Whenever we talk about exclusive or unusual pets, Snakes are there for sure in the list. Many people while looking at a snake say slimy, ugly, disgusting, evil, creepy & scary, but many of us also say magnificent, damn it is beautiful! Snakes are one of the most splendid creatures. They make some great pets & can be very beautiful to handle. Yes they do appear to be scary & dangerous, but even a dog doesn’t bark without a reason!
Many people are going for snakes as pets above dogs, cats, fish or birds. Many people nowadays with no experience take in snakes as their pets & unfortunately end up with a dead snake or venomous bites, which force them to leave these pets into the wild on their own, which results in deaths of many snakes. Growing up with snakes can be a very learning experience, as it is said that the practical knowledge is way stronger than the theory, therefore keeping snakes as a pet can be a very rewarding choice. This extremely educational experience can teach you many fascinating things about snakes. As snakes require patience & are easy to keep as pets, therefore one can grow very patient, calm & relaxed in nature with snakes. But there are many of us who can screw up their first experience if they do not keep a check on few things mentioned below, before they go in for a snake.
Make sure you are not squeamish!
First of all you need to understand the fact that handling a snake as a pet is not a child’s play. You have to be brave at heart & very active, as snakes are one of the most nervous & shy animals, therefore they require that extra attention & care! A week at heart or who get scared of reptiles can’t see a live mouse being eaten, cannot promise to take care of a snake properly! And someone who pets a snake in impression to make his fear of snakes go away can definitely not stay friends with the snake for long. Petting a snake requires that gut & feeling from the inside, if you are not sure of yourself taking a good care lifelong then you should probably not go for a snake. Snakes can live up to 20 years, therefore proper care is very essential to keep them healthy till their last days.
Does the Law allow you?
There are many countries in the world where owning a particular animal as pet is strictly prohibited & can invite some serious punishments if the law is broken. So before you go in for a snake, then make sure you are thorough with the rules & regulations of the area or the country where you stay. You should know that the law of the place where you stay allows you to have a snake as your pet & will not put you behind bars if you take your snake out on for a walk!
What type of Snake will suit you the best?
Now most of the time people go in for the snakes without any good research, that results them in getting the type of snake that they fail to handle & take care of due to which the snake is only left to die!
You should always do a research about the type of snakes that mostly are taken up as pets. You should know the in & out of that particular type of the snake you are going in for, because who wants an unhappy pet at the end of the day?
Do you have enough space?
Although snakes do not require much space, but they can grow up till 7-8ft. & so big cages that escape proof are essential, as snakes tend to escape cages most of the times. You should make sure that your cage has enough space for your snake to move, sleep & play around. If there is not enough space in the cage then the snake can easily get irritated & can have temperament issues.
Do you have money issue?
If you have money issues, then you should not go for a snake, as their care can be a little expensive & those visits to the vet can be a little extra heavy on the pocket. As snakes are one of the exclusive pets, therefore they are expensive & the equipment they require also comes for that extra money & not to forget the vet! Not every vet can take good care of snakes, therefore specialists charge you a little extra for to look up to your snake problems.
Are the climate conditions right for the snake you are planning to own?
Climate plays a very important role in a snake’s life. If that particular snake is not made up for the climatic conditions it currently is living under, then the snake would die. Therefore, going in for the type of snake that can live in the climatic conditions around your house will be the wisest thing you will do.
Will you be able to take care of the food habits of snakes?
Usually snakes eat very less, but sometimes snakes can be one of the biggest eaters, who can be hungry enough to bite anything they see first as soon as you open the cage. So make sure to get every minute detail of the eating habits of your snake. And most of all in this category, you should be ready to clean up the mess a.k.a the poop they do after eating as it has salmonella, & can be extremely dangerous for humans as well as snakes.
