Many people will be surprised to know that snakes make ideal pets. There are many harmless species of snakes that you can bring home. Also, if you care for them well, like feeding them on time, giving them space, and more, they do not pose much danger to you. Caring for a pet snake is fun, especially because they do not need much. They only need proper food, enclosure, and less equipment to handle them. All this makes them a perfect addition to your family. But do remember one thing: you cannot generalize the care of snakes. It depends on the species you bought. Thus, before you bring any snake home, understand its species and what type of care it requires. The other things to contemplate when bringing a snake home are mentioned below.
Knowing which snake to bring
There are a few species of snakes that make ideal pets. Some of them are gopher snakes. They are docile and usually crawl. They live for 15 years on average and can grow about five feet. They love feeding on mice, gophers, and rats. California Kingsnakes are easily adaptable to pet life. They grow to three or four feet in length. They live for 20 years. The spotted python is a small-blotched python native to New Guinea and northern Australia. It is small in size (three to four feet). There are many pet snake species. Bringing one home will depend on your region, too. When you research them, learn everything. From what they eat to what temperature they need to be healthy, and more.
Licensing
To have a pet snake, you must get a license from your local government. Depending on your region or country, registering for the license will have different procedures. You can check in with a relevant website for the whole procedure. The website will also inform you of the rules and regulations you need to follow to care for the snake.
Prepare an enclosure for the pet snake.
You can only adopt bred-in-captivity snakes and not wild ones. Thus, you must build a proper home to ensure their happiness, safety, and peace at home. When adopting a snake, remember that it differs from cats and dogs. You cannot let them crawl around the house. They need a proper home, known as a vivarium or enclosure. It should also imitate their habitats, preventing any discomfort. Here are a few things to remember when building their enclosure:
Space: The enclosure (terrarium) space should fit the snake well. This space will depend on the weight and length of the snake. For instance, a python may need a home with up to 100 gallons of space. On the other hand, 20 gallons is enough for a medium-sized snake. https://www.petcity.com.au/reptile/ Have multiple enclosures in various sizes for your pet snake.
You can buy the course from the above site. It will cost around $100–150 if you plan to build it.
Substrate: Their enclosure should have a substrate. It quenches their burrowing hunger. Use soil, newspaper, or sand as substrates. Also, line the bottom with tree bark, dry leaves, brown grass, and more. Ensure their home is clean all the time. A dirty home is never ideal for any living creature, and the dirt will make the snake uncomfortable. Also, ensure their habitat has warm shade so they can enjoy alone time.
Keep the temperature of the enclosure just right.
Snakes are cold-blooded animals. So, they need a warm temperature to regulate their body temperature. If this doesn’t happen, they can suffer from digestion issues. To control the temperature, provide a heating source in their tank. Under-tank heating pads are the best method for this. The right temperature for your snake will depend on their species, which differs.
Focus on their nutrients.
Snakes are wild animals that love to prey on their prey and eat it whole. So, feeding them frozen mice once a week will keep them happy. They also eat worms and other things, depending on their species. So, know what they like to eat and ensure you feed them properly. It may get squeamish for a few people, but remember that snakes don’t eat as much as other animals. A few adult snakes do not require food for a few weeks.
Have a vet
Before the pet comes home, find a vet who specializes in snakes. You may need their assistance from time to time to keep them healthy. For instance, if you see them hiding more, drinking less, drinking more water, and more, check in with a vet.
If you are an animal lover and not afraid of snakes, making them a part of your family must be on your mind. If you do go forward with this, remember that even though snakes are clean and low-maintenance reptiles, they still need care. To ensure their health and safety and ensure they are not in any danger or danger to others. Know everything about caring for them before bringing them home.