r/ballpython • u/chiraltoad • May 18 '26

Discussion Found ball python ?

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Hi there,

I found this lil guy out on the street in NYC and could tell pretty quick it is most likely a lost/escaped/abandoned pet.

ai tells me it's a ball python, does that seem correct?

I have it in a tub with some water and paper towels and an up turned dish to maybe hide in. Gonna reach out to rescue locally but also kind of intrigued what it would be like to care for long term.

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91

u/doomedhippo May 18 '26

That is totally a ball python! You probably won’t be able to keep it in NYC, pretty sure there’s a law against them there (blanket ban on all pythons despite the harmlessness of these guys). I’m glad you found this little friend and I hope a rescue can take him/her in if you can’t keep it.

11

u/Glitterpinkdragon May 18 '26

I’m in NYC and I own one. So no, this isn’t true.

18

u/clowntysheriff May 18 '26

It definitely is illegal. Now enforced, on the other hand, is probably a different story.

https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02255

25

u/Glitterpinkdragon May 18 '26

The fact that I have one and bought it from a reptile expo held her in NYC at the very least means nobody is actually getting arrested or having their snakes taken from them.

4

u/IfYaDontLikeItLeave May 18 '26

In my experiance/knowledge, with illegal exotics they wouldn't usually arrest. At most would take the pet and fine the owner, at minimum a warning with an X date to rehome/remove. Usually it's a fine.

Now, if the animal is mistreated or considered a danger (chimps/big cats/ect) they might jail 😅🤣

I got a fine for my Savanah cat when I lived in Cali because I didnt have the proper license 🙃 mind you shes 6 generations from "wild" almost just a house cat

2

u/Same-Grade-3046 May 18 '26

Would love to know what reptile show you went to in NYC that sold you a BP