any1 got any tips 4 a soon 2 b first time snake owner?

Question

i am hoping 2 own a snake 4 the first time. i don't know much about taking care of them. can u plzzzz help me?!?!?!?

Answer 1

ok.I have a ball python so this may be a lil different. keep them on a feeding schedule. Like every week or two weeks, feed them,. If you are going for two weeks at a time, and it starts roaming again, feed it and then shorten the usual time u have between them. You need to have it on a routine like this because if you don't, it may bite b/c it doesn't know when it can eat. Okay. If u notice it getting under a light after it eats, don't worry. Light helps it digest. You need a place for it to get out of the light too, like a lil hut. Also take them out daily becuase that will keep them frindly. Also if you feed it rats (which is wat u usualy fedd them) u can flick the rat on the head b4 u put it in the cage because it will bite your snake if you don't. Just lightly flick it to stun it a lil becuase you don't want to kill it. Email me for more help if you need it

Answer 2

No matter what species you choose, remember this:

Most will live between 20-30 yrs. What will you do when you (not sure what phase of your life you're in at the moment, so bear with me here) go off to college? want to go on vacation? get married? have kids? etc etc etc

Also, don't get a snake that grows to be over 6 ft long if this is your first snake. As a general rule: for every six ft of snake there must be one handler. So, for example, for an 18 ft snake you'd need three people in the room even if you just want to open the cage for a moment. This is to prevent any death by pet snake incidents.

Also: ANY snake can be taught to eat f/t (frozen/thawed) prey. I highly recommend this. Prey items can seriously (sometimes fatally) injure your snake. Esp. rats. Rats are smarter than snakes and will not let down an opportunity to attack. And don't think this is just for smaller snakes. I've seen pictures of a six foot boa that had the top half of its jaw gnawed off to its eyes by a rat.

If you want to look at good beginner species, go to exoticpets.com They've got caresheets and also recommended readings on good beginner reptiles.

Good beginner snakes: corn snake, king snake, ball python, rat snakes

I highly recommend ball pythons about all others. I've worked with corns and kings as well, and found some can be very nippy individuals. Ball pythons are some of the most hesitant snakes to bite. They are also very slow-moving due to their bulky bodies, so it's much easier for a beginner owner to handle the snake. ^^

Answer 3

Alright, you're going to need an aquarium (suitable for snakes not fish there is a difference), a 'carpet;' to go on the bottom, a thermometer to go on the side, an under tank heater, a heat lamp complete with 60 w heat bulb and a water dish. He should also have a rock or something else rough to help him shed when the time comes. Put the tank in a part of the house that stays the warmest throughout the year. Make sure the temperature never gets below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Dont handle him the first week you have him to give him time to adjust to his new surroundings and to you. He's going to have to be fed what's known as a pinkie (a newborn mouse or rat) once a week. Whoever you get him from will be able to tell you if he will eat frozen or live pinkies. If he only eats frozen pinkies you'll have to defrost them in some warm water first., Dont worry if he doesnt eat every week. Some times they'll eat and sometimes they wont. He'll be fine as long as he doesnt go more than a month without eating. Adults can go for up to four months without eating. He's going to need his cage cleaned once a week and a fresh supply of water constantly. If its a female, when she grows up she may sometimes lay eggs even if she doesnt have a mate. This is normal and there wont be any babies in them. So if this happens, just freeze the eggs overnight and throw them away or if you dont want to put something like that in your freezer you can just as easily flush them down your toilet. Sometimes when baby snakes shed they get literally stuck in their old skins,. If this happens just soak him in some warm water and ease the old skin off of him. If it doesnt come off easily DONT just yank it off of him. If it doesnt come off easily its new skin not old. Be very gentle with him. Be careful not to drown him either. You just soak his body dont submerge him altogether. Before you get him, make sure to ask the salesperson if he's been eating for them and if he's been shedding for them. If not, dont get it. I think thats it. Good luck

Answer 4

Research. Get a book and start reading. Read up on multiple caresheets to get a wide view of opinions. Go to snake only forums and read questions and answers. Really, just keep researching the snake you want so when you get it, you'll know exactly what to do.

Answer 5

I would recommend you check out the care sheets and read a lot of the questions and answers at reptileroom forum. They are an excellent way to learn about a variety of reptiles. Just click on forums link on the left.

http://www.reptilerooms.com/