Does Anyone Else Here Own Any Snakes?

[midori1999]

Just wondered if anyone else here keeps snakes as pets?

I have some corns, a pair od Dumerils Boas, a Nicaraguan Boa and, um, rather a few royal pythons. (I don't count them, but I suspect well over 30... )

Nope - but I do like them and have been known to elbow small children out of the way at 'meet the snake' events

Um - over 30 Royal Pythons? Like 5 foot long Royal Pythons? Where do you live, honey?

no, but had a beautiful tarantula (zebra knee)

and have had interesting experiences rounding up an escaped African House Snake last year - thought I wasn't afraid of ANYTHING but felt quite nervous about picking her up

but then I did not know what sort of snake she was, biting or constricting, and if venomous how bad might it be?

Bella, we have a bedroom kept as a dedicated 'snake room' (well I keep all my rats/rodents in there too)> because royals would live in rodent burrows int he wild, they prefer smallish, enclosed, darkish spaces, so I keep mine in 'snake racks' which are more space efficient than vivariums.

Mitchyinge, I am terrified of spiders. I am always tempted toask to hold one when I go into the reptile shop, but have never been brave enough yet.

sometimes (tho not for ages) have helped at London Zoo 'meet the tarantula' thing - you might enjoy it? if you are phobic it would be a bit much tho

they are easier to 'like' than other spiders as mostly move more slowly, have lovely soft velvety feet and fluffy legs - feel like a many legged kitten to hold

Golly - I am impressed

Don't your snakes get peckish watching the rodents all day though?

I like spiders.

It's freaking goldfish that terrify me!

I am not sure Mitchyinge, I really am quite nervous of them and far from London Zoo. I am determined to one day though. (hold one, that is) I think slow is certainly better than fast.

Bella, I did worry about the rodents upsetting the snakes at first, but they don't notice. I think with something like Retics it would be impossible to keep the rodents in the same room. Snakes appear to ignore the rodents, and the rodents are interestd itn eh snakes, but the rats go in a different room for 'free ranging' as I like to keep them away. Snakes might be more interested if the rats were right near them!

maybe just read about them and get comfortable looking at pictures of them until fascination overtakes fear? there is a brilliant book called 'book of the spider, from arachnophobia to [something I forget]' by Paul Hillyard (or something like that)

anyway you are probably going to win Most Snakes award here!

No snakes here thankfully!

How long does it take to clean them all out?

Over 30 pythons plus several other snakes plus multiple rodents all in one room

think you should start selling tickets midori

out of interest, and not purely hypothetical, if a royal escaped somewhere in a house how long could it hibernate for or would it just die?

Arf! I read Mitchy's post as getting snakes to look at pics of rats, or vice versa

Your house sounds cool, Midori

I do like snakes and we had a couple of little garter snakes when we were kids. however my husband is absolutely terrified of snakes so no chance of having any these days.
Over 30 pythons? That definitely is a lot of snakes!

My friend's who are non snake owners think I am bonkers, but it really is quite common for snake owners to have so many. Honest... although hubby did buy me a hoodie (for around the houe only) saying 'Head Keeper' on it for Christmas...

I clean them out on different days, as the rodents take a whole day really. The snakes get cleane dout as and when needed, which is spot cleaning for the boas and corns, then a throrough clean out monthly, and cleaning as each royal has been to toilet as they are kept on kitchen roll as substrate. It doesn't take long, I just take out the dirty kitchen roll, spray the tub with F10 disinfectant, wipe out and then put fresh kitchen paper in.

Mitchyinge, there is no way on this earth they could escape their heir tubs, let alne the room. I keep the door shut to keep it warm in there (it's heated to 23-25 degrees C) and we have cats so have to keep them out. I have heard of them escaping and surviving for a while though, especially corn snakes. My worry would be the cats getting them if they escaped here.

ah didn't mean to imply yours might, but know of one who has but was some time ago and he is probably not alive now - RSPCA said most escaped snakes are never seen again, although can surface AGES later

Sorry, I didn't think you were implying anything, snakes can and do escape, usually from vivs with slidy doors though. Most of mien are quite valuble, as well as very much loved pets, so I am extremely careful with them.

I have heard of a few people (via forums) who have lost and then found snakes. If they are adult snakes, and your house isn't that old with lots of old floorboards etc for them to get under, they are usually quite easily found I think.

I have hear dthere are several colonies of corn snakes living wild nt he Uk though, not sure how true that is, but it seems feasable. Corns are quite robust.

Its really interesting to read about how you look after your snakes midori!

Do they 'know' you? - like in the sense a cat would?