Pet snake care requirements and experiences
 

I was thinking of getting a snake (probably a corn snake). I was reading up on them and found that most snakes need somewhere around 70-85 degrees (F). How sensitive are they really? Cause my house can get from between 55-95 degrees (for the extremes, winter is usually around 60-70, summer 75-85).

Does anyone know if that could kill them? Or is the 70-85 just what they most prefer?

Any experiences you'd like to share of your own snake would be nice too. If you like them or hate them, etc.

thanks.

Feed it rabbits.

Please understand that I don't mean this in any kind of a negative way - I'm just curious.

What is appealing about having a snake for a pet? I always wondered and never have known anyone with a pet snake. I don't understand lizards as pets, either. Fish make sense because of the whole aquarium is pretty thing and the fish actually swim around.

Anyway, that's my question and it really is a honest question, not a dig!!

Some people think they are cool animals. A wildlife expert came to the school where I teach to show animals to the girls, and they all fell in love with the salamander. Some of them really liked the snake too, and enjoyed playing with it.

And take pictures.


Get a heating lamp dude. They have rocks too. It will regulate the temperature in the tank. Lizards are cold blooded, they react differently to outside temperatures. You just get a light and a rock, or anything else of the sort to keep them warm.

I've never owned a snake, nor am I any kind of reptile expert, but this is what I understand of taking care of a snake.

Well, most people regulate the temp. for their snakes with something like a heat lamp, heating pad, or a heat rock of some sort. That way it provides a constant temperature for the animal.

I haven't had a snake in about 13 years or so, but I don't remember them being rather difficult to care for other than having to obviously goto a pet store for the food (live or dead, can't usually buy it at a grocery store), and I remember bathing our snake. I don't really remember why. And searching them for ticks.

Other than that, they are pretty easy animals to care for as long as you don't overfeed them and take basic care of them. If you find a small pet store that specializes in reptiles, they should be able to give you a better idea of what would be neccassary.

Yea a heat lamp and a heated rock is good. You should also have some kind of little cave thing for them to take shelter in if they get too hot, some place to get out of the light/heat. Also you could put a decent sized bowl of water in there too or work out some kinda little pond for the snake to dip in and out of. Some snakes also eat little guppies or tiny fish so you could have them swim around in the water dish. :)

Yea they definitely need a heat source of some kind. you can get these red lights that are designed for reptiles.

Things you really should have
- Heat Lamp
- Twig or branch to climb on (must be sterilized so that the snake doesn't get sick and die, sounds stupid but its true)
- Something for it to hide under (an empty cut open kleenix box will work, but its ugly as hell)
- Water dish or small pond

Those are pretty much everything you need in the cage to keep them happy. And you might want to lay down some newspaper on the bottom of the glass for when it shits, makes it a lot easier to clean up.

Oddly enough, we went to our local science museum yesterday, where they had a snake and amphibian day. Lots and lots of critters. Our (four year old) daughter *loves* snakes - she wanted to pick them up, and love on them and everything.

My understanding is the same as the above posters - get a heating device of some sort. And, if you have a good local pet store, especially one that specializes in snakes, they should be able to set you on the right track for what sort of equipment you need.

Snakes are awesome. The warmer they get the more they move around. I like to just hold them when I am watching a movie. After them being on you for 10 minutes or so they start to move around like crazy. Then you just let them run all over you, they will slither through your hair, across your neck and arms. Its kinda cool if that doesn't bother you.

And a Corn snake is a great snake to get as a starter.

I got a buddy with 6 or so snakes now. Bunch of boas and pythons. He has a blood python that is probably 5 feet long and 5 inches around at its thickest, its mean looking, and its named "Pizza the Hutt". I wont let that one crawl over me, but I will hold it.

I thought that besides them liking some warmth, reptiles also need the right amount of warmth to promote proper digestion. If you don't warm them enough they will not digest properly, they get clogged up and die.

I like snakes but have never had one as a pet. But my favorite encounter with a pet snake was a few years ago I was sitting in my office when I notice something moving out of the corner of my eye; I look along the base of the wall and see a huge snake!!! It turns out that one of the other guys in the office had a pet snake I didn't know about at that time; it was a Burmese Python and was already 14 feet long; a beautiful critter, we played with it and let it crawl around us, hang over your shoulders etc; but a few years later he had to give it to a reptile farm since by that time it got so strong it could overwhelm a normal human male.

I've always thought a good rule of thumb when selecting a pet is picking one that will not one day regard you as food.

NP, its pretty simple. Snakes, to me, are prettier, and more facinating than fish. Plus you can hold a snake.

While researching I came across a salmonella warning. Is that a real concern? Do I need to wash my hands after I hold them every time? What if it's around my shoulders or neck? Do I need to change clothes and take a shower?

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Do not do this. Heating lamps & rocks can get too hot for the snake in too small an area, causing the snake to burn. The best thing you can do to keep your corn snake warm would be to get an under-tank heater. Obviously you wont be feeding him/her rabbits either, you'll start out with pinkies & then just move up to feeder mouse. I usually feed mine once a week, although sometimes I'll feed him two if he's hungry enough (after awhile you'll start to learn your snakes habits and can tell).

MAKE SURE YOUR CAGE/TANK IS SECURE.

Corn snakes 1) Love to bury themselves & 2) Love to climb. This can lead to two (duh) things happening, one you loose him under your turf or two it'll literally climb out of the tank (like mine did the other night :eek: ). Corn snakes can get fairly big and in doing so get to be very strong, so don't understatement them & think your lid is secure if it's not. Mine got out the other night & is chilling somewhere in my bedroom right now as I still have yet to put him back in the tank.

Also about the temperature, I keep my apartment between ~70-80 degrees and he's never had any problems. In the winter time I keep my under tank heater on (it only covers 1 side of the tank) so if he gets too cold he can move to where it's warmer & vice versa.

Have fun with it, they're great at parties as everyone is curious and wants to hold them or watch them eat, etc. Just don't piss them off :shakehead: .

I don't know about taking a shower, but I would at least wash my hands, both before and after handling (you can make them sick too, you know). I also have been told (by several owners/enthusiasts) that the best way to heat is a heat blanket under the cage/aquarium (not inside). I believe they told me it was the safest set up to prevent over-heating, which is just as big/bigger risk than there not being enough heating (temperature is very important). Water is as important as food, also something rough for the snake to rub on so it can shed it's skin properly. Pre-kill food is also the safer in general than live food. Sometimes cheaper too. Don't overfeed them, snakes don't really need to eat often.

If you are worried about the snake opening the lid just put some hard cover books on the tank.