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