Snakes As Pets

Snakes are fascinating creatures and can make fantastic pets and though they are not as affectionate and cuddly as a dog or cat, they can still be very tame when handled daily and can form a special relationship and bond with their owner.

When considering a snake for a pet one should keep in mind that a snake is a long term commitment and not one to be taken on lightly, many snakes live 20 years or longer. Also snakes eat prey animals and though you can feed frozen not live, it can still be quite upsetting for those who are sensitive. You will also have to supply a safe environment for your snake, something that is big enough, offers him the proper climate and is escape proof.

Snakes are generally solitary creatures and should always be keep one per tank. Many snakes are cannibals and will eat their own kind. Snakes do fit well into a family but should not be kept in homes where there are young children and extra care should be taken in homes with other pets. Snakes are very good escape artists and it would be horrifying to come home and find your snake got out and ate your cat or toy dog. When buying your pet snake it is best to go to a breeder who offers captive bred, not wild caught snakes. Wild caught snakes do not make good pets as they are far harder to tame and can carry disease or parasites.

Just like any pet, all snake breeds have different personalities and needs. Beginners should start with one of the more docile easier to care for snakes like the Corn, King and Milk snakes or the Ball python. Those with experience might enjoy the Boa constrictor, Burmese python or Tree Boas and pythons. Venomous snakes, reticulated pythons and anacondas are simply too dangerous and should never be owned as pets.

One of the major reason many snake lovers hesitate to get one as a pet is the feeding of live food. Thankfully there is a choice. Owners can buy pre-killed frozen rodents and simply keep them in their freezer until needed. Many fanciers feel that pre-killed food is safer as there is less chance of disease and parasites and no worries about your snake getting hurt from trying to catch an ornery dinner that just might fight back. Most snakes adjust well to pre-killed food, but it certainly helps if they are started on them at a young age. The food should be completely thawed and warmed a bit. Snakes should also have available to them a shallow bowl on fresh room temperature water, this is not only for quenching his thirst but also for soaking in. The bowl should be heavy enough that it doesn't tip over.

A snake needs a home that is at least two-thirds their adult size, one that is very secure and escape proof. They also need a warm area for basking in and a shaded area if they get too hot. For smaller snakes a hideaway is also a good idea.

When going out to purchase your first snake be sure to look for a snake that shows signs of good health, like regular tongue flicks, neither too fat or thin and it should not be shedding. Check to be sure they have no ticks or parasites. If you are planning on feeding pre-killed food be sure that the breeder has already been feeding the same. Take the time to do thorough research on your chosen snake, learn everything you can about them so you know exactly what you are doing.

A snake is a big commitment and like any pet should only be added into your life after much thought, consideration and research. Snakes can be expensive and do take time and dedication, but for the right person can make an excellent and interesting companion.

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What Do Pet Snakes Eat to Stay Healthy?

As many people have discovered over the years, snakes can make wonderful pets. Though they are feared by many people, and for good reason, pet snakes can be one of the more relaxing and docile pets available when they are happy and healthy.

The first steps to having a healthy relationship with your pet snake is making sure that you choose the right one for you. In addition, you must also have a clean and safe environment in which they can live.

While they require only a little maintenance in the form of cleaning their habitat, they are like any other animal when it comes to dietary health. Not all exotic reptile pets eat the same thing or eat in the same way. It is very important to understand your snake's feeding habits and decide whether this exotic pet is for you.

For instance, some snakes will only eat live food. This can pose a problem for some people who may not be comfortable feeding living animals to a snake pet.

If the idea of dropping live mice in your snake habitat seems cruel, you may want to consider another pet. In many instances, snakes will consume dead animals, but this still means keeping a bag of frozen mice in your freezer.

Since they are carnivores, and in some cases insectivores, their diet is fairly simple. They consume whole meals, which means that they do not eat only the meat from their prey. They swallow the entire thing. Because of this, maintaining their dietary healthy is actually fairly simple.

However, not all of them eat only rodents. Some eat frogs in the wild. Others catch birds or raid nests and eat only eggs. Many snakes are very small or prefer to eat insects. Some even feed on other snakes.

The fact is that most snakes people breed or buy as pets are non-venomous rodent-eating snakes. Finding out what your exotic pet prefers is very important to keeping the snake's diet appropriate for the snake. When someone's job is to breed snakes, you can ensure that your snake will be of the best stock.

You must also know your pet's eating habits through and though. Some snakes prefer smaller rodents or insects, with fewer bones and may be apt only to eat pinkies, otherwise known as baby mice, since they do not have a developed skeleton.

If you are uncomfortable with this, you must be sure you stick to a snake that suits you. While most reptiles can be trained to consume dead food, some prefer live food. This can be very dangerous for the snake.

When in an enclosure, it is very possible for a hungry house to turn the tables. A snake who loses the advantage of surprise against living prey, or a snake who is shedding can very easily become a meal.

Mice will kill and eat a snake if they get the chance. It is possible to train snakes to consume dead mice, but watch out for bites. Snakes bites are quick to become infected.

Keeping a pet snake's diet stable and ensuring his health is crucial at all times. A pet's diet, and how often they need to eat, can be very specific to the breed. It is important to make sure you have the right information necessary to take care of a healthy pet snake.

It is always a good idea to search online for a exotic pet eBook about your specific snake, or even taking care of snakes in general, before you purchase the pet yourself. A good eBook will allow you to research if a snake is an appropriate pet for you and which snake is best for you.

Snakes care, no matter what you choose as your pet, has indeed never been easy. For pet snakes, your responsibility doesn't end when you have chosen the species. You should be familiar with appropriate care and feeding, the behavioral characteristic, and the commitment to keep this exotic pet. It is actually just the beginning of a long-term complex relationship.

The Ultimate Guide to Pet Snakes is from front to finish an easy to follow guide on every possible thing you would need to know on owning, breeding and caring for healthy snakes as pets. You can learn more about our pet snake book here: http://www.squidoo.com/healthy-pet-snakes

The 5 Best Pet Snakes for the Beginning Collector

Find Out Which Snake is the Best Pet for a Beginner

Are you thinking about getting a snake for a pet? To many people snakes are scary but to others they are among the most interesting creatures on earth. These are usually collectors of snakes as pets. A lot of people would like to have a snake for a pet but often do not know which specie of snakes will be the best for them. There are a number of things to take into consideration when trying to decide what type of snake would be the best one to have as your first pet.

Things that need to be taken into consideration before choosing a pet snake are how much room is available for keeping them, are you planning to handle them, are you squeamish about their feeding habits, do you plan to have more than one, etc. There are many more but you get the idea.

Here are what we consider to be 5 of the best snakes as pets for the beginning collector. They are not in any particular order. These 5 are not the only snakes that will make good pets and everyone won't agree with them but this will give you a jump start for doing your own research to decide which snake will be the best for you.

Corn Snake

The corn snake is acknowledged to be one of the best pet snakes for a beginner. They are relatively small, 3 to 5 feet long, and are very hardy. They are not finicky eaters and will eat frozen mice, which makes feeding them very easy. Enclosures for housing them don't have to be very elaborate or large. The fact that they are tough and will endure mistakes and rough handling, make them a good pet for someone who may not know a lot about caring for a snake.

Ball Pythons

This type of snake is general docile and friendly. They don't grow very large making them a good choice for a small area. Female Ball pythons will average 3 to 5 feet long with males averaging 2 to 3 feet. They are easy to care for and don't mind being handled. Ball pythons usually feed on mice or rats and kill their prey by constricting and suffocating, but it's best to feed them frozen food rather than live ones. Soon to be owners who are squeamish about feeding ball pythons live animals will appreciate this..

Milk Snakes

These snakes are especially good for the beginner as they only grow to 2 to 3 feet. A 10 to 20 gallon container with a secure wire top (they are escape artists) is plenty large enough for them. Just make sure there are places for them to hide as they are fairly shy. Feeding milk snakes is easy as they don't require special food. While they do like live food its best to feed them frozen mice. Milk snakes scare easily and will basically defecate on you until they are comfortable with being handled.

King Snake

A king snake is one of the best of pet snakes for collectors due to their many different colors and patterns. They are docile and easy to care for. They grow to between 2 and 4 feet so they are able to live in a smaller cage than many snakes. In the wild king snakes eat almost anything living thing that's smaller than them. They are famous for eating poisonous snakes. These snakes are very easy to care for, tough and non-aggressive toward humans. King snakes are not finicky eaters and will readily eat frozen mice or rats.

Rat Snakes

Although not as well known as some of the other snakes, the rat snake is also a good starter pet snake. They typically grow to 3 to 5 feet long. They are hardy and don't mind being handled even by children. Although they are constrictors and prefer live food its best to feed them frozen mice or rats to minimize the danger of being bitten by the food animal. They do hibernate in the wild during the winter and may quit eating during this time of the year. In the spring they will be back to normal. Over time they may quit this cycle. They breed without difficulty in confinement, making it uncomplicated to raise a snake family.

No matter what kind of snake a beginner pet owner will choose, cautious consideration will be vital regarding the housing and feeding of the new snake pet. Doing a lot of research about different kinds of snakes and which are best for beginners can aid potential owners in deciding which type of snake will be the best pet for them. While the snakes listed above are all docile, fairly hardy and can be handled, there may be some lesser known traits that would cause you to choose one over the other. Talking to owners of the snakes you are considering is a good idea. Snakes live a long time, therefore you will need to choose your pet carefully so you will both be happy in the many years you will be together.

If you are a pet owner or thinking about becoming one you should go to the website at Natural Pets Health to get more information on natural pets health foods, products & cures. You will also find general information such as the pros & cons of owning along with the caring for & feeding of all types of pets from dogs to snakes to fish to exotics.