, days after they went missing too.

[masticophis]

Yeah he's great really, but certainly gets into everything.

Pleased my boss when he put my works mobile into his waterbowl then hid it away after. Plus destroyed my laptop keyboard, and stabs me in the foot if I answer the phone while hes out in room.

But yeah I do love him even if at time he is trying. Now every time I eat tea I have to fight both him and the iggy for my plate.

Mike

[bosshogg]

i have rehomed a few things from my local rescue center (reptile rescue Hull) its really nice to see them blossom after a hard start in live