| Before you make that trip to the pet store, | | | | plant, whether fake or real, and a shallow |
| ask yourself "Why do I want a snake?" Is it | | | | dish of water for soaking. |
| because you're trying to impress your | | | | |
| friends? Is it because you saw a killer | | | | As snakes are cold blooded, their body |
| anaconda in a popular film, and you'd like | | | | temperatures depend directly upon the |
| something along those lines to show people | | | | temperature in their environment. Snakes have |
| when they come over? Do you want to shock or | | | | no self-cooling or heating systems. They |
| scare your parents and other relatives during | | | | simply move into and out of the heat. It's |
| holiday gatherings? Thanks to a nearly | | | | imperative, then, that you maintain a daytime |
| age-old role in mythology, folklore, | | | | temperature of between 80 and 85 degrees and |
| religion, and, more recently, horror films | | | | a nighttime temperature between 65 and 75 |
| and music videos, snakes are in high demand | | | | degrees in your snake's tank. An adhesive |
| as pets. Unfortunately, many people want a | | | | thermometer and a heat lamp or cage heater |
| snake for all the wrong reasons and fail to | | | | that goes beneath the cage will help you |
| properly educate themselves about pet snake | | | | accomplish these things. A snake that is even |
| care before giving in to the impulse to | | | | a few degrees below its optimal body |
| accept a snake from a friend or buy one at | | | | temperature will often stop eating. |
| the store. A snake is not a fashion | | | | |
| accessory, party trick, or practical joke. | | | | Speaking of eating, you should probably |
| Snakes are highly sensitive and, for the most | | | | reconsider owning a snake unless you're 100% |
| part, wild creatures who should only be kept | | | | sure that you can handle feeding live or dead |
| as pets for the sheer pleasure keeping and | | | | mammals to your pet. Smaller snakes will eat |
| observing a snake can bring. If you fit the | | | | baby mice (called "pinkies") and medium to |
| profile of a true snake fancier, then you've | | | | large snakes will eat either pinkies or adult |
| no doubt studied up a bit already. If you're | | | | mice. Larger snakes may require larger meals |
| still deciding whether or not a snake is the | | | | in the form of baby chicks or baby rabbits. |
| pet for you, learn more with the following | | | | Figuring out what your snake wants out of his |
| information. | | | | meal may take some doing. Some snakes are |
| | | | terrified of live food and will only eat a |
| Snakes, like all pets, have their own unique | | | | mouse after its neck has been humanely broken |
| set of requirements when it comes to | | | | (this kills the mouse instantly). Some snakes |
| temperature, housing, and dietary needs. The | | | | enjoy hunting and will not eat food that has |
| size of your snake's enclosure depends, of | | | | already been killed, and some snakes don't |
| course, on the size of the snake you plan on | | | | care either way. While most snakes can live |
| owning. A good way to judge the amount of | | | | for weeks without food, it's best to feed an |
| space your snake will need is to allow ½ | | | | adult snake once a week or every ten days. |
| square foot of floor space for every foot of | | | | Baby snakes should be fed more often to |
| snake, provided the snake is under 6 feet | | | | support their growing bodies. Check with a |
| long. For snakes over 6 feet in length, ¾ | | | | specific care guide for your snake to figure |
| a square foot of floor space is adequate. | | | | out how much food to offer your pet per |
| Snakes need to feel secure in their new home, | | | | feeding. |
| as they will spend a lot of time basking or | | | | |
| hiding. A good solution is to get an | | | | Once you've ascertained that your motivations |
| adequately sized aquarium and secure the top | | | | for snake ownership are driven only by your |
| with a pegboard to allow for proper | | | | love for these creatures, use your newfound |
| ventilation. Mesh should not be used as a | | | | patience to spend time searching for a |
| curious snake can rub his nose rose on such | | | | variety of snake that fits your budget and |
| material. The furnishings in a snake cage can | | | | your personality. Only buy a snake from a |
| be relatively simple. Line the cage bottom | | | | reputable source, and make sure you've either |
| with aspen shavings, reptile carpet (or Astro | | | | got an excellent book on pet snake care handy |
| turf), or pea gravel. Add a hiding place such | | | | or an expert snake keeping acquaintance who |
| as a pre-made "cave," or a cave you make | | | | can address any questions you may have and |
| yourself out of various sized rocks to your | | | | help you on the road to blissful snake |
| pet snake care list along with a small potted | | | | ownership. |