Snakes As Pets – Are They Right For You?

Snakes are fascinating and magnificent creatures, though they defy the general idea of a pet as something cute or cuddly.  Here are some of the most common types of “pet” snakes.

Corn Snake

A truly handsome corn snake, Maize is up for adoption at this time on petfinder.com. (I had a beautiful, huge corn snake living in my garden in Florida some years ago, as rich in color as maize, and she was more than welcome. While neighbors were bothered with coral snakes and pygmy rattlers, they stayed away from my home and I always felt this was because of my marvelous guest.)

Known also as the red rat snake, this is perhaps the most common of pet  snakes and, as far as snakes go, are quite tame especially when they are handled regularly. Their size is quite manageable also as they grow only about 5 or 6 feet in length. Corn snakes are not too picky in terms of what they eat and will enjoy thawed or frozen rodents such as mice. As long as their basic needs are provided for they can live a long life, up to 15 or 20 years. Corn snakes come in a variety of colors from snow to deep orange red and are good for the beginner owner.

King snake

A young California King Snake; he can be adopted through petfinder.com.

The king snake is another good choice for the budding herpetologist as it is both hardy and docile. However, king snakes can also live as long as 20 years so keep in mind that your reptile’s care is a long-term commitment. These snakes come in a variety of colors and patterns and may grow upwards of 6 or 7 feet, though around 4 feet is more common. Domesticated king snakes will thrive on a diet of pre-killed frozen mice however, when it comes to eating, they consider all small animals and birds to be fair game. That includes other snakes, so never keep more than one king snake per cage. And keep the budgie away from him, too.

Gopher snake

Want a snake without actually having to care for it? You can adopt this gopher snake at Coyote Point Museum. He’ll stay at the museum but your contribution will help provide his food, toys and medical care. In return you get photos of your pet, a certificate and a placard with your name on it, plus the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping a wonderful creature to live a happy, healthy life.

This is yet another snake that can make a good pet for novice snake keepers. The gopher snake will likely get bigger than the corn snake or king snake, growing to about 6 feet, but they are very tame and easily manageable. Gophers can be cream- colored to greenish-gray and will readily eat pre-killed prey.

Ball python

This is Little Bit, who can be adopted at this time from Exotic Animal Rescue of Henry County, Tennessee.

Now this snake can become more of a finicky eater and may have to be enticed to eat or even force-fed. Ball pythons are also rather more shy and nervous than the other reptiles mentioned above and require gentle handling and a little more patience. Typically they grow to about 4 feet, though can get bigger. They survive well in captivity and can even live up to 25 years or more.

Many people don’t realize how long their snake may live in captivity. Before taking on the responsibility of reptile ownership be sure you understand it is a very long-term commitment. And don’t ever assume that it’s OK to release your pet into the wild if you can no longer care for it. Find a rescue group or animal shelter that will help you.

“If you rattle a snake you must be prepared to be bitten by it”. ~ John Michuki

Other resources:

http://www.dmreptilerescue.com/favorite.htm

Reptile Awareness Day

October 21st and it’s Reptile Awareness Day. Currently there are 435 animals listed for adoption on petfinder.com. That, of course, is a mere fraction of the pets who are discarded. Unwanted snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and amphibians, perhaps more than any other pets, are dumped in the wild or  ignored and left to die rather than being re-homed. So as you enjoy some of my favorite reptile photos below, remember these creatures are as deserving of caring and responsible ownership as any other animal.

“SALAMANDER, n. Originally a reptile inhabiting fire; later, an anthropomorphous immortal, but still a pyrophile. Salamanders are now believed to be extinct, the last one of which we have an account having been seen in Carcassonne by the Abbe Belloc, who exorcised it with a bucket of holy water.” ~ Ambrose Bierce (1842 – 1914)

Snakes Gone Wild

A few years ago at a Florida flea market I came across an albino python stuffed into a small glass aquarium that was sitting in the sun. The owner (whose cruelty in baking the poor beast derived from a combination of ignorance and apathy) had an all-too-common story. The snake had been purchased as a pet for the man’s son who, not untypically, soon tired of it. There followed threats to get rid of the reptile, pleas from the boy to keep it, promises to take better care of it, during which time the 18-inch python grew to a near five feet and the threats won out.

I was reminded of this story after the recent release of a report from the U.S. Geological Survey, “Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor”, which discusses the ecological impact that the colonization of these species in the wild will have on the United States. One sentence in the report, penned by R.N. Reed and G.H. Rodda, jumped right out at me:

“At present, the only probable pathway by which these species would become established in the United States is the pet trade. Importation for the pet trade entails a risk of establishment of these animals as exotic or invasive species, but it hardly guarantees that establishment.”

In the last 30 years, more than one million of the nine giant species discussed in the report have been imported into this country. As many, or more, may have been bred in the U.S. Which brings me back to the point of my original story. Careless and uncaring owners are responsible for the proliferation of thousands of non-indigenous, and potentially dangerous, snakes in the wild. The man in my story was at least making some attempt to re-home his python but all too many others simply release their pets to fend for themselves.

It is estimated that tens of thousands of Burmese pythons alone have now populated southern Florida. The numbers of other giant constrictors is unknown but the potential for harm to endangered species, livestock and pets, as well as human health is problematic. These huge reptiles are certainly capable of killing large wildlife (panthers, crocodiles) and cattle. They may also host a variety of ticks that can carry heartwater disease (potentially fatal to cattle) and capillariasis, an infection that can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, protein and electrolyte loss and even death, to people.

The more direct threat to human life – humans as a food source – is minimal. But even one death is one too many, as in the case of a 2-year old Florida girl who was crushed to death by the family’s 8-foot pet python.

In their 350-page study, Reed and Rodda discuss the possibility of eradicating colonization but state, “To date there has been no evidence that a colonization could be eradicated by management activities.” And in a separate statement, biologist Robert Reed said, “Instead of looking at the pound of cure, maybe it’s time to look at the pound of prevention.” I couldn’t agree more and would further comment that prevention should begin with education of potential owners and control of irresponsible breeders, importers and dealers.

“There’s a snake hidden in the grass.” ~ Virgil

Snake, Rattle and Roll

Snakes are fascinating creatures. ‘Though they’ve been given a bad rap for centuries, they are not the evil beings many people believe them to be. Pet snake, however, seems to me to be something of an oxymoron. Some would argue that a pet is any tame animal kept as a companion. But is any snake really tame? Some breeds are docile or shy, but tame??? And as for companionship… well, I suppose it takes all sorts.

Obviously, there are plenty of people who have blundered blindly into the pet snake idiom, as reptile adoption centers have proliferated. So if you’re determined to add a limbless, scaly, elongate reptile to your happy family, especially one that has been rescued, there are a few things that you should consider first.

Behavioral and Health Problems Associated with Rescued Snakes

If a snake is abused and mistreated, it can become extremely aggressive and prone to attack. A snake that’s been starved for prolonged periods of time can also be particularly aggressive and is likely to strike for food at every opportunity it gets. Contrary to popular belief, most of the snake species that people choose to have as pets are quite mellow, and rarely attack unprovoked. But if the snake that you are adopting was living in a less than suitable environment, you may end up with a one that will strike at you every chance it gets.

Along with behavioral problems, many adopted and rescued snakes also come with a variety of health issues. Snakes that have not been fed properly, or have been fed food that is not “clean” can often have intestinal parasites that cause a number of health problems. If the cage environment has not been properly maintained the creature may have mouth rot, a potentially deadly condition, as well as external parasites like mites, which can cause severe anemia.

What You Need to Know Before Adopting a Rescued Snake

If you have found a snake available for adoption that you are interested in, there are a number of things that you should ask the person who is currently housing the snake:

- What species of snake is it?
- Why is the snake available for adoption? Why is the current or previous owner getting rid of it?
- What type of food is it used to eating? Does it eat live prey or pre-killed prey?
- Are there any known health conditions?
- Has the snake been checked out by a veterinarian who has experience with snakes?

Snakes can live for more than 20 years, so this is a long-term commitment. And you’ll need some freezer space for frozen, pre-killed prey. Also, they’re adept at escaping (no surprise, there). Then there’s housing…

You should create the most natural environment possible. Arboreal snakes need leafy limbs on which to climb and hide and will be happier in horizontal cages. Terrestrial species will be fine in vertical housing but still require small boulders or logs behind which they can secrete themselves.

Adequate ventilation is critical and so is a thermal gradient. The reptiles must regulate their body temperature by moving between cool and warm areas. So you will have to provide both heat and shade. Then there’s fresh water, dry bedding, humidity and regular cleaning to consider.

So, you see, there’s more to caring for a snake than you may have realized. If you’re still hell-bent on adopting, be sure you know what you are getting and make sure you can correctly identify the breeds. You don’t want to start out with a pretty 20-inch critter that grows into a 20-foot Burmese Python!

I can’t emphasize enough, before adopting a snake be sure you know what you’re getting into. If you don’t, not only may you be in danger from your pet but the snake you adopt may end up needing to be rescued from you!