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Posted by Fred Albury (Aztec Reptiles) on April 10, 2002 at 10:44:33:
In Reply to: choosing a pet snake... posted by Michelle Leister on April 10, 2002 at 09:03:35:
: My 7y/o son wants a snake. He loves them, I'm afriad of them but I'm trying. He has saved his allowance and recycled and now has $53 so he can buy it himself. I don't want him to have a snake that gets very large, since he is only 7. Someone suggested a ring necked snake, but from what I've heard, they get stress out when they're held too much. I don't want him to spend alot of money and have it die when he plays with it. Our local pet store owner, suggested that we get a trinket snake, but I haven't been able to find much info on them. Does anyone have any info on this type of snake, or a suggestion for a good starter snake, that hopefully won't get too big. ( beings that I'm gonna have to get over my fear of them too) Thank you in advance for any information you can provide me.
Dear Michelle,
First let me commend you on trying to overcome your fear so that your sons life may be more enriched. Oh , that we should all be so lucky with our parents...Most are not hes a lucky kid indeed!!
Second, you local pet store is probably NOT the place you want to buy a snake at. Period. Petshops are usually bastillion for mites, viruses and disease. The fact that he suggests a trinket snake(Elaphe helena) as your sons first pet snake is an indicator that that is not the place to buy at. Dont buy a snake there. period.
Trinket snakes are not appropriate first time snakesfro a 7 year old. I know of what I speak,I volunteer to do classroom presentation every year with birds of prey, amphibians, and my reptiles etc. I only bring the snakes that work well with children, no overly nervous or aggressive snakes.
Ok, let me explain about a few choices to you:
Snakes that eat INSECTS are out. Do NOT buy them. Dekays, ringnecks, green snakes,brown, garters, are all not suitable and in fact pretty delicate little snakes. The BEST snake to get is one that eats mice. Mice eating snakes grow better, are hardier, and are captive bred and not wild caught(As are many insect eating snakes) wildcaught snakes carry a huge load of parasites in them and tend to get sick when brought into captivity if nottreated.
Captive bred is the only way to go.
The snakes I would suggest are listed below.
So is my website address,I dont sell any of these, but know folks that do so as a hobby.
Contact me if you want me to put you in contact with them.
BEST BEGINNERS SNAKES
#1.Rubber Boa- These little guys are actually somewhat delicate, and only eat about 1/4 of the year, but they are the TAMEST most placid snake I have ever had and are the crowd favorite at every elementary school presentation I have ever done.
Kindergardenters have held them,I rest my case.
They get MAYBE 2 ft long, are VERY slow moveing, olive green or brown in color. They like to be kept on the cool side and need a hidebox with spaghnum moss in it. Ryan Hoyer has a care sheet on kingsnake underneath care sheets.They eat mice, usually nothing bigger than a half grown mouse and as said before they only eat maximum , about 1/2 of the year. They are available, just make sure you get c/b babies.
This is my first and best choice , esp if you fear snakes,these little guys are so cute, no one fears them! Looks like and earthworm.
#2. Rosy boas-The distant cousin to the rubber, unlike the rubber, they dont come from wet moist locales, but rather dry desert ones. Desert animals are TOUGH, and rosies are VERY easy to take care of, as long as they are kept dry and warm. Humididity is their enemy. Only put the water bowl in the cage for 1 day out of the week, then remove it for the other 6 days. They get,again, probably no more than 3 ft, most I have seen where 2 ft.If they are not handled they can be bitey, and they should be fed in a seperate container. They eat diffrent sizes of mice, from small newborn ones all the way up to adults, they can be trained to eat frozen mice also, but it takes time. A good choice.
#3.Cornsnakes- These snakes get about 4 ft long, have a fairly placid demeanour. They eat mice and sma rats, again they can be trained to eat frozen thawed with some work. LOTS of information about these on the net,LOTS, Very popular and really cheap. The downside is that when they arelittle they are skinny, tiny things that are nervous and try to get away. They tend to be much faster moveing than thet rubber boa or rosy boas above.
They make good pets
#4. Calif Kingsnakes
These snakes get 4 ft long. I put them last because with lots of handleing they are great snakes, however as juveniles they rattler their tail and strike becuase they are scared. They think everything is going to eat them. They are right.. They alsoe at mice, small medium and large. They make great pets , once you get over the initial atitude. Come in a variety of colors and patterns. Very cheap. Simple to maintain.
Well, there you have the list. There are others, house snakes for example, but if it were MY kid I would choose from one of the ones listed here, buy the baby from a BREEDER and not a pet store,a nd set the cage up BEFORE I got the snake, also READ as much as you can BEFORE you get the snake. Lastly, find a supplier of rodents that is reliable so youi wont have to stress out about how you are going to feed it.
Please go to my website at:
www.renegadereptiles.com/aztec.htm
and look around, contact me if you would like me to put you in contact with breeders of the above species. Good people only. I dont deal with cheats and liars.
Sincerely,
Fred
