NationStates Jolt Archive

I've recently decided that I would like to take up owning a snake. I've never owned anything other than a dog or cat, so I am really not sure where to start( i did have an iguana when I was little, but my dad took care of it, not me). I have read that milk, king, and corn snakes are the best for new owners, so I would be looking to own one of those types. Any pointers on owning snakes? What would you recommend for a new owner to buy as far as a breed of snake? How much have you spent on supplies and such?

I used to date a girl who had a ball python she used to wear around her neck. It appeared to be a very easy snake to take care of.

I recommend this breed.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2324048993_14e4050717.jpg

I have a Mexican Black Kingsnake. They're fairly easy to care for. I keep him in a 40 gallon terrarium with an aspen substrate and a large bowl for water, in addition there's a large branch for him to slither up and down (please get these items at a reputable store that specializes in reptiles and exotics to minimize the possibility of introducing parasites). There's a heating pad (attached to the outside of the terrarium at one end) for his comfort. I started him on pre-killed pinkies and have worked up to hoppers - pre-killed is best because it decreases chances of injury to the snake. There are a number of excellent books on the subject and the following link is a good source of information on line (http://www.repticzone.com/forums/KingSnakes/index.html). I got my snake directly from a breeder - which is the best way to go.

Initial outlay is pretty high, but once that's out of the way, they cost less than dogs or cats. My snake was fairly inexpensive at $45.00 (he was about 2 months old - he would have cost more if he had been older). The terrarium ran about $100.00. Add to that substrate, water dish, slithering branch and heating pad and the everything was slightly more than $200.00.

Upkeep is runs pretty cheap - he'll eat about once every week or two in warm weather, less frequently when it's cold and the substrate will have to be replaced every once in a while - so figure about $10/mo for upkeep. And make sure and keep the water dish full, it helps when they're shedding.

I had a corn snake as a child. Basically make sure he's warm, clean and fed and you're good to go.

Name him Plissken .

Name him Plissken .

Isaac Hayes approves of this name.

If I had a snake, I'd give him an awesome and fitting name like Ouroboros or Dick Cheney. *nod*

My snake's name is Morpheus, but then, he is solid black and he does sleep a lot.

only on NS could such a thread go this far without the mention of the friendly trouser snake...it seems to me that none of you are experts on this sort of thing!

anyway go for something local like a copperhead and knit it a sweater for much camwhoring

only on NS could such a thread go this far without the mention of the friendly trouser snake...it seems to me that none of you are experts on this sort of thing!

You mean the one I call Marion Cobretti?

only on NS could such a thread go this far without the mention of the friendly trouser snake...it seems to me that none of you are experts on this sort of thing!

anyway go for something local like a copperhead and knit it a sweater for much camwhoring

True story: When I was about 9 I killed a copperhead with my hands. I was such a bad boy. :(

only on NS could such a thread go this far without the mention of the friendly trouser snake...it seems to me that none of you are experts on this sort of thing!

anyway go for something local like a copperhead and knit it a sweater for much camwhoring

Aah, I remember. My ex-husband had one. I named him Wee Willie Winkie. As I recall, it died of starvation.

Aah, I remember. My ex-husband had one. I named him Wee Willie Winkie. As I recall, it died of starvation.

Ouch.

Snakes are cute, but they need highly specialized food...

That, and having them loose in the same household as a pair of cats is a bad idea. Too big, the cats are lost. Too small, the snake is lost. In between, far too much fighting.

If you get a big snake MAKE SURE YOU FEED IT.


I still get shivers thinking about when I worked at a pet store people would tell me about how they forgot to feed their snake and it got out and tried to eat them -_-.

Snakes are cute, but they need highly specialized food...

That, and having them loose in the same household as a pair of cats is a bad idea. Too big, the cats are lost. Too small, the snake is lost. In between, far too much fighting.

They eat mice, hardly specialized at all. My cats get along fine with my snake - he stays in his habitat so they don't even know he's alive. When I take him out, I evict the cats from the room and shut the doors.

I've recently decided that I would like to take up owning a snake. I've never owned anything other than a dog or cat, so I am really not sure where to start( i did have an iguana when I was little, but my dad took care of it, not me). I have read that milk, king, and corn snakes are the best for new owners, so I would be looking to own one of those types. Any pointers on owning snakes? What would you recommend for a new owner to buy as far as a breed of snake? How much have you spent on supplies and such?
DO YOUR RESEARCH. Alot of people find the small critters cute but don't realize how big some of them can actually get. that includes any increase in feeding as they grow.

Aah, I remember. My ex-husband had one. I named him Wee Willie Winkie. As I recall, it died of starvation.... not over exhaution?

True story: When I was about 9 I killed a copperhead with my hands. I was such a bad boy. :(

When I was a kid I used to shoot Michigan rattlers and water moccasins whenever I found them, which was often. I feel bad about it now.