Neighbors Say Dubuque Home Smells Like a Zoo

[Cat_72]

What I think we have here is a bunch of morons that spend too much of their time on message boards.

Actually, I think what we really have here is someone that can't come up with a rational argument, so has resorted to calling names and having a tantrum. Come back when you grow up.

 

[Clay Davenport]

What I think we have here is a bunch of morons that spend too much of their time on message boards.

Wow. Such an articulate and well composed response.
Apparently I missed the memo about not challenging the claims or opinions of the all knowing "FZ" for if it has been decreed by him it must be indisputable.

 

[Phoenix2]

snakes in Dubuque home

We are the couple who own the snakes. Due to circumstances it has only been now that we've been able to respond. We'd like to thank everyone who stood up for us as herpetologists. This is our hobby. All of our pets are well cared for and checked daily. We are members of three hepetelogical societies. As for the neighbor next to us, her first response to us when she moved in was, "I hate neighbors." With that mentality we knew what we were going to be dealing with in the future. Around two years ago we received a phone call from a cub scout leader asking us to bring some snakes to a cub scout meeting. We brought around a dozen different varieties. All the kids and their parents enjoyed them very much. Until one of the parents found out she had moved next to us. She felt the need of 1 1/5 min of fame. Our attorney is dealing with our situation. We have no problem answering sensable questions regarding this. We will keep you posted. Linda & Bill

 

[Cat_72]

Bill and Linda, I wish you both all the best. Other than this silly story, I've heard nothing but good about you and your animals. I'm most of the way across the state, but if there's anything I can do to help you out, please let me know.

 

[Clay Davenport]

I wish you well in your unfortunate situation. You're going through something many of us fear, persecution from ignorant neighbors based on an irrational prejudice against snakes and the people who choose to keep them.
The worst part is this woman seems like the type of person who is so willing to force her views on others that she'll end up petitioning the local officials for an ordinance either banning snakes or limiting their numbers.

 

[barbie69]

Bill and Linda,
I wish you lots of good wishes and good luck with your stupid, ignorant neighbors as well as the uneducated law enforcement in your town.
You seem to be good people and you do not deserve this. I hope things work out for you and your animals.

 

[Hypancistrus]

The worst part is this woman seems like the type of person who is so willing to force her views on others that she'll end up petitioning the local officials for an ordinance either banning snakes or limiting their numbers.

I worry a lot about this as well. I'd like to get a tegu, but living in "town homes" which are connected to one another, I'd worry about ever taking her outside, for fear of what poorly educated, sensationalist neighbors with "God mentalities" might do to her, my yard, or my property.

Like I said in my first post... neighbors these days just suck. If I had won the big lottery, I'd buy a small house on a big piece of land, far from neighbors.

 

[fuscusking13]

I worry a lot about this as well. I'd like to get a tegu, but living in "town homes" which are connected to one another, I'd worry about ever taking her outside, for fear of what poorly educated, sensationalist neighbors with "God mentalities" might do to her, my yard, or my property.

Like I said in my first post... neighbors these days just suck. If I had won the big lottery, I'd buy a small house on a big piece of land, far from neighbors.

Often times neighbors can become angry because it is something out of the ordinary that they dont expect. It might be simple as talking to your neighbor on each side or floor, however your set up and let them know your intention, and that it will be properly maintained, some people might not be pleased, but will most likely oblige based on you being upfront and honest. On the other hand not everyone is reasonable or rational, but its worth a shot.

I for one hate and I do mean hate spiders. I wouldnt go out of my way to hurt them, but if I see one I often cant even walk, I freeze, I have trouble breathing ect.., but my friend keeps tarantulas, and I keep some of my snakes there, and I put up with it. It has actually helped my fear a lot to see the same spiders on a regular basis, and one of them I even like a little bit, as long as she is in her cage. Point being if a neighbor bred spiders I would live in fear everyday, but its not my place to complain, just dont let them get in my house and we are all good, or if one gets loose let me know so I can leave. I have no reason to be afraid, but for some reason can not conquer the fear lol. Believe it or not I was deathly afraid of snakes until I was about 16. Now I have owned African Rocks, Bloods, Burms, Boas, Retics, Cobras, Ect. Its weird for me to see myself in a photo with like a 15, 16, 17 foot snake and think that 7 years ago I would have myself if I saw that animal, heck I would have done it if I saw a corn snake lol.

I remember one time last summer I was looking for an apartment and found an add that said pets accepted, but no violent breeds. I applied to move in and got approved. I mentioned I had snakes and they told me I couldnt move in. I protested saying "you said pets accepted". Their respose was "pets not snakes"-not the right thing to say to someone who keeps these as pets lol, but I was polite and kept my composure. I assured him they were pets and what not, but he said "well your neighbors will be upset and I dont want to deal with that". I pulled the discrimination card so to speak saying "you said pets allowed, and they are pets, and these snakes had been used in childrens education program and were all tame and well cared for". He then put the burden of proof on me to prove they were all under lock and key and such, and I didnt want to deal with the hassel, since some of my cages didnt lock, but the snakes could not get out anyway. This I thought was just a great example of how snakes can be viewed by the ignorant masses outside of this hobby. Anyway enough of my rambling, take care all, and best of luck to you guys!!!!! Dan M.

 

[reptile.woman]

Why don't you people act like adults?
If you have that many reptiles in a house, they stink, period.
I work at a zoo and I know exactly what I am talking about, do you idiots?

I agree with you on that. Reptiles that are well maintained and have their cages cleaned thoroghly still smell. In a house, zoo, anywhere. I'm a sanitizing/clean freak and they just flat out stink. You have to really love reptiles to deal with the ordor. Even the food they eat stinks. There's nothing you can do about that.

I have had several reptiles in every room of my house and even with the cages getting cleaned EVERYDAY, it was never enough to control that nasty odor. I don't care for reptiles for a living anymore, but I do own a few now and eventhough they stink, my home smells a million times better.

 

[reptile.woman]

Properly cared for and cleaned snake cages/racks do NOT stink....no matter how many you have. Perhaps you need to look into your cleaning procedures at the "zoo"?

And yeah, calling people idiots is real adult type behavior.

If you can keep a house that's filled with reptiles in perfectly clean living conditions, I would really like to know what product you use. If you could tell me, I would be a loyal customer of that product for life. I'd also like to know what zoo you have been to that has such great cleaning procedures that cover the stink of repitles. I want to go there!!!

As for seeing that you have told many people in several threads about their lack of "adult behavior", practice what you preach. It also seems childish that most of the people that you have preached to weren't behaving childishly. No offense please. Maybe I just don't understand. As I could see there were a few people that deserved that, but only a few.

 

[Seamus Haley]

I'm a sanitizing/clean freak and they just flat out stink. You have to really love reptiles to deal with the ordor. Even the food they eat stinks. There's nothing you can do about that.

...

They don't shed individual skin cells as dander, they don't ooze skin oils, they don't leave hair or feathers or anything else that produces odors, other than their feces, which are fairly inert most the time, as smells go... Some species can musk and anything that regurges or drops oviviparous offspring reeks, but those are unusual circumstances. There's no scent rubbing or territory marking with urine...

What is this smell you're going on about? They're about as odorless as anything made of matter can get.

 

[reptile.woman]

There are several larger breeders in the hobby who maintain over 1000 snakes in their collections. Are you suggesting that the facilities of the Barkers, the Sutherlands, our webmaster here Rich, all stick to high heaven permeating their stench throughout the neighborhood?
If this was what was required to do this for a living, I seriously doubt many would want to spend 10 or 12 hours a day every day in that environment.


I've been to the Barkers reptile facility and it was not like a faint scent of aspen bedding. They take excellent care of their reptiles, they keep a clean facility, they are great people, awesome reptile breeders, and fantastic parents..... BUT..... their facility still stinks of reptiles!!! Reptiles just flat out stink no matter what cleaning procedures you use. You shouldn't be able to smell the stench through the neighborhood, but you can't avoid the natural stench of reptiles inside any large breeders facility. However, you can keep the foul stench from becoming overwhelming.

 

[Miss Tuniwha]

Karen.. I just want to throw out.. You mentioned that.. even snake food smells. I have kept snakes for about 6 years (which is nothing in the snake world ) And I have never had a rat smell.. why? I do frozen/thawed. Many people do.. there is no smell .. since there is no feces and urine.

although I only have 11 snakes.. I do agree with the others that have multiple snakes, that if you stay on top of cleaning.. there is no smell.. provided you clean the sheds/feces etc, and then remove the trash from the house. My husband would never let me keep them if they smelled. HA HA HA


Just my personal thoughts. ^_^

 

[reptile.woman]

I used to clean cages and feed hundreds of reptiles on a daily basis and I believe that it was the feces that caused most of the odor. Every cage was cleaned out daily. I disliked the odor so much that many cages were thoroughly cleaned out twice a day. If my face wasnt so close to the nasty stench that the snakes released, maybe I'd feel differently. I'd sooner stick my head in a cat litter box.

When people came over they'd claim they couldn't smell reptiles, but then they also couldn't smell the several cats that I had at the time either!!! I'm so happy not to care for reptiles for a living anymore. I have a few for pets (and spoil them well), but caring for hundreds of reptiles is just nasty!!!

 

[reptile.woman]

These threads are addicting huh???? lol Well... I see what everyone else is saying and as I said in my last thread, it was the snake feces, but what can I say.... I cleaned it all day!!!!

 

[dzoo]

Can we get an IP check between Rattlesnake and Reptile.woman ?

 

[Otter_23]

Some definate trolling going on, not someone brand new to the forum.

 

[Clay Davenport]

The IP doesn't match Rattlesnake, but I think it warrants further investigation.

I'm a little busy at the moment so will comment on the subject matter later.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

I used to clean cages and feed hundreds of reptiles on a daily basis and I believe that it was the feces that caused most of the odor. Every cage was cleaned out daily. I disliked the odor so much that many cages were thoroughly cleaned out twice a day. If my face wasnt so close to the nasty stench that the snakes released, maybe I'd feel differently. I'd sooner stick my head in a cat litter box.

When people came over they'd claim they couldn't smell reptiles, but then they also couldn't smell the several cats that I had at the time either!!! I'm so happy not to care for reptiles for a living anymore. I have a few for pets (and spoil them well), but caring for hundreds of reptiles is just nasty!!!

Twice a day eh?


Im going to say. BS. Whos animals did you take care of? have any proof. otherwise, see ya troll!

 

[Cat_72]

If you can keep a house that's filled with reptiles in perfectly clean living conditions, I would really like to know what product you use. If you could tell me, I would be a loyal customer of that product for life. I'd also like to know what zoo you have been to that has such great cleaning procedures that cover the stink of repitles. I want to go there!!!

I use either Chlorhexidine or Heathy Habitat cleaner, depending on the situation, and most are kept on paper towel or newpaper, with a few display cages using aspen for a substrate. Water dishes and cage furniture are washed as needed in hot dishsoapy water, rinsed, then sprayed with chlorhexidine and rerinsed. I have roughly 70 snakes, 8 Bearded dragons, 10 Leopard geckos, and an assortment of other odds and ends reptiles in my house.....and nope, there is no odor, except when feces are present. Clean them up, and the odor is gone. There is no need to "cover up" the smell of the reptiles, because they have no body odor. If the feces are removed and the cage is properly cleaned, there simply is nothing to smell. If in a humid environment, the aspen does have a slight scent, but it is not an objectionable smell.

I have one housecat, and his litterbox, gives off more odor than all of my reptiles.

Their "food", the live rodent kind anyway, are not kept in my house, so they do not contribute to any odor either. When they are brought in to be fed off, they aren't around long enough to make an odor.

But then, I'm guessing you really weren't wanting to know what products I use anyway.