Get a Pet Snake

Snakes are very interesting pets to have. You must take very good care of them.

Steps

  1. Educate yourself. Learn about the animal you're about to buy - habits, food requirements, habitat. Make sure you really want a snake and are prepared to take good care of it.
  2. Find a proper breeder. Pet store snakes are often bad stock, either abused or captured. Find a breeder you can trust that offers good quality snakes for a price that you are willing to pay.
  3. Look at the snake before you decide to adopt it. A healthy snake should have clear eyes and nose, neatly arranged scales, and breathe without respiratory distress. It should not be lethargic, but should allow you to pick it up without too much fuss.
  4. Ask the snake's previous owner about the animal's history. You need to know what it eats and how often, whether it is a fussy eater, the date and quality of its last shed (a well-shed skin comes off all in one piece, if the snake sheds in bits and pieces it may be unhealthy).
  5. Purchase a home for your snake. You'll need a tank, some cage lining, a heat source, thermometers, a water dish large enough for the snake to soak in, some things for your snake to climb on, and a hiding place that is just large enough for the snake to curl up in. The cage must be at least 2/3 the length of the snake. Make sure you have a place to put a cage this size.
  6. You'll also need to buy some food for the snake. The best snake food is pre-killed prey: you buy the prey frozen, thaw it out at home, and feed it to the snake. Make sure you are comfortable with the idea of this.
  7. If you plan to feed your snake live prey, be aware of the risks. Live mice and rats can carry diseases and parasites, and they can bite and struggle, possibly injuring your pet.
  8. Set up the snake's home, then bring the snake home and introduce it to its new environment.
  9. Enjoy! Snakes are good pets and solid friends. Bond with your new pet, and rejoice in your good fortune.

Tips

  • Don't impulse buy. Research the animal before you ever bring it home. Make sure its habitat is set up and ready before you get home with him.
  • Make sure everyone in your family is comfortable with the idea of living with a snake. Also, try to ensure that at least one person besides you is willing to feed the snake if you go on vacation.
  • If getting a snake soon after its birth, be sure to handle it regularly so it will become tame. Baby snakes are more shy than adult snakes, so if the snake is nervous at first, don't give up.
  • Do NOT get a species that is venomous or has a reputation for aggression.
  • Don't get a snake if you aren't absolutely sure you will be able to keep it for its entire lifespan. Animal shelters and zoos are full of adult snakes that their owners couldn't handle or just didn't want any more.
  • Don't feed or handle your snake for at least a week after it has been introduced to its new home so it has time to acclimate.
  • The best first snake for people who have never kept snake before are corn snakes. Corn snakes are docile, relatively small, commonly bred, and nonvenomous.
  • Garter snakes are actually one of the best first snakes to keep. Depending on where you live they may not even need heating during the warmer months and can feast on insects or fish if you aren't comfortable with feeding them mice.
  • Be careful with heating. Snakes do not feel burning sensations and will not move from the warm spot if they don't want to, resulting in flesh damage.
  • Tell your family that your getting a snake so if they see it they won't kill it.
  • Use newspaper as bedding, a have coconut as a cave, and water dishes with clean water (note; put down a rock).

Warnings

  • Never allow a constrictor to wrap itself around your torso or neck, when startled or frightened it could instinctively constrict and hurt or kill you.
  • Get a thermostat or lamp dimmer for the under tank heater. Unmonitored under tank heaters can reach 120F which will burn your snake. Monitor all temperatures.
  • All reptiles can carry salmonella bacteria. After handling your snake, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. Never clean the cage or its components in your kitchen sink, and keep the snake away from human food and dishes. Don't let children under age 6 handle the animal, and if older kids touch it, ensure they don't put their hands in their mouths afterward.
  • Great care should be taken around the feeding times of all snakes, this is when they are most aggressive. Never handle your snake when he or she is hungry. Do not handle them directly after feeding either. This may cause them to regurgitate their food.
  • Do not use 'heat rocks,' little electric rocks that heat up to warm your snake. They will cause burns. Make sure the heat source is not inside the cage or some place where the snake can get too close to it. Monitor the temperatures in the cage carefully.
  • Never handle a large snake on your own. Have at least one friend help you whenever you feed or pick up a big snake. If it starts to wrap around you, unwind it carefully starting from the tail. DO NOT START FROM THE HEAD! This is dangerous, as the snake may become defensive, and bite, or constrict more.
  • Venomous snakes (or "hot herps") are illegal in many places, and should only be kept by very experienced reptile owners. Don't get one just because you think it would be cool.
  • Do not get a large snake (one that will grow longer than 5 feet) for your first snake. Big snakes require a lot of experience and a great deal of work, plus they need a large snake-proof enclosure to themselves. No matter how "cool" you think it would be to own a big snake, if you have never kept a snake before, a Burmese python or red-tailed boa is a poor choice. Do not assume you will gain enough experience or save enough money to maintain the snake as it grows from a baby to an adult. They grow faster than you think.

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