Pet snakes
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I was wondering about exotic pets, and thought that maybe I could get a snake, but before making a decision like that I wanted to know more about it. Mind you that I wouldn't get a poisonous, huge, or rare snake, a harmless and small one (around on meter or so one). Anyone here owns a snake or know anyone who does?
How much trouble they give? Cleaning the tank, heat, hygiene of the snake, and stuff like that. Any piece or amount of information is welcomed.
How much trouble they give? Cleaning the tank, heat, hygiene of the snake, and stuff like that. Any piece or amount of information is welcomed.
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Waar
FAKKU Moderator
terrible pet, you cant even hug them... you can but it might hurt in the end...
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snakes are awesome...but yes kinda hard to keep at first
like u said u need the tank the special light to keep them warm
u gotta make sure there environment is to the liking of the certain species
and when you feed it make sure the rat or whatever you are feeding it is alive so that it can shace its own pray..but this is pretty comman knoladge i guess but before you buy 1 make sure you talk to a specialist about so he can tell you what u need to keep 1
like u said u need the tank the special light to keep them warm
u gotta make sure there environment is to the liking of the certain species
and when you feed it make sure the rat or whatever you are feeding it is alive so that it can shace its own pray..but this is pretty comman knoladge i guess but before you buy 1 make sure you talk to a specialist about so he can tell you what u need to keep 1
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halas12 wrote...
Snakes??? Just buy a dog they are realy good pets ^^not better then snakes tho imo(i love snakes and/or reptiles)
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animeholic1 wrote...
1 word : Lamia
Pic drawn by Zak
Loved the pic. But that is what happens when you mix a snake with women, too much power to crush you, still we can't deny the fact that they are beautiful. Well some of them. Still as any anime fan I would love to get a lamia (snake girl), maybe not one of that size, but one of a smaller size, maybe in the scale of a venomous snake. I can't help in thinking how cute ones like that are.
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bukbuk wrote...
just don't end up like this
I imagined getting a small one, like a water snake or something like that, not a major constritor. First I can't support it, second I want something that I can keep home rather easily and not worrying in getting on a death hug or a deadly bite.
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halas12 wrote...
Snakes??? Just buy a dog they are realy good pets ^^My father used to have dogs and I was forced to take care of them. Dogs smell, are messy, shit all over the place, eat slipers and sandals, are loud, the list goes on, sure dogs have their qualities but I am more of a cat person myself.
And snakes are beautiful animals, I don't deny their own set of issues but still they are beautiful.
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I used to want a snake before, or some sort of reptile. As far as I'm concerned, temperature maintenance, reptile diet, and overall awareness that you don't step on it/kill it by accident are the biggest issues to consider.
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I own/owned several snakes. Behavior of the snake highly depends on it's species. I'd recommend getting a ball python. They're relatively docile, and easy to keep after. They grow to a manageable size, anywhere from about 90-120cm.
As far as it's habitat goes, it needs to say anywhere from about 25-30C, and they need a basking spot around 30-35C. At night, you should get a separate night time lighting, and drop that to 19-24C. In reality get a thermometer for the cage, also don't use incandescent light bulbs nor heating rocks; heating rocks can potentially harm your snake.
Keep a large water dish, most snakes like to lay in water to cool off. As far as the substrate goes, it isn't worth it for younger snakes. Young snakes take time to get used to it's environment so don't feel sad when your snake doesn't eat for 3 months, they're like Hollywood actresses, binge eaters. So use newspaper until it gets older.
As far as enclosures go, a baby python will feel good in a 10 gallon, once it gets bigger upgrade to a 30 gallon and it will be fine. Try finding reptile enclosures, they have a sliding top screen and in the front has a hole to place a lock, all snakes are escape artists so it's ideal to have some sort of lock. Before I found those cages I would put bricks and cinderblocks ontop of the cage(I own a snake thats 12 feet long.)
There ya go, thats the knowledge I've pretty much accumulated over the years of owning snakes and various reptiles. A lot of taking care of them is managing their environment so it isn't a walk in the park like owning a cat. But, good luck.
As far as it's habitat goes, it needs to say anywhere from about 25-30C, and they need a basking spot around 30-35C. At night, you should get a separate night time lighting, and drop that to 19-24C. In reality get a thermometer for the cage, also don't use incandescent light bulbs nor heating rocks; heating rocks can potentially harm your snake.
Keep a large water dish, most snakes like to lay in water to cool off. As far as the substrate goes, it isn't worth it for younger snakes. Young snakes take time to get used to it's environment so don't feel sad when your snake doesn't eat for 3 months, they're like Hollywood actresses, binge eaters. So use newspaper until it gets older.
As far as enclosures go, a baby python will feel good in a 10 gallon, once it gets bigger upgrade to a 30 gallon and it will be fine. Try finding reptile enclosures, they have a sliding top screen and in the front has a hole to place a lock, all snakes are escape artists so it's ideal to have some sort of lock. Before I found those cages I would put bricks and cinderblocks ontop of the cage(I own a snake thats 12 feet long.)
There ya go, thats the knowledge I've pretty much accumulated over the years of owning snakes and various reptiles. A lot of taking care of them is managing their environment so it isn't a walk in the park like owning a cat. But, good luck.
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Bashface wrote...
I own/owned several snakes. Behavior of the snake highly depends on it's species. I'd recommend getting a ball python. They're relatively docile, and easy to keep after. They grow to a manageable size, anywhere from about 90-120cm.As far as it's habitat goes, it needs to say anywhere from about 25-30C, and they need a basking spot around 30-35C. At night, you should get a separate night time lighting, and drop that to 19-24C. In reality get a thermometer for the cage, also don't use incandescent light bulbs nor heating rocks; heating rocks can potentially harm your snake.
Keep a large water dish, most snakes like to lay in water to cool off. As far as the substrate goes, it isn't worth it for younger snakes. Young snakes take time to get used to it's environment so don't feel sad when your snake doesn't eat for 3 months, they're like Hollywood actresses, binge eaters. So use newspaper until it gets older.
As far as enclosures go, a baby python will feel good in a 10 gallon, once it gets bigger upgrade to a 30 gallon and it will be fine. Try finding reptile enclosures, they have a sliding top screen and in the front has a hole to place a lock, all snakes are escape artists so it's ideal to have some sort of lock. Before I found those cages I would put bricks and cinderblocks ontop of the cage(I own a snake thats 12 feet long.)
There ya go, thats the knowledge I've pretty much accumulated over the years of owning snakes and various reptiles. A lot of taking care of them is managing their environment so it isn't a walk in the park like owning a cat. But, good luck.
that sounds so awesome =] i cant wait to get 1 of my own :P :P
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Brittany
Director of Production
My brother had snakes, he had weird pets. Snakes, oscars, and piranhas.
Snakes I had a lot of experiences with since I was around my brother when I was younger. When I was really young, I got a mouse from its cage and put the mouse in the snake cage. I didn't really understand what happened but I felt bad after I put the mouse in and put my hand back in to get it out and the snake snatched my hand up between my thumb and pointer finger.
Luckily that was just your normal sized snake.
When I was older my brother had a 14 foot boa. Her name was Baby, go figure. Her diet was rabbits and an occasional rooster. I never saw her eat a rooster, and I never stayed around to watch the rabbits either, because when they're constricted they let out this ear piercing scream. Seriously.
But yea... Baby was huge. She was never a problem with my Nanny (who my brother lived with) or me, he used to sling her over my shoulders and I barely managed to hold her up.
Sometimes she'd get out of her cage. My brother had 2 50lbs weights on her tank and she'd just push them off. Twice she ended up in my nanny's room. Once in her drawers, and the other time at the end of her bed in her covers.
Snakes I had a lot of experiences with since I was around my brother when I was younger. When I was really young, I got a mouse from its cage and put the mouse in the snake cage. I didn't really understand what happened but I felt bad after I put the mouse in and put my hand back in to get it out and the snake snatched my hand up between my thumb and pointer finger.
Luckily that was just your normal sized snake.
When I was older my brother had a 14 foot boa. Her name was Baby, go figure. Her diet was rabbits and an occasional rooster. I never saw her eat a rooster, and I never stayed around to watch the rabbits either, because when they're constricted they let out this ear piercing scream. Seriously.
But yea... Baby was huge. She was never a problem with my Nanny (who my brother lived with) or me, he used to sling her over my shoulders and I barely managed to hold her up.
Sometimes she'd get out of her cage. My brother had 2 50lbs weights on her tank and she'd just push them off. Twice she ended up in my nanny's room. Once in her drawers, and the other time at the end of her bed in her covers.
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Obviously, some species are more fit to be a pet snake than others - and that's not only for their behaviour in aggressiveness, but also in sensitiveness, and if you're not experienced in handling reptiles overall, things as hibernation, force-feed, complicated moisture and temperature can turn into a living hell for your fosterling.
I'd also advice you to think twice before getting an albino, as my experience taught me that they are slightly more delicate than their 'natural' versions. Also, it's not true that the smaller ones are easier to handle. Generally, the larger, the more inactive. And as bashface said earlier, lock the terrarium tightly. I had the experience of waking up in my bed with an almost full-grown indian python (Great pets, by the way. If you're interested in some larger ones, this one's a good choice even for beginners. Very calm and not too sensitive on their surroundings, but on the other side, it IS capable of killing you. But I've even heard of households with infant children keeping them around, and the kids were even able to play around with them, without any aggressive reacting. But they can be a pain whenever you need to move them around.) and that's eventually not pleasant. And unlike from popular belief, snakes can be very cuddly, especially when it's cold. Another instance where you might regret having such a huge one around. I know I did.
I'd also advice you to, if you're getting one (Whichever species.) that you're not taking newborns if you're not experienced with such things as force-feeding. I had several cases where people requested my aid to assure the survival of the animal, and forcefully opening the mouth is one of the most threatening acts you can possibly do to a snake, and is therefore not recommended if you're not experienced in handling them, and I also wouldn't trust any random vet on on such a delicate matter. And a very important thing when handling snakes is to remember the sensitiveness of their heads - the eyes, the tongue and their nostrils. Make sure to never make them even smell any aggressive liquid like alcohol or disinfectant, the resulting reactions might not be pleasant. Also, if you ever need information on a specific matter, you can feel free to PM me whenever you feel the need to.
I'd also advice you to think twice before getting an albino, as my experience taught me that they are slightly more delicate than their 'natural' versions. Also, it's not true that the smaller ones are easier to handle. Generally, the larger, the more inactive. And as bashface said earlier, lock the terrarium tightly. I had the experience of waking up in my bed with an almost full-grown indian python (Great pets, by the way. If you're interested in some larger ones, this one's a good choice even for beginners. Very calm and not too sensitive on their surroundings, but on the other side, it IS capable of killing you. But I've even heard of households with infant children keeping them around, and the kids were even able to play around with them, without any aggressive reacting. But they can be a pain whenever you need to move them around.) and that's eventually not pleasant. And unlike from popular belief, snakes can be very cuddly, especially when it's cold. Another instance where you might regret having such a huge one around. I know I did.
I'd also advice you to, if you're getting one (Whichever species.) that you're not taking newborns if you're not experienced with such things as force-feeding. I had several cases where people requested my aid to assure the survival of the animal, and forcefully opening the mouth is one of the most threatening acts you can possibly do to a snake, and is therefore not recommended if you're not experienced in handling them, and I also wouldn't trust any random vet on on such a delicate matter. And a very important thing when handling snakes is to remember the sensitiveness of their heads - the eyes, the tongue and their nostrils. Make sure to never make them even smell any aggressive liquid like alcohol or disinfectant, the resulting reactions might not be pleasant. Also, if you ever need information on a specific matter, you can feel free to PM me whenever you feel the need to.
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Thanks everyone for the replies. I am still pondering on getting or not a pet snake, though it sounds very interesting, I still need to think a lot on it, and find a licensed store that sells them as well, and of course my family's reaction to the idea.
One thing made me quite curious and is related to the tank cleaning, snakes poop? I mean I heard/saw in the discovery channel snakes throwing up eggshells, bones and other undigestible stuff from their meals. I don't know what sounds more worriesome, cleaning up puked bones or not finding any at all.
One thing made me quite curious and is related to the tank cleaning, snakes poop? I mean I heard/saw in the discovery channel snakes throwing up eggshells, bones and other undigestible stuff from their meals. I don't know what sounds more worriesome, cleaning up puked bones or not finding any at all.