Me, My Snakes & My Uncle

I've started keeping snakes as a pet since 2000, a baby Boa Constrictor 11 days old (60cm).
Here's my pic with my uncle and his baby Molurus at his house at Madura Island.

He also has many snakes, a baby Molurus (90 cm), juvenile Molurus (180 cm) and adult Molurus (350 cm), Blood Pythons, Jungle Carpet Python, Albino Molurus and Boa Contrictor.

Snake Buying Tips

Buying a snake can be a sizable investment. Purchasing any pet requires making a commitment to the pet's care and well-being, and getting a snake is no different. Like any other pet, it is important to do your research so you know that the particular species or breed is something you will enjoy owning in the years to come. Find out how difficult they are to feed and house before you buy.

Remember that some snakes get extremely large, can be dangerous, and live a long time. Lifespans of over twenty years are not uncommon. Don't assume getting rid of that unwanted reptile will be a piece of cake either. Large pythons, in particular, are being kept in snake rescue facilities in larger and larger quantities. Too often they are purchased on the spur of the moment because they seem "cool." Even zoos are not interested in that big snake you can no longer handle. And don't even think about just "turning it loose."

Snakes, especially large ones, can require a great deal of time and effort to take care of. You might even need extra people to help you with routine cage cleaning and water bowl filling. Know the particulars before you take the plunge. There are good books available for learning about most common reptiles that are kept as pets.

Another thing to check out before buying is the laws of your particular city. In many places, snakes of certain varieties are restricted as pets.

That being said, it's a good idea to get the enclosure, or vivarium, ready for the snake to move in before buying one. Different species have different requirements in heat, humidity, and size of enclosure, so again, do your homework.

Before buying, look your snake over for indicators of poor health. It's a good idea to hang around the pet store or breeders' for a while, just watching the snakes. There are observations you can make that will clue you in on an individual snake's temperament as well as its health. The snake should not be too thin or fat. Its eyes should be bright and shiny. If they appear dull, it's a sign that the snake is about to shed its skin. Don't buy a snake while it is shedding. Wait until it has shed so you can get a better idea of how it looks. It shouldn't have any breaks in the skin.

It's normal for snakes to flick their tongues frequently. This is their way of sensing tastes and smells that show them what is going on around them. Snakes don't generally rely on their vision as much as other animals. If the tongue flicking is slower, it could signal the snake is on the defensive.

It is important to get a snake that has been hatched or birthed by a reputable breeder. Never buy a wild-caught snake. For one thing, snakes caught in the wild are often problem feeders. In fact, make sure the snake is happily eating pre-killed food before you buy it. If it is used to live food, it can be difficult to train it to eat pre-killed food. If it is a snake you caught yourself, you have to know exactly what species it is in order to feed it its normal diet. For instance, some species of snakes live entirely on other snakes' eggs. How are you going to feed one of those?

Another reason not to buy a snake caught in the wild is that it can upset the natural ecology of the region where the snake was caught. Pet snakes are being bred and raised in large numbers. There is no reason to jeopardize foreign ecology and stress a wild snake when there are so many captive snakes available.

Some species of snakes are not commonly bred in captivity and are likely to have been captured in the wild. This is true even of snakes bought at the pet store. The Ball Python is one such snake, and it has become a threatened species in its native Africa. Find out before you buy if the snake you want was caught in the wild. If you absolutely must buy a snake caught in the wild, make sure it is a very young one.

The best place to go to find a reputable breeder is your local herpetological society. Most areas have herp clubs for people who are into reptiles. If you're lucky, you might get to attend a herp show in your area. Breeders attend these gatherings and show off their stock. Search online for information about herp shows you could attend. (Herpetology is the branch of biology that studies reptiles and amphibians. "Herp" is a common nickname for these animals.) Getting in touch with other hobbyists is another good way to find breeders. Join a group, even if it is an online community, or visit (www.boatips.com/forums) to learn more.

When studying the choices of pet snake species, get to know the Latin names. Common names vary with pet stores and with regions. By knowing exactly what species of snake you want, you can save yourself a lot of trouble. Different species of similar snakes, such as boas or pythons, have different temperaments and grow to different sizes. Just knowing it is a boa or a python is not specific enough to know for sure what you are getting.

Finally, there are some people who just should not own pet snakes. These include homes with children under five and anyone with a compromised immune system. The reason snakes are dangerous for these people is that there is a small possibility of a snake carrying salmonella. Small children can be injured by snakes, too. While some small children and pets have been constricted to death by large pet snakes, most notably reticulated and Burmese pythons (which can grow to sizes of 25 feet and weigh several hundred pounds), most of the casualties have been young men. And most of the young men who have been killed by their snakes have been intoxicated when it happened.

Know what you're getting into when you start shopping for that cool looking snake. Get a beginner snake, like a corn snake or ball python, if you are a beginner. And prepare to be in it for the long haul.

(Gary Ruplinger, boatips.com)

Choosing The Right Kind of Snakes

So, you've gone to the pet store or talked to breeders and you're totally excited to buy a new friend and take it home. Before you go overboard and get caught up in the fun of having a snake, you should consider what kind you are going to buy. When first starting out with snakes, you want to choose a type of snake that is good for beginners. If you get a snake that requires more advanced care, you may end up being overwhelmed. Plus, these snakes are harder to find a new home for if you want to get rid of them because very few people may be qualified to properly take care of them. Here I will provide a list of a few starter snakes and information on each to help you choose which one might be the best for you. I will also tell you some snakes that people like, but are more advanced, so you should probably hold off on buying.

GOOD STARTER SNAKE CHOICES:

Ball Python (also Royal Python)

This is my personal recommendation for a good beginner snake. I have had several of these and have had very few problems with them. They tend to be very calm and rarely bite unless they are provoked. They are also fairly slow moving snakes. We would often let ours sit out while we worked in the house and it would just curl up and hang out (although you should never leave a snake unattended). I would recommend buying one that is slightly older (i.e. not a hatchling) because they are much more likely to survive and to eat well. Don't buy a wild caught snake, they can be hard to tame and are much less likely to eat regularly. These snakes eat mostly mice (but some prefer birds) and only grow to be 4 or 5 feet long. Just remember that this is a long commitment, because these snakes can live to be 30 years old if cared for properly.

Corn Snakes

These are good starter snakes because they are readily available and also stay fairly small. This also means they eat less food and require a smaller tank for proper care. These snakes are fairly calm and are generally very good eaters (in case you don't want to have to worry about tricking your snake into eating). They also can be kept in many environments, so they are less likely to get ill from an improper environment (but a responsible owner should try to keep them as comfortable as possible).

Milk Snakes

These snakes are small and easy to maintain. They require a dry environment with little light, so you don't have to worry about keeping up the humidity or turning the lights on and off. They do just fine with alternative heating sources, but you will need some light if you're keeping live plants. Just remember that milk snakes are gifted escape artists, so you need to provide a very secure environment to keep them from wandering away.

POOR STARTER SNAKE CHOICES:

Reticulated Pythons, Common Or Red Tailed Boas, Rock Pythons, Burmese Pythons

While some of these snakes (especially the boas) can be quite tame, they are still quite large. A full grown reticulated python requires several people to be handled safely. Even if proper precautions are taken, there is little you could do to stop the snake if they decided to constrict. Plus, even if they don't usually bite, a bite from a snake that large is much harder to care for than one from a small snake. They also require very large enclosures and the food is generally quite pricey. Rainbow Boas, Emerald Tree Boas, Green Tree Pythons While these snakes do not get very large, they don't always have very good temperaments and could do a lot of biting depending on the snake. These snakes can also be very fast and hard to handle outside of their tank. These are just a few recommendations; you don't need to limit yourself. Just be sure to do as much research as you can on the snake you decide to get. Know before you buy what care they require and be sure you are able to provide it.

Good luck and have fun with your new friend!

(boatips.com)

How To Get A Pet Snake (wikihow)

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 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The best first snakes for people who have never kept snakes before are corn snakes and ball pythons. Both species are docile, relatively small, commonly bred, and nonvenomous.
• Do NOT get a species that is venomous or has a reputation for aggression.

WARNINGS

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Don't become a hoarder of snakes.
  

Things To Remember About Feeding Snakes

NEVER handle the snake soon after feeding.
NEVER smell like the snakes food.
NEVER offer a prey item to your snake with your hand.
NEVER feed the snake out of the enclosure.
NEVER teach the snake that when the door is open food is coming in.
NEVER feed a large constrictor alone.

Simple Questionaire

Here is a few simple questions:

1. Why do I really want a snake?
(a) to impress my friends
(b) keep burglars out
(c) easy to care for
(d) because I think they are neat

2. How much research have I done, about different kinds of snakes & their care?
(a) none
(b) read a little
(c) did a lot of reading, asking questions, visited other snake handlers

3. What do you think of killing little furry critters? Such as mice, rats, and cute bunny rabb= its.
(a) no way!
(b) ok with the mice & rats, but the rabbits
(c) no problem everything must eat

4. Do I have any small children, or plan to have any in the next 10 years or so?
(a) sure it will make a great pet for the kid
(b) not for another 5 or 6 years
(c) all kids are bigger than me/I don't pl= an to have any

5. How many friends do I have that handle snakes?
(a) none
(b) the guy next door
(c) several that's how I know I want one

6. How much room do I have for the snake.
(a) plan to keep in the corner
(b) the whole house/apt
(c) a spare room

7. How much can I afford?
(a) less than $200 year
(b) less than $300 year
(c) I'm rich

True or False
1. I can always breed them and make money.
2. If it gets too large I can sell it or give it to the zoo.
3. Snakes are easy to take care of.

If your answers were "c" all the way down and said false to all, good for you.
If not, you need to give this some thought.

1. If you want to impress your friends take them out for a night on the town. If you feel unsafe at your home either move, or buy a burglar alarm system. You will meet your goal, and save money too. Snakes are great creatures, HOWEVER they are wild animals!

2. Would you buy a car/truck you didn't know anything about? Of course not, you ask around about it. How much is maintenance, any known problems, miles per gal, resale value, etc. Snakes are much the same, there are many different kinds, with different needs.

3. Snakes must eat. They don't eat Purnia Snake Chow, they eat other animals. With any luck your snake will eat pre-killed food. Depending on what you get, do you mind a freezer with a case of dead rats? Some snakes will only eat live food. Th= is must be done with supervision, every time it feeds !!!!! Can you sit there and watch him kill and eat the Easter Bunny.

4. Small children love to get into everything. One "opps" can cost a child his/her life. Safety must be first on your list. There are many small snakes that WITH supervision make good pets for kids, but many should never be around children.

5. How big are you, and what is your experience level? Just as with children an adult can als= o be injured or killed. As a rule of thumb, 1 experienced person for every 5 feet of snake. If your snake will become large, be sure you have enough friends to help.

6. Baby snakes are just like puppies. Some will stay small others will become very large. Snakes also grow fast. Make sure you the room now, for when it becomes full grown. A snake should NEVER be left to roam the home unsupervised.

7. Well let just see what it will cost. Of course these are rough numbers. Much depends on what kind of snake, and where you live. Also many times you can get used items. Also there much cheaper and better ways to keep your snake warm and happy. This is only to give you an idea of some of the hidden costs.

• 1 cheap healthy snakes that will stay small (ball python) $50


• 1 cheap tank that won't hold water $20


• 1 lock down top $30


• 1 light fixture, to hold heat light $10


• 2 mice a week $1


• electrivity for 100 watt hat bulb @5cents hour - 18 h/day $90/day - $328,5/year


• 1 vet visit a year (if you're lucky & its never get ill) $40


• used newspaper for bottom, water bowl & a hide box $0


• TOTAL for first year $702,5

There are some snakes that can be bred for profit. However there is an over population of many species just like cats & dogs. Think about it if it was easy every one would be doing it. =
Many snakes loose their value as they get larger. Every one wants a baby. Most zoos have mo= re than enough snakes, and won't take one even for free. Many snakes are abandoned, or killed because someone didn't think before buying that "Cute Little Guy".
Snakes are like any other living creatures. They require care.

So you still want a snake, hit your local library or bookstore and start reading. Call a local collage or university to see if there is a Herp Club in your area. Meet some other people. Check out one of the Snake lists/newsgroups, to learn even more.

Then go and find the one that is right for you.

(robinsfyi.com)

Snakes As A Pet

Some people are drawn to snakes, others recoil in fear. Throughout history, snakes have figured prominenetly in religion and folklore, representing both good and evil. Some of the fascination comes from the fact that they have no legs, and this makes them mysterious to us. For whatever reason, the snake is the subject of countless rumors and stories, most of them entirely fictional.
Many people believe that all snakes are dangerous, slimy creatures. This is far from the truth. Unfrotunately, the stories about the hiker who scared away a shy corn snake don't make healines, but stories of anacondas eating childern sell papers. In fact, snakes are clean, dry silky skinned animals that are mostly non-dangerous to humans. Of course, there are a number of poisionous, and even lethal snakes, but they are encountered far less often than the rumor mill would have us believe.


As far as pets go, there are types of snakes that make fine companions. A snake won't come when you call it, or fetch a ball for you, but watching it explore, eat and sleep has a strange, soothing effect. My snakes have taught me that there is value in a patient, unhurried approach to life, springing into action only when necessary.
A snake needs special consideration as a pet, however. Despite your best efforts and intentions, you will encounter people who fears snakes, and will not or can not overcome this fear. If one of these happens to be your husband or wife, you (and your pet) are in for a rough time! Don't assume that logic, or time will take this fear away. Make sure that everyone in your family, and any frequent guests that you plan on keepings as friends have at least an attitude of acceptance towards snakes.


Most snakes eat rodents, frogs, insects, or other snakes. Make sure that you will be comfortable with this. Some people get a little squeamish when they realize they need to keep these "cute" little dead mice in their freezer. Some snakes will refuse to eat anything but live food. Make sure that you will be comfortable feeding live mice to your snake if the need arises.
Poisonous snakes do not make good pets. Stay clear of them - these should be handled only by professionals. No matter what precautions you take, or how well prepared you are, one day an accident will hapen. If you are lucky, it will just mean some time in the hospital. If you're not...
We have all seen the person with a snake around his/her neck on TV, or a snake owner showing off. This is incredibly foolish - it's about the equivalent of closing your eyes for ten seconds while driving on the highway. Many time someone can get away with this, but if the snake decides to tighten it's grip, it can cut off the blood flow to the brain and render you unconcious, or even dead. The worst part of it is that the snake is covering such a large area of the neck that the pressure is hardly felt. Snakes are amazingly strong. Consider the fact that virtually every muscle in their body can be used for constricting when they decide to.
If you want a snake to impress your friends, or shock your inlaws, then do us all a favor and just dye your hair orange or get your eyelids pierced or something. A snake is a living, intelligent creature that has as much right as any animal to live comfortably and securely. Unqualified or uncaring snake owners are the ones that we read about in the papers, and make the public at large wary of snakes and those who keep them.
(Petreptiles.com)


Well if you still confused about it, just try the Simple Questionaire..