Any Snake owners out there?

[Ace-o-fire]

Ive been looking for a new pet since im breaking down my fish tank. And ive been looking at snakes. mostly ball pythons?

Can anyone tell me stories and give me help with trying to pick a snake for a pet?

[BadKarma]

You are asking for retarded replies with a title like that. Just a warning

[Boyiee]

"insert penis joke"

I've only owned small snakes, and not for very long, friend has an albino python I can talk to for you.

[Blarg]

Noblemountain (I think that is who) has one, he posted pics in the animal thread.

[Posterboy]

You are asking for retarded replies with a title like that. Just a warning

I have a trouser snake!

[Elvis]

You are asking for retarded replies with a title like that. Just a warning

That's what she said.

[Daydreamer]

I used to have a bermiese (sp?) python when I was around 5 or so. Despite my young age, both me and my family never felt threatened by him. We got him from a friend that bread them for a living, so we got him when he was a weeee little snake.

They are (or at least mine was) very loyal and friendly to those we know. He used to wrap himself around me and act all cool with no pressure or anything like that.

Actually, now that I think about this, my parents were horrible. WTF were they thinking letting a 4 foot long snake wrap himself around a 5 year old?!?!

If you do get one though, know this, snake that is loyal + front yard for him to frollic in + people walking by on the sidewalk and turn to see a massive snake = WIN. We did that all the time.

[Mici]

I had a ball for about 5 years
Only thing bad about that snake was she ALWAYS tried to get out of her cage at night.
If you do get one consider breeding your own mice, saves a lot of money and time.
Also most snakes, if they eat their prey live for the first part of their life, they will only eat live, so if you get a older one make sure and ask if you want to feed them frozen mice rather than live ones. Mine ate live and I always watched to make sure the mouse did not hurt her as well. Ohh and don't use a glass aquarium, they will strike the glass and bloody their nose, I used a wooden frame box with chicken wire.
All I can think of right now.

As for a pet, I loved her, very friendly, very calm, and just a good pet. I used to put her around my neck and play NES all day.

Only down side is cleaning the cage is alot of work, but you had fish and its less than that, and the poo smells so bad, will light up the whole room, but you dont feed them to often.

[Shuvo]

This is how you should raise snakes (and babies)
YouTube - Baby X Naja snake - Bebê X cobra naja

[Plow]

"insert penis joke"

I've only owned small snakes, and not for very long, friend has an albino python I can talk to for you.

That's the penis joke, right?



Anyway, since op asked for stories:

One time a friend of mine took me over to hang out at some guy's apartment.

While we were there, he showed us his Boa, and told us about how he was trying to figure out a way to keep it contained better, since he'd caught it trying to eat his baby.

[Jaffar]

My roomate & I had a ball python back in college- was a lot of fun, cool pet. Had a couple of scares with it, as it seemed to get out of its aquarium no matter what we did. It escaped one day & we didn't find it until the next day when my roomate opened his desk draw & found it sleeping in there. It's aquarium was under the desk (not allowed in dorms...) & it managed to not only get out of it, but in the backside of the draw & in.

Feeding it became an event the entire floor liked to come & watch, as we fed it live mice, then rats as it got bigger. Luckily I was done with school & it went home with my roomate before it got to the small bunny stage...

[zoobernut]

I had a red tailed boa for a long time. Was a really great pet fairly easy to take care of. Snakes are escape artists especially boas and pythons. they are extremely strong and can push the top off of a tank even if the tank is almost as tall as they are. My suggestion is make sure you get a tank that has a latching lid if you get a larger snake. My boa got out of the cage and was missing for two months and we finally found her under the sink in the bathroom wrapped around the hot water pipe.

The other difficulty with snakes is dealing with parasites. I kept my snakes cage very clean and checked her regularly but she still managed to get parasites one of which eventually killed her because neither the vet nor I could figure out what it was . But overall I really liked having a snake. The red tailed boa is a relatively active boa and very fun to keep. I considered a ball python when I was looking the ball python owners can correct me if I am wrong but I was told by several pet store people that ball pythons spend most of their time curled up in a ball and are not active unless they are feeding.

[Luciola]

I considered a ball python when I was looking the ball python owners can correct me if I am wrong but I was told by several pet store people that ball pythons spend most of their time curled up in a ball and are not active unless they are feeding.

Ball pythons are quite docile, and do spend lots of time laying out. I owned one about 12 years ago, and he always just curled up in his water bowl or under a rock... cool pet if you're 13 i guess, but they arent the most interesting thing. The only neat part was walking around balboa park with a snake around my neck... and i was one of many But, to each his own. I wouldnt get another snake, only because they are not very fun pets.

[TheShadyMan]

We got him from a friend that bread them for a living, so we got him when he was a weeee little snake.

Boa on Rye?

[Lujei]

I've never had a snake, but one of my exs did. He said it was a bit uncomfortable feeding it mice at first. From what I've heard the larger ones can be quite "friendly" and adapt well to new environments. Remember that they are cold blooded and need a warmer environment, so if your house gets cool at night you'll want a heat lamp on them.

[noblemountain]

we have a 4 1/2 foot ball python, he's a great pet. they are really low maintenance and generally sweet animals. if you're looking for something to entertain you, prolly should find something else, 'cause they're going to spend most of their time hiding under something or just laying in the heat. lol

the most important thing is keeping them in a nice tank. i've got a 75 gallon aquarium with two "hiding rocks". one of them has a heating pad under it and one of them doesn't. i keep the right side of the tank about 80 degrees and the left side about 70 with no direct heat. that way the snake can monitor his temperature and move accordingly. it's important with ball pythons to have hiding spots for them or they'll try and escape a lot. they feel exposed when they're not under something and they are extremely head shy.

they don't mind being handled though and i've never had anyone be bit by one. i buy rats for mine now because he's gotten pretty large, but if you buy a baby you'll start off with "pinkie" mice. (little pink fuzzy ones). you can buy them frozen and just thaw them out (tub of warm water and let it soak...DO NOT MICROWAVE) or buy live and pre-kill. i don't like giving a snake live food because mice and rats can claw and bite the snake 'causing infections and injuries.

overall, it's a good low-budget pet as you only have to feed it once a week or so, and not much to buy as far as toys. lol. don't be surprised if it doesn't eat for a month or so...sometimes python's do that. especially during mating season. (winter months) just keep trying to feed him...make sure he has places to hide so he feels secure and not always afraid. remember, they are both predators and prey in the wild...so they get nervous when they can't hide. any other questions feel free to ask.^^