Sssssnakey April 24, 2011 6:52 PM Subscribe
Sometimes MetaFilter is awesome in the most unexpected ways.
Months ago, I was considering getting a pet snake, and I posted this question to AskMe. I received a response from Lou Stuells, who had been looking to re-home her corn snake and ball python (Ted and Harper, respectively). Sadly, I live at least 700km away from her, so it didn't seem like it was a possibility for me to take them.
HOWEVER...
Lou Stuells has a friend in Niagara County, NY., who was willing to bring them back from her place, tanks, accessories and all. I have family in the Niagara Region on the Canadian side. This weekend, Lou Stuells' wonderful friend brought them across the border (legally, I might add. We all checked up on the regulations for this thoroughly before we did anything) and now there are two snakey new additions to the Torisaur/wo household.
So... thanks to the lovely Lou Stuells and friend for going to so much trouble, and to MetaFilter helping it happen.
It still blows my mind a little how this all happened. Now I have snakes from the internet.
Months ago, I was considering getting a pet snake, and I posted this question to AskMe. I received a response from Lou Stuells, who had been looking to re-home her corn snake and ball python (Ted and Harper, respectively). Sadly, I live at least 700km away from her, so it didn't seem like it was a possibility for me to take them.
HOWEVER...
Lou Stuells has a friend in Niagara County, NY., who was willing to bring them back from her place, tanks, accessories and all. I have family in the Niagara Region on the Canadian side. This weekend, Lou Stuells' wonderful friend brought them across the border (legally, I might add. We all checked up on the regulations for this thoroughly before we did anything) and now there are two snakey new additions to the Torisaur/wo household.
So... thanks to the lovely Lou Stuells and friend for going to so much trouble, and to MetaFilter helping it happen.
It still blows my mind a little how this all happened. Now I have snakes from the internet.
Lovely story! And, a high number of wonderful words!
I hiss with approval.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 6:57 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I hiss with approval.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 6:57 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Get these metafilter snakes off the metafilter plane!
That's what Samuel L. Jackson would say if he were aware of this story, the snakes had flown and Samuel L. Jackson moonlighted as a baggage handler.
posted by klangklangston at 7:04 PM on April 24, 2011 [20 favorites]
That's what Samuel L. Jackson would say if he were aware of this story, the snakes had flown and Samuel L. Jackson moonlighted as a baggage handler.
posted by klangklangston at 7:04 PM on April 24, 2011 [20 favorites]
Yay snakes!
They're like furniture you feed!
(As a former snake owner, I offer a word of advice: ball pythons, well, mine, anyway, would happily eat twice as often as every book and/or vet suggests is optimal. And seeing as how the cat was bringing home perfectly fresh deliciously snacky moles daily... Shame to let 'em go to waste... He got HUGE. So, um, don't do that. Snake enclosures ain't cheap.)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:13 PM on April 24, 2011 [11 favorites]
They're like furniture you feed!
(As a former snake owner, I offer a word of advice: ball pythons, well, mine, anyway, would happily eat twice as often as every book and/or vet suggests is optimal. And seeing as how the cat was bringing home perfectly fresh deliciously snacky moles daily... Shame to let 'em go to waste... He got HUGE. So, um, don't do that. Snake enclosures ain't cheap.)
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:13 PM on April 24, 2011 [11 favorites]
Get these motherfucking snakes off my motherfucking MeFi!
posted by jonmc at 7:19 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 7:19 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
snakes are funny
posted by found missing at 7:26 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by found missing at 7:26 PM on April 24, 2011
Oh my god, the second picture of Harper happily curled up in his basket is THE CUTEST THING I HAVE SEEN TODAY. And I spent a significant portion of today watching this video of a seal over and over.
Congratulations on your new snakey friends! Hooray metafilter!
posted by bewilderbeast at 7:27 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Congratulations on your new snakey friends! Hooray metafilter!
posted by bewilderbeast at 7:27 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm a little disappointed that this was all done legally. I would like some international intrigue and smuggling next time. Like hide drugs and diamonds or exotic birds eggs in the snakes! Just a suggestion.
Still cool.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:28 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Still cool.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:28 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Mushroom! Mushroom!
sorry, I just couldn't resist....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:36 PM on April 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
sorry, I just couldn't resist....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:36 PM on April 24, 2011 [4 favorites]
I once ended up with a Boa that was abandoned by my son's roommate... I kept it for about 5 years, until it got large enough (about 12 feet long) that it took two adults to carry it... and I then donated it to a biology teacher... rehoming reptiles is an interesting process, thanks for posting this, it's good to see this kind of caring happen...
posted by tomswift at 7:41 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by tomswift at 7:41 PM on April 24, 2011
Holy crap, tomswift, what did you feed it when it got that big?!
posted by torisaur at 8:22 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by torisaur at 8:22 PM on April 24, 2011
I still miss the ball python I had in middle school. RIP Julius Squeezer.
posted by Rinku at 8:34 PM on April 24, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by Rinku at 8:34 PM on April 24, 2011 [10 favorites]
I'm so, so happy it worked out.
When I got them 10 & 11 years ago, I lived in a small apartment in L.A. I got to learn their ways, and really enjoyed creating the proper circumstances for them to thrive.
Since then, we moved cross-country to MA, live in the woods, and keep goats and ducks. There are snakes pretty much all over the place outside and sometimes surprising us in the cellar. Years ago I was starved for a bit of nature; ten years along, I'm surrounded by it, tripping over it, and sometimes hustling it outside in an upside-down drinking glass.
When I saw your post about looking for ones like these, I got to thinking. While these guys had been maintained and cared for all along, as life got more complicated and colorful over the years, they had become part of the household routine, and not much more. That didn't make me happy. I wanted them to be in a situation where they'd be more of someone's favorite. But it was just vague dissatisfaction with no plan, I wasn't about to put them on Craigslist or something. You had good questions and good research. And these were well-established adults, with sweet temperaments and eager appetites - a good match for a new owner.
They're good snakes, they deserve enthusiasm. Thank you :)
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:40 PM on April 24, 2011 [31 favorites]
When I got them 10 & 11 years ago, I lived in a small apartment in L.A. I got to learn their ways, and really enjoyed creating the proper circumstances for them to thrive.
Since then, we moved cross-country to MA, live in the woods, and keep goats and ducks. There are snakes pretty much all over the place outside and sometimes surprising us in the cellar. Years ago I was starved for a bit of nature; ten years along, I'm surrounded by it, tripping over it, and sometimes hustling it outside in an upside-down drinking glass.
When I saw your post about looking for ones like these, I got to thinking. While these guys had been maintained and cared for all along, as life got more complicated and colorful over the years, they had become part of the household routine, and not much more. That didn't make me happy. I wanted them to be in a situation where they'd be more of someone's favorite. But it was just vague dissatisfaction with no plan, I wasn't about to put them on Craigslist or something. You had good questions and good research. And these were well-established adults, with sweet temperaments and eager appetites - a good match for a new owner.
They're good snakes, they deserve enthusiasm. Thank you :)
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:40 PM on April 24, 2011 [31 favorites]
Get these metafilter snakes off the metafilter plane!
I have had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:01 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have had it with these monkey-fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:01 PM on April 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
This exactly how I like my snakes; safely on the internet and at someone else's house!
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:17 PM on April 24, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by SpacemanStix at 9:17 PM on April 24, 2011 [9 favorites]
Thank you for naming them Ted and Harper.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:35 PM on April 24, 2011
posted by five fresh fish at 9:35 PM on April 24, 2011
Assuming that's Ted Rogers and Stephen Harper.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:37 PM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by five fresh fish at 9:37 PM on April 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
thissssssisssniccccethisssss.
posted by clavdivs at 9:49 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 9:49 PM on April 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
Aww what a nice story!
I'm not a big fan of snakes, but I was a temporary foster mom to a trio of ball pythons and a red-tailed boa years ago when one of my husband's Army buddies was being discharged. He and his snakes stayed with us for about a month, and then the snakes stayed for another couple of weeks while he moved back to his hometown and got settled.
My daughter, who was three years old at the time, fell in love with those snakes, and she insisted on learning how to help with every aspect of their care (well-supervised of course).
In one photo from those days, my daughter had just come running in from the backyard to help with changing the snakes' water dishes. In typical mid-summer little kid mode, her hair is all sweaty and tousled, her playclothes are mismatched and grungy, and she's barefoot, posing for the camera with a maniacal grin on her face, holding one of the pythons.
To anyone who doesn't know that she grew up with normal responsible parents, it probably looks like a "Call Child Services Now!" moment.
posted by amyms at 10:03 PM on April 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
I'm not a big fan of snakes, but I was a temporary foster mom to a trio of ball pythons and a red-tailed boa years ago when one of my husband's Army buddies was being discharged. He and his snakes stayed with us for about a month, and then the snakes stayed for another couple of weeks while he moved back to his hometown and got settled.
My daughter, who was three years old at the time, fell in love with those snakes, and she insisted on learning how to help with every aspect of their care (well-supervised of course).
In one photo from those days, my daughter had just come running in from the backyard to help with changing the snakes' water dishes. In typical mid-summer little kid mode, her hair is all sweaty and tousled, her playclothes are mismatched and grungy, and she's barefoot, posing for the camera with a maniacal grin on her face, holding one of the pythons.
To anyone who doesn't know that she grew up with normal responsible parents, it probably looks like a "Call Child Services Now!" moment.
posted by amyms at 10:03 PM on April 24, 2011 [5 favorites]
Oh my god, the second picture of Harper happily curled up in his basket is THE CUTEST THING I HAVE SEEN TODAY.
Yes, that is the happiest snake in all fiefdom. Awesome story.
And yeah, BOP. Your "furniture you feed" line is totally going in my Best MeFi Lines Ever notebook.
posted by mykescipark at 11:00 PM on April 24, 2011
Yes, that is the happiest snake in all fiefdom. Awesome story.
And yeah, BOP. Your "furniture you feed" line is totally going in my Best MeFi Lines Ever notebook.
posted by mykescipark at 11:00 PM on April 24, 2011
Did they come in a case? Please say yes. Because I really wanna imagine you squealing delightedly at the case of herpies you got from Metafilter.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:25 AM on April 25, 2011 [17 favorites]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:25 AM on April 25, 2011 [17 favorites]
I CAN HAZ SQUEEZEBURGER
Great stuff. Yay for snakes!
posted by Elmore at 3:24 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
Great stuff. Yay for snakes!
posted by Elmore at 3:24 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking Metafilter!
posted by crunchland at 3:45 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by crunchland at 3:45 AM on April 25, 2011
torisaur, small children when I could find them, otherwise bunnies.... cute little bunnies. She would still eat rats as well, although she considered them a snack...
posted by tomswift at 4:22 AM on April 25, 2011
posted by tomswift at 4:22 AM on April 25, 2011
My sister-in-law loves snakes. She used to have friends who did, too. They had one that was several feet long, and they let it free roam around the house. They kept waking up with the snake stretched out straight next to them in bed, so they asked their vet what was up with that. He replied, "It's measuring you to see if it's long enough to constrict you yet."
They got rid of the snake.
posted by that's how you get ants at 4:33 AM on April 25, 2011 [12 favorites]
They got rid of the snake.
posted by that's how you get ants at 4:33 AM on April 25, 2011 [12 favorites]
There were several interesting reactions from my family, particularly when they actually saw them for the first time. There were mild hysterics from at least one relative, fascinated horror from most of the others. I didn't even tell my grandmother they were in the house, or she would have started looking for a hotel room. I've had a lot of pets in the past, but they've always been mammals. I'm totally fascinated with these two.
The funny part is, everyone assumed my partner was the one who wanted them, when he was mostly going along with it for me. It's a silly bit of unconscious gender stereotyping, since everyone involved was a woman! (Insert Freud joke here).
Ambrosia Voyeur: they did indeed! Furthermore, I received them in a dark Tim Hortons parking lot not far from the bus terminal in Niagara Falls. My life is weird sometimes.
that's how you get ants: I think I've heard that story... it seems to have attained urban legend status.
posted by torisaur at 5:08 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
The funny part is, everyone assumed my partner was the one who wanted them, when he was mostly going along with it for me. It's a silly bit of unconscious gender stereotyping, since everyone involved was a woman! (Insert Freud joke here).
Ambrosia Voyeur: they did indeed! Furthermore, I received them in a dark Tim Hortons parking lot not far from the bus terminal in Niagara Falls. My life is weird sometimes.
that's how you get ants: I think I've heard that story... it seems to have attained urban legend status.
posted by torisaur at 5:08 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Holy crap, tomswift, what did you feed it when it got that big?!
Honey, have you seen the dog?
Honey?
posted by Billiken at 7:12 AM on April 25, 2011
Honey, have you seen the dog?
Honey?
posted by Billiken at 7:12 AM on April 25, 2011
Great story, glad the snakes have a happy home.
If you feed them kittens, be sure to declaw them first, it's easier on the snake's stomach.
*ducks*
posted by marxchivist at 7:15 AM on April 25, 2011
If you feed them kittens, be sure to declaw them first, it's easier on the snake's stomach.
*ducks*
posted by marxchivist at 7:15 AM on April 25, 2011
*ducks*
Good point, you don't need to declaw a duck.
posted by zamboni at 8:09 AM on April 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
Good point, you don't need to declaw a duck.
posted by zamboni at 8:09 AM on April 25, 2011 [4 favorites]
Get these motherfucking cats out of my motherfucking scanner.
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:25 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:25 AM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Erm. Is this where I mention they've already had duck?
(Not all ducklings make it out of the egg successfully - I hated to see them go to waste.)
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:30 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
(Not all ducklings make it out of the egg successfully - I hated to see them go to waste.)
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:30 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
My sister-in-law loves snakes. She used to have friends who did, too. They had one that was several feet long, and they let it free roam around the house. They kept waking up with the snake stretched out straight next to them in bed, so they asked their vet what was up with that. He replied, "It's measuring you to see if it's long enough to constrict you yet."
Yes, after my friends were eaten by their pets, I'd probably switch species as well though as a cat owner I know full well my cats would eat me if they could and if I stopped feeding them.
posted by jeather at 9:26 AM on April 25, 2011
Yes, after my friends were eaten by their pets, I'd probably switch species as well though as a cat owner I know full well my cats would eat me if they could and if I stopped feeding them.
posted by jeather at 9:26 AM on April 25, 2011
My sister-in-law loves snakes. She used to have friends who did, too. They had one that was several feet long, and they let it free roam around the house. They kept waking up with the snake stretched out straight next to them in bed, so they asked their vet what was up with that. He replied, "It's measuring you to see if it's long enough to constrict you yet."
They got rid of the snake.
I've heard a story similar to this before. Snopes doesn't buy it.
posted by litnerd at 9:50 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
They got rid of the snake.
I've heard a story similar to this before. Snopes doesn't buy it.
posted by litnerd at 9:50 AM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]
I never thought I'd say this, but those above posters are right. That snake in the dish is cute!
Cute snake. Huh. Who'd a thought?
posted by TooFewShoes at 1:18 PM on April 25, 2011
Cute snake. Huh. Who'd a thought?
posted by TooFewShoes at 1:18 PM on April 25, 2011
THE INTERNET IS MADE OF SNAKES.
...a series of snakes.
posted by rhizome at 1:39 PM on April 25, 2011
...a series of snakes.
posted by rhizome at 1:39 PM on April 25, 2011
Well, I'd just like to be the first to say... Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
(See, not a SoaP joke.)
posted by maryr at 2:36 PM on April 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
(See, not a SoaP joke.)
posted by maryr at 2:36 PM on April 25, 2011 [3 favorites]
I got totally inspired by your question. I'm not expecting to have them transported to me, but I just remembered that askme is a great resource for these kinds of things.
posted by jabberjaw at 3:03 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jabberjaw at 3:03 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
All right, I can see it being an urban legend. My sister-in-law really did say it happened to her friends, but I suppose every urban legend has a sister-in-law who says it really happened.
posted by that's how you get ants at 4:11 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by that's how you get ants at 4:11 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
I totally am not a snake person, but this is a wonderful story and the snakes look happy. "A dark Tim Horton's parking lot" is my favorite part.
posted by theora55 at 4:44 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by theora55 at 4:44 PM on April 25, 2011
Am I the only one who giggles like a 4th grader whenever I read "Lou Stuells" as "Loose Stools"?
posted by not_on_display at 7:20 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 7:20 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Loved the pictures of the snakes. Congrats on the new additions to your family!
posted by dragonplayer at 9:22 PM on April 25, 2011
posted by dragonplayer at 9:22 PM on April 25, 2011
not_on_display: "Am I the only one who giggles like a 4th grader whenever I read "Lou Stuells" as "Loose Stools"?"
That's the intention, I believe. We used to prank call bars and stuff asking for Lew Stools or Jack Mehoff.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:17 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's the intention, I believe. We used to prank call bars and stuff asking for Lew Stools or Jack Mehoff.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:17 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh wow, those are beautiful snakes. Congratulations.
I'm surprised the nobody mentioned this, but in my experience, both corn snakes and ball pythons (in fact, every species of snake ever) wants to live in your bra. My roommate had a 50 pound red tailed boa that used to half disrobe me every time I handled her because all she wanted to do was hide in my cleavage. I have walked around all day with a ball python down my shirt - gone shopping, gone to a restaurant - and nobody was any the wiser.
Snakes may not be the smartest, but even they know that boobs are awesome.
posted by louche mustachio at 12:25 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm surprised the nobody mentioned this, but in my experience, both corn snakes and ball pythons (in fact, every species of snake ever) wants to live in your bra. My roommate had a 50 pound red tailed boa that used to half disrobe me every time I handled her because all she wanted to do was hide in my cleavage. I have walked around all day with a ball python down my shirt - gone shopping, gone to a restaurant - and nobody was any the wiser.
Snakes may not be the smartest, but even they know that boobs are awesome.
posted by louche mustachio at 12:25 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
...as Cleopatra discovered.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:57 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:57 AM on April 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
As long as the snake leaves the subway with you, louche, I'm fine with it.
And if it doesn't, pay your damn fine.
posted by maryr at 5:47 PM on April 26, 2011
And if it doesn't, pay your damn fine.
posted by maryr at 5:47 PM on April 26, 2011
Snakes may not be the smartest, but even they know that boobs are awesome.
Bra constrictors?
posted by Pallas Athena at 1:53 AM on April 27, 2011
Bra constrictors?
posted by Pallas Athena at 1:53 AM on April 27, 2011
Heartwarming! I am grinning. I do reptile rescue and own eight snakes myself (oh be quiet, they're small), so I love to see stories like this. Especially because the snakes in question weren't in a bad situation to begin with, and then they got to go to a happy new home without having to go through fostering or rescue or craigslist! Hooray!
posted by Because at 1:49 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Because at 1:49 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Thank you Because. I had some Pets are a commitment for life and you're a bad person GRAR trying to get its teeth into me. But, sometimes committing to give them the best life possible means they go somewhere else. And now I don't need to worry quite so much about three-day power outages like we had a couple of Decembers ago, when I coined the adage, Never own more snakes than you can wear.
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Lou Stuells at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Random internet stranger says tell that GRAR to get lost, 'cause you made a good choice and did a good thing and the snakes have now gone from one good situation to another good situation.
In other words, NOTHIN' BUT GOOD.
posted by Lexica at 1:42 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
In other words, NOTHIN' BUT GOOD.
posted by Lexica at 1:42 PM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
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MetaFilter: Snakes From The Internet.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:56 PM on April 24, 2011 [44 favorites]