| Owning a pet is a normal rite of passage for a child. | | | | However, buying a pet snake only works for kids |
| What more can a parent do but play along? Having a | | | | who don't really mind reptiles. A normal adult corn |
| pet teaches a child a lot of things, chiefly, to be | | | | snake can grow up to five feet and you'll need a |
| caring, responsible and loving. These are sterling | | | | fairly large tank for that. And most children would run |
| qualities that your child can use in later life, qualities | | | | away at the sight of a snake. They're not exactly in |
| that can make him or her into a generally better | | | | the same league as dogs, cats and ponies. |
| person. | | | | Before you head out and buy snakes, you have to |
| The normal choices would be dogs, cats and fishes. | | | | take into account the resolve of your child. If he or |
| But, what about those who yearn for something | | | | she wants a snake, then be prepared when it's |
| different? What if they want one or more pet | | | | feeding time and dead mice are on the menu. If not, |
| snakes for Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa? | | | | go buy a hamster. |
| What can a parent do? | | | | Snakes care, no matter what you choose as your |
| Most would be repulsed by the very idea of having | | | | pet, has never been easy or for the faint hearted. |
| reptile snakes as pets in the house. Some even say | | | | For pet snakes, your responsibility doesn't end when |
| snakes are dangerous and shouldn't be anywhere | | | | you have chosen the species. You should be familiar |
| around kids. But consider this, not all snakes are | | | | with the correct care and feeding of snakes, the |
| venomous and aggressive. There are docile and tame | | | | behavioral characteristic, and have the commitment |
| ones, like the corn snake. And surprisingly, there are | | | | to keep snakes as pets. |
| more deaths caused by dogs than venomous snakes | | | | It is absolutely essential that anyone new to caring |
| in the United States last year. | | | | for snakes or thinking about buying a pet snake, gets |
| A pet snake does not cost a huge amount of money | | | | as much information as possible about how to be a |
| and maintenance, unlike other pets. You'll need at | | | | responsible owner and keep you snake healthy. A |
| most $150 for the snake with the cage plus the tank | | | | good snake care book will provide all the information |
| heater. They only need to eat once a week and their | | | | you need, including how to breed snakes, and will be |
| food is available in any pet store. They're quite tame | | | | a helpful resource for you for the entire lifetime of |
| and curl on a child's hand without difficulty | | | | your snake. |