| If you are one of the legions of people who have | | | | much better if you do not help them. If the snake |
| acquired, or are about to obtain a new pet snake, | | | | has been fed and watered well, it will grow, and the |
| then you are also about to have a rewarding | | | | old skin is carefully broken by the snake and shed in |
| experience. Snakes have a lot to teach us. A properly | | | | one piece. If a snake sheds in patches, it may be |
| maintained terrarium can be a work of art - many | | | | dehydrated or have a nutritional disorder. |
| are prominently displayed in homes - so long as the | | | | · Do your homework! Buying a snake is not |
| snake keeper keeps some essential information in | | | | the same as knowing how to care for it properly. It |
| mind: | | | | is your responsibility to learn about your snake and |
| · Be sure you give your snake enough heat - | | | | any special needs it will have in captivity. For |
| that means enough for the snake, not you. A snake | | | | example, unless you carefully teach your snake |
| is best kept at warmer, summer temperatures of 85 | | | | otherwise, many have specialized diets: garter snakes |
| - 100 degrees F, unless being cooled for hibernation. | | | | eat fish and frogs, hognose snakes eat toads, and |
| Temperate zone species may tolerate a 30 degree | | | | corn snakes eat small rodents and eggs. |
| drop in temperature at night, but tropical species | | | | · Get a snake veterinarian lined up now. |
| rarely do well with such fluctuations. | | | | Snakes have a slower metabolism than us mammals, |
| · Never, ever use your snake to scare | | | | so they may manifest symptoms long after |
| somebody! Many people are afraid of snakes, some | | | | contracting an illness. Waiting to find a qualified vet |
| pathologically so. Using a snake to scare a person is | | | | until the snake is ill may be too late. |
| irresponsible of you, may cause injury to another | | | | · Clean the snake's cage as it becomes dirty |
| person, and is traumatic for the snake. | | | | - don't merely wait for Saturday morning. Only use |
| · Be sure to feed your snake an adequate | | | | appropriate disinfectants for a snake cage. You may |
| diet at appropriate intervals. Snakes under 3 feet in | | | | use rubbing alcohol, soap, and specialty products |
| length should generally be fed prey about the size of | | | | available at your pet shop. Do not use chlorine |
| an adult mouse once or twice a week. Larger snakes | | | | bleaches or industrial cleansers such as Ajax or |
| take more or larger prey at less frequent intervals. | | | | Comet, because their residues are often toxic to |
| Truly large snakes may eat only once per year, but | | | | snakes. Lysol is particularly dangerous. |
| these are not snakes for novices. | | | | · Always wash your hands well with soap |
| · Do not handle snakes after feeding, or until | | | | and water after handling your snake or the cage |
| they have digested their meals. If a snake is handled | | | | accessories. Snakes, like most animals, may harbor |
| too soon after eating, it is often likely to regurgitate | | | | dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella. |
| the meal, and may refuse to feed for many days | | | | · Okay, now go watch your snake and have |
| afterward. | | | | some fun! |
| · Snakes must shed their skins, but they do | | | | |