How to Care for Pet Snakes

Pet snakes need housing appropriate to their size so that they have the room they need to move around with ease. The temperature also has to be kept consistent with that of the natural habitat of the snake, which is between 25 and 30. It is important to have a thermometer in the cage to let you know what the temperature is because if it is a few degrees higher or lower than what it should be your pet won

Learning About Snake Facts And Behaviors

Snakes are probably the most misunderstood, and most illogically feared creatures on the planet. Of the 2,200-plus species of snakes in the world, fewer than 20 percent are venomous. People have an instinctual fear of snakes that stems back for thousands of years. It probably started out as a survival instinct, when there was no literature or way of telling which snakes were harmful or not. On the other hand, biblical literature has encouraged us to fear snakes for an entirely different reason. Other people simply misunderstand snakes, thinking that they are slimy, nasty creatures.

The first thing to know about snakes is that any non-venomous snake will only bite you for 3 reasons. First, if you smell like food. If you have recently handled a warm-blooded animal, such as mice, guinea pigs, even cats, the snake may smell that on you and mistake you for something edible. Second, if the snake feels you are a predator that is trying to harm it. Especially when reaching down towards a snake, the snake can misinterpret you for something trying to eat it. Thirdly, and the most likely reason non-venomous snakes bite, is simply because they are afraid. When given the choice between biting at you (the 5-6 foot tall giant that just stepped into it’s territory) or running away as fast as it can possibly slither…it will choose running away every time. If the snake however, feels cornered, or for whatever reason unable to hide, it will strike out at you, more as a warning to leave it alone than to actually do any damage.

Non-venomous snakes are usually very safe to handle, especially pet snakes or snakes that are used to being handled. Even most species of wild snakes that are non-venomous are perfectly able to be handled without fear of bites (the exception being water snakes and other naturally aggressive species). If you do try to handle a snake, be sure to move slowly, and edge your hand under the belly of the snake near the tail area. If you move suddenly, or from the top, it may mistake you for a predator. Once you have actually lifted the snake and are holding it, do not hold it by the tail, rather support it’s body loosely with your hands (keep a loose but firm grip, if you squeeze too hard it will likely injure the snake), and let the snake explore it’s way around your hands and arms. If the snake seems agitated, or goes into a strike position, it is best to slowly, but gently put the snake back.

You will find that snakes are not slimy, nor nasty in any way. However if they get frightened, they may defecate on you as a way of showing fear. If this happens, be sure to wash the area thoroughly with soap and hot water, as snakes do carry salmonella bacteria in their feces. You must also remember that snakes, while being beautiful and interesting to watch, simply aren’t the brightest creatures in the world, and have about the same thinking power as your average goldfish. Remember when you are holding a snake that it likely sees you as a very odd tree, and does not recognize you as a human being. Snakes react by instinct rather than thought, and as long as you keep this in mind, being around snakes is very easy to do as well as being interesting.

So how do you tell venomous and non-venomous snakes apart? There are several ways to tell, although some species of non-venomous snakes have adapted to be able to look like venomous snakes when they are afraid. If you are ever even slightly in doubt, leave the snake alone! As a general rule, venomous snakes have diamond or triangle shaped heads, instead of rounded heads that most non-venomous snakes have. Also, their eyes are elliptical like a cat’s eye instead of being round as well. Pit vipers have a telltale pit between the eye and the mouth. The pit, a heat-sensing organ, makes it possible for the snake to accurately strike a warm-blooded victim, even if the snake cannot see the victim. Of course rattlesnakes usually rattle, but this is not always the case. Some species of rattlesnakes have evolved without a rattle!

So now that you know more about snake behaviors and facts, I hope you will give snakes a chance. Not only are they fascinating to watch, but they serve a vital function in our ecosystem.



By: Stephanie Davies

About the Author:
Stephanie Davies is a 27 year old Missourian with a loving husband and an 8 year old son. She currently owns her own business, Mystickal Incense & More, and sells handmade candles, incense, bath & body products and more at http://www.mystickalincense.com

Corn Snake Information

Corn Snake Information
By Lorraine H O’connor

Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata), also known as the Red Rat Snake, are native only to North America. They kill their small prey using constriction. There is a maize-like pattern on their underside, and they were commonly found in corn fields, hence the name “Corn Snake”.

Corn Snakes are popular pet snakes due to their calm and docile nature, unwillingness to bite, small adult size, colorful and intricate patterns, and they are very simple to take care of. They live about 15-20 years in the wild, however may live up to 23 years in captivity. Similar to other rat snakes, the Corn Snake is not venomous.

The Common Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) comes from the southeastern United States, and is notably easily distinguished by its orange/brown appearance with a mix of orange/red bands. These bands have black borders, and commonly have an underside which is black and white. Being one of the first snakes to be kept in captivity by people, the Corn Snake continues to be one of the most popular snakes used as pets. Annually, large numbers of Corn Snakes are bred to make sure that there is a large supply of captive-bred Corn Snakes. Keeping 2 of these Snakes together is inadvisable, as they are solitary animals.

These snakes are a very good choice of pet for those wanting to have an exotic/reptilian pet. They still need a large amount of care and looking after, but not as much as other species. Make sure their diet is supplemented and that you have a good insurance provider in case anything goes wrong.

Here is a site I recommend:- http://www.pet-insurance4you.co.uk/exotic-pet-insurance/

Here is some more information on MBD:- http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesgeneral/a/metabolicbd.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorraine_H_O’connor
http://EzineArticles.com/?Corn-Snake-Information&id=2330354

Common Snakes Species To Keep As Pets

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