As far as pet reptiles go, Ball Pythons are a popular choice – they grow to a manageable size, keep a calm temperament, and are generally very shy and docile creatures. And as long as you give them a warm, humid environment to thrive in, some frozen rats to munch on, and lots of love, they’ll typically live for 20 years on average.
Alas, we understand that this type of pet may not be suitable for everyone. (No judgement here!) However, some folks won’t realize that until they’ve gone through with an adoption – causing them to think about rehoming their ball python.
Surrendering Your Ball Python for Rehoming
If you’ve realized that being a snake parent isn’t necessarily for you, don’t freak out. (And whatever you do, absolutely do not release your pet into the wild.)
It’s extremely dangerous to release a ball python into the wild, as these little guys can suffer from trauma, starvation, or disease. Plus, ball pythons aren’t native to North America and are considered an invasive species.
So, what should you do instead? Well, the best course of action is to surrender your ball python for rehoming. (AKA: give your snake to professionals who can care for it until it finds a new owner.) It’s the same concept as taking a dog or cat to the shelter, but with a few different steps.
Unfortunately, local rehoming options are limited when it comes to ball pythons. However, we have a new — and significantly easier — way to give your reptile a new chance at finding its forever home. Keep scrolling, and we’ll tell you all about it.
Here’s How Our Nationwide Herp Adoption Program Works
The HTI herp adoption program is the very first, nationwide rehoming program for reptiles and amphibians. (Pretty cool, we know!) Here’s how it works:
- Step 1: Apply online. The first step in the ball python rehome process is to fill out a surrender request form, located on our Herp Adoption Program page. Once your surrender form is received, processed, and approved, we’re ready for you to send us your ball python.
- Step 2: Ship your pet. The HTI proudly partners with Redline Shipping to give you a 65% discount on overnight shipping. That ensures the safe transfer of your snake to our lab! And other than the shipping costs, there’s absolutely no fee for rehoming ball python.
Once our lab receives your ball python surrender, we’ll conduct a professional health assessment before rehoming them to a new business or family. In the meantime, we’ll keep them healthy and happy in our adoption facility’s cozy accommodations.
So, to quickly recap. All you have to do to rehome your ball python is:
- Fill out the surrender form
- Follow Redline Shipping’s instructions to overnight ship your ball python to HTI
- Rest assured that your snake is in good hands
… That’s all there is to it!
Revolutionizing Ball Python Rehoming
Our HTI team is passionate about keeping reptiles and amphibians safe, healthy, and cared for. And we’re proud that our nationwide herp adoption program is the first of its kind. Currently, we’re accepting any pet amphibian species, bearded dragons, and snakes (excluding Burmese and reticulated pythons). And we’re adding more reptile species this fall – so stay tuned!
There’s no shame in learning that a reptile isn’t the right pet for you. Send ‘em our way and we’ll promise to take good care of your cold-blooded friend!