Have you found yourself in the market for a new pet? While dogs and cats can be fun, they can also be pretty standard. So, what about a reptile? Before you run to the pet store and purchase your new slithery friend, here’s everything you need to know about owning a snake.
Their habitats
Most snakes happily live in vivariums. These can come in all shapes and sizes from wooden frames with glass doors to entirely glass boxes with plastic lids. It’s important to have something that shuts as even floor snakes have incredible climbing abilities, but also make sure there is plenty of ventilation. A rough rule as to how big it needs to be is around a third of your snake’s length. However, some tree-climbing snakes prefer taller tanks to mimic their natural environment.
Filling their space
There are so many substrates available on the market to use for your snake’s home, and every owner has a different opinion about which is the best. Some prefer to use bark chippings while others use newspaper, sand, mulch, or fiber bedding. It’s essential to create a warm and cool side for your new snake, with hiding places on both. Like many of us, these pets prefer to spend most of their time hidden away, but will also appreciate a basking spot underneath a heat lamp.
Their food
Of course, many have seen that most species of snakes feed on small rodents, such as mice and rats, while others need larger meals that might consist of chicks, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The size of your snake’s food will depend on their size and metabolism. Most constricting snakes are thought to need a meal about 150% of the size of their largest part, every few weeks once they are fully grown, while venomous breeds typically need smaller, more regular meals.
Enrichment
Thankfully, our snakes don’t need much in the way of an exercise wheel or a TV to keep them entertained, but it’s still important to give them plenty to do. Most snakes learn how to cope with being handled, and you can find that they enjoy coming out to exercise. It’s just important to let them rest for a few days after a meal. Climbing snakes will also benefit from branches or levels placed at different heights so they can mimic their natural behavior.
Different kinds of snakes
There are so many different kinds of snakes out there, and it can seem daunting finding one to suit your needs. Corn snakes, king snakes, and ball pythons are all brilliant for first-time owners as they are typically more laid back than other breeds. Venomous snakes are usually for those with a lot of experience, while larger constricting breeds, such as boa constrictors and Burmese pythons, might need more care - and more space.
Getting any new pet can be an exciting time, and a new snake is no exception. All you need to do is read through everything you need to know about owning a snake, and you could soon be prepared for your newest scaled addition.
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