Pets Information


Five Snake Care Tips for Beginners


If you're looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it's hard to go wrong with a snake. They're exotic enough to catch people's interest, yet hardy enough to require minimal care. Nevertheless, uninformed first-time owners tend to make some basic mistakes, some of which can be quite costly. Here are some simple tips that can help ensure the health of the snake and prevent a lot of aggravation as well.

1. First, take note of how large your snake can grow to be. Most North American varieties only grown to be about four feet long, which is a reasonable size. Don't let a pet store employee talk you into buying a Burmese python, since these critters can grow to be over thirty feet long, and will require huge cages and tremendous amounts of food. (And before you ask? No, most zoos will not accept these as donations.)

2. Don't scrimp on cage size. A cage that is too small can be very stressful and unhealthy to your pet. Pet store clerks will sometimes try to sell you caging that is inadequate in size, so don't fall into this trap. For adequate comfort, the combined length and width of the cage should at least match the snake's length. Snakes can grow fairly quickly, so don't forget to take that into account as well!

3. Do find out how docile that particular specimen is. Most non-venomous North American snakes are fairly docile, but if you're a first-time keeper, you should probably make sure that your prospective pet can be handled easily.

4. Make sure that you select a pet with a hearty appetite. Ball pythons, for example, make great pets-but they are notoriously finicky eaters. Corn snakes make great starter pets because they are exceedingly docile and aren't picky about what they eat.

5. Snakes-indeed, any reptile-can potentially spread salmonella. The risk involved is very small, but one should still play safe. This is especially true when young children or people with compromised immune systems are involved. Do read up on reptile hygiene and salmonella before purchasing your pet.

Obviously, these tips only constitute some basic advice. I recommend that all prospective owners should read up on snake care in general, as well as the specific needs of the species that they plan to purchase. A little bit of basic research can prevent a great deal of aggravation in the future.

About the Author:

V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. is a senior electrical and software engineer at Cellular Technology Ltd (http://www.immunospot.com, http://www.elispot-analyzers.de, http://www.elispot.cn). The neighborhood children have referred to him as the "Crocodile Hunter" though, due to his impressive menagerie of snakes, lizards and tarantulas.


MORE RESOURCES:

WNCT

Store Accused Of Selling 'Puppy Mill' Pets
WYFF, SC - 14 hours ago
GREENVILLE, SC -- A national pet store chain is under fire tonight accused of selling puppies that come from "puppy mills." The Humane Society of the United ...
Video: AP Top Stories AssociatedPress
Investigation ties pet chain to 'puppy mills' MSNBC
Petland Linked to Puppy Mills Action 3 News
Brownsville Herald - WIFR
all 184 news articles


PetProductNews.com

Pet Sitter Association Poised for New Leadership
PetProductNews.com, CA - 15 hours ago
The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), a non-profit trade association based in Mount Laurel, NJ, will be under new leadership in 2009 ...


Freezing temperatures a danger to outdoor pets
Kingsport Times News, TN - 10 hours ago
As temperatures this week dip below freezing at night, animal shelter folks are urging pet owners to make sure their dogs and cats have proper protection ...
At the shelter State Gazette
all 2 news articles


CNN

Pets deserve pats for household health
Anchorage Daily News, AK - 3 hours ago
While many industries are feeling the pain of the current economic crisis, the pet industry is booming. Americans spent $41 billion dollars on their pets ...
In the lap of luxury, dog's paradise International Herald Tribune
States hound dogged drivers Tampa Bay's 10
Long-distance puppy love CNN
all 4 news articles


San Francisco Chronicle

Would you chose your pet over your partner?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 16 hours ago
In a study of 900 pet parents by BizRate Research, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. ...


Fire destroys Lee Street home; family of three, pets escape unharmed
Salisbury Post, NC - 5 hours ago
By Shavonne Potts Thursday morning started out like any other for Marilyn Adrian and her two children, who were at their North Lee Street home watching ...
Salisbury Family Loses Everything In Fire WSOCtv.com
all 2 news articles


Three people, 19 pets evacuated in Northeast fire
KVIA, TX - 15 hours ago
EL PASO, Texas -- Two adults, one child and nearly 20 pets, including ferrets, dogs and mice, were evacuated during a Thursday morning fire that nearly ...
Ferrets Revived With Oxygen Masks KTSM-TV
Extension Cord Sparks House Fire KFOXtv.com
6 fire units respond to Northeast house fire El Paso Times
KVIA
all 5 news articles


PRAIRIE COUNTRY: Pampered pets
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 1 hour ago
That’s not surprising since their owner Chris Farber runs a Web-based clothing business from her Gilby home that sells pet clothes. ...


Donation baskets brighten the holidays for pets of the homeless
The California Aggie Online, CA - 5 hours ago
The Mercer Veterinary Clinic will continue its 13-year long tradition of making holiday gift baskets for pets of the homeless this December. ...


City seeks to get more pets licensed
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, IA - 22 hours ago
In efforts to get more pets in the City of Storm Lake properly licensed so they comply with City Code, the City Council is looking at passing an ordinance ...
Dog tags might help get strays home, veterinarian says Le Mars Daily Sentinel
all 2 news articles

Pets - Google News

home | site map
© 2007