If you are one of the many people looking for an animal companion and considering a snake, you may be wondering which type to get. There are many options available, especially if you visit a pet store that offers reptiles for sale. The following guide can help you decide which type of snake is a good fit for you.
How much room do you have for the snake?
Your first decision revolves around tank size. As a general rule, the length of the enclosure along the longest wall should be about three-quarters of the length of the adult snake, at a minimum. When looking at different pet breeds, pay special attention to their mature size so that you can choose one that can comfortably live in the tank that you have room for.
Are you concerned about the food source?
Snakes eat a variety of foods, but for most breeds, live food is preferable to dead food. Common foods include mice and small rodents, crickets and insects, or small fish. If you prefer not to feed mice, you will need to make sure you choose a type that feeds primarily on insects. Options that are sometimes offered for sale include red-bellied snakes and flower pot snakes, but your local pet store may have other varieties.
Do you want to be able to handle the snake easily?
Most pet snake varieties can be handled, but some take to the treatment better than others. There are two keys to having an easily handled snake. The first is to handle the snake often from the time they are young so that they become accustomed to it. The second is to choose a laid back breed that is easy to tame, such as corn snakes, king snakes, and milk snakes. Then, handle your pet often so they remain tame and come to enjoy the time out of their tank.
Are there children or pets in the house?
Many people have heard horror stories of pet snakes constricting children and pets. Fortunately, this is highly unlikely with a well cared for pet. If you do have small children or small pets, you can play it safe by skipping the more dangerous pet constrictors, such as Burmese pythons and anacondas. Instead, opt for the smaller and gentler reptiles, like the ball python or or ribbon snake.
For more help in choosing the perfect pet, contact a reptile store in your area.
Share12 October 2016
After our youngest daughter was in high school, I realized that I liked having people around to take care of and that my window for doing that was closing quickly. Instead of having more children, I decided to see about adopting a pet or two. I looked everywhere for a dog and a cat that would meld well with my lifestyle, and it was incredible to find a pet that I really connected with. However, I was able to find pets that I absolutely adored, and so I made them a part of our home. This blog is here to help new pet owners to adjust to their new situation and to learn to love everything about having new pets.