Help and advice from snake owners

[hugglesfor4]

I'm after some help and advice please . My DS has always been fascinated with the natural world ever since he was tiny. Looking for bugs and spiders etc in the garden. Last summer he kept a couple of garden snails in an old fish tank, he researched what they needed in the tank, fed them and cleaned it out regularly.

He's always liked snakes and has been asking to have one for a pet. I know nothing about snakes and don't know if it's a good idea to have one in the house as we have already have cats and dogs.

I have so many questions like the best type for a beginner, what do they eat, how long they live for etc. Any advice would be gratefully received.

What species are you looking at? That makes a massive difference to care.
Most snakes live for longer than you’d expect, corn snakes (which id recommend for a beginner) live for around 10-15 years in captivity, but can live longer.

my BIL keeps snakes, and said that corn snakes are the best snakes for beginners. you can read more about them on the articles below x

reptilesbymack.com/corn-snake-care-sheet/

www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/blog/2012/12/caring-for-corn-snakes/

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/cornsnake

You could also consider rehoming a corn snake from the likes of here
www.themacsfarm.co.uk/deanos-snake-shack/reptile-rehoming/
rather than buying a snake.

Cornsnakes are great pets, really easy to care for and don't cost much after the initial set up. They're fed mice, which you can buy frozen for a couple of quid each... they usually eat one every week or two. They can live very long though so do take that into consideration... ours is at least 16 years old and still going strong

Agree corn snakes are really easy to look after compared to other kinds. They don't grow to be absolutely enormous and are pretty even tempered. We've got a lavender one as he's gorgeous.

Ds has had his corn snake for 10 years. We have dcats and ddogs. No issues.. A well handled, well cared for dsnake is an amazing addition!!
Ds 5 was quite sure ours wanted a tractor in his tank. Dsnake appears to be very appreciative...

Glad to find this thread. DD wants a snake is is saying garter, corm and milk are her preferred options, but milk more than the others. Are milk snakes easy?

She watches Snake Discovery on YouTube and I'd recommend it for a snake obsessed child!

Ime corm snakes are the ideal beginner dsnake!!
Adult ds had a boa but wasn't as friendly or as happy to be cleaned out /health checked. Ds got his at 2 yo - dsnake was a few weeks old and the size of a worm!!

Corn best beginner snake as have very simple environmental set ups. You can usually get one and the set up second hand as people get bored of them very quickly.....

Ten years and going strong here!

Do they make good pets?! I don't know why but the term Dsnake makes me laugh - do your DCs get a lot out of them? If they live for the best part of 20 years I'd be worried about the novelty wearing off!

Adult ds had his corn snake for about 10 years until dsnake sadly died. His boa we got at a year old unfortunately riddled with mites.. And died.
Ime get from a hatchling. Food (frozen mice) and aspen bedding from a reputable store - for health reasons.
Watching them feed and shed their skin is fascinating.. I have had Elvis into our primary schools.. Every single dc held her. Even the shrieking hesitant ones before the session was up! Tank - second hand is fine. Reptile spray sanitiser it all. Heat mat, always available on Gumtree or local paper cheap. Cave and food bowl. You can offer a warm bath but some aren't bothered - ours isn't.
Tank will need replaced as they grow. Our dsnake is over 5 foot. On her third size tank.

I have a corn and cats, it's very doable as long as you keep them separate and don't let them out at the same time. Make sure your tank has an appropriate heat set up with thermometer and sensors for either end with a heat gradient (one end cool, the other hot). Then snake rock, hides, water bowl, aspen bedding and frozen mice and you're away! I'd also advise rescuing, there are some really great rescues that don't often get a look in, they often have adults and hatchlings.

@MrsTerryPratchett

I'd probably recommend a corn over a garter or milk. None of them are hugely difficult snakes in my experience, but milks can be a bit more bitey and for some reason garters are a little more difficult to find in this country. Corns are also generally hardy things and come in lots of fun morphs. But all would do for a beginner snake imo

DD has informed me she will only consider a rescue or given up snake. She looked horrified when I mentioned looking at snakes in a pet shop. Only to see you understand, not buy.

I raised a good one!

Our local pet shop had returned dsnakes. Ones they had previously sold and the owner could no longer keep them.. Worth an ask. A bit of background is always useful. Ds got one that we were told would only eat in an enclosed box. He may have starved if we hadn't known. He came around in time though.

Speaking of eating in an enclosed box, if you're using an aspen substrate you should feed them in a separate container (a tub or a snake carrier) so they don't accidentally eat any aspen with the mouse. We got our current corn at a rescue called Proteus Reptile Trust in the West Mids who are great

Dd has a royal python. They are great first snakes as they are good natured and slow. They do get fairly big but means they are more substantial to hold. Dd was just turned 9 when she got her and pretty much does all the care herself ( I usually clean tank rather than hold snake - my choice) Really easy pet, fed once every 2 weeks as she's an adult and pretty much full grown needs cleaned out a few days later. Doesn't make noise or mess in the house like most pets. Doesn't care if she's handled or not, you can go away for a few days and not worry as long as i you've topped up fresh water

I have a corn snake! The loveliest bub ever! One mice a week, clean out every few months. She is so lovely and tame. I suppose need to think more of the commitment, they live for a long time! 😊

Oh and I have a dog too. I did keep her viv ground level and she kept hissing and freaking when the dog were sniffing her viv. So I moved her up table height and is all good. Just don't get her out when the dog is around, keep the dog out the room when handling

I don’t doubt for a second that most snake owners care for and love their snakes but many Animal Welfare charities (including the RSPCA) don’t recommend Exotics as pets. For a start, demand fuels the Exotic Pet trade which is a really nasty business and about as far from good animal welfare as you can get! Many snakes in the U.K. are now U.K. born but breeders often breed for colours and there are some inherent genetic problems with some of the designer morphs around leading them to die early. There are also big question marks around whether they can live a happy, healthy & full life in captivity - a lot of vets aren’t qualified for or agree to treat Exotics. A lot of Exotics end up in rescues or abandoned as owners can’t cope with them, there are also a lot of instances of snakes escaping as they are clever so and so’s!

As above, many snakes are loved and well looked after but this is just the alternate view and something to consider before committing yourself! There is a National Reptile Rescue Centre in Tonbridge Kent that has a whole host of rescues looking for a 2nd home and might be a good place to start!

www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/blogs/wild-capture-pet-expos-and-our-homes-ball-pythons-are-suffering-silence

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other

@DSnake 😂