Snakes and Geckos as Pets

[Krista Olen]

Does anyone have any experience allowing tenants to have snakes or geckos as pets? 

I have a tenant applying to live at one of my properties with a snake and a gecko. I allow pets, but typically my tenants have cats or dogs. Are reptiles any more risky to allow as pets in terms of damages or odors? Is there any reason to simply not allow them?

[Genny Li]

Originally posted by @Alecia Loveless:

@Krista Olen I could see limiting the snake depending on what it was. A 2’-3’ garden snake that eats crickets is way different than a 7’ long Boa constrictor or Python that is eating live rabbits. Or do you really want a tenant bringing live mice into your building to be eaten when I’m sure we already all have enough issues with mice.

Just my thoughts….

 Yeahhhhhhh, you are totally clueless about reptiles. Lol.

I would make a stipulation that there is to be no live feeding of mammals (unlikely, anyway--hardly anyone does this except psychos) and no large bulk purchase or breeding of insects except in SFHs. You don't want your tenants keeping 5,000 crickets in a tub--even if they don't knock it over, there are odor and noise issues.  Those shouldn't be in duplexes, townhomes, apartments, condos.

Also, have a hard "no venomous snakes" rule and limit tarantulas to New World only--and approve by species.  Some tarantulas are very chill and also not very venomous, while others are quite the opposite (not true tarantulas, but people call them that, anyway).