Posted on 04/06/2005 10:37:10 AM PDT by Maceman
I know this is way off topic, but hope you all will indulge me. I have decided to honor my 6-year-old daughter's numerous requests to get a pet snake. (I obviously will be overseeing proper care and feeding until my daugher satisfies me that she can do it right.)
I have had many snakes as pets in my life from childhood to age 30 (25 years ago), including two red-tailed boas, a mean yellow rat snake, New Jersey pine snake, and assorted green, garter and milk snakes. One reason I stopped keeping my last boa was that I finally lost the heart to kill mice to feed it.
I really want to make the right choice here. Ideally I would like another red-tail, but they get way too big.
The qualities I am looking for are:
* Adult length no bigger than 5 ft or so (2-3 ft. would be ok too).
* Generally accepts pre-killed thawed rodents for feeding.
* Good disposition, friendly and handles well.
* Not a real fast moving, active animal.
* No unusually difficult environmental demands.
* Maximum cost (not including housing housing and paraphernalia) not to exceed $150. (Less would obviously be better).
I have been doing a lot of research on this lately, although all the species I am interested in are not available right now in local pet stores for me to handle.
I have considered a corn snake, which has a lot to recommend it, but I understand that they tend to be a little faster and more active than what I am looking for (not like a red-tail, which has the perfect level of activity for our needs).
Also considering a ball python, a children's python, and a rainbow boa.
I know that there are a lot of Freepers with expertise in a wide variety of areas, and I figure that must include a fair amount of herp lovers.
Anyone have any good, knowledgable, experienced advice on what would be a suitable choice? Wise cracks are always amusing and to be expected, but hopefully some of you will have something more useful to offer as well.
Thanks.
No snakes up here in the wild. But I don't care for reptiles in general. They don't respond like cats and dogs do.
I have had one....best advice, don't.
We have two snakes for NY Senate Ya want one of them?
A Democratic Hisser makes a good pet. They are pretty active, they do bight but they aren't very bright.
You might have trouble finding them, however unless you live near one coast or the other.
Good luck!
My daughters (4 teenagers) want a snake too. I can't stand them! If you get some answers please ping me so I can make the right choices too.
Good luck!
"Garter Snake"? I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I'm certain it's not appropriate for such a young child.
FWIW- I've had bad luck with Death Adders. They're not nearly as friendly as purported.
Owl_Eagle
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
Don't take this the wrong way, but I would just say "NO" to her. Fish, cats, and dogs are superior pets, IMO.
If it has to be a reptile, try a small lizard. They're more fun to watch, and they eat bugs.
"pre-killed thawed rodents"
Available in your local grocery?
I can't stand my teenager either......
One caveat, reptiles are carriers of salmonella.
Hand washing after handling is vitally important.
i had an albino corn snake while in college. it was very calm and never acted up at all. the worst thing it ever did was use the person holding it as a restroom. i fed it small live mice, so i don't know about the "pre-killed" thing. it was not very active as i kept its living space on the cooler side by only using a bright light to warm it (no heat rock or anything). this snake remained calm even when it was taken out of its habitat during parties. also, corn snakes do not generally get very large.
At six years of age, I would recommend a King Snake. They are docile, easy to care for, inexpensive and are a great introduction into the world of reptiles. Go to a good pet store (preferably, one that specializes in reptiles)and get whatever education you can from the folks there. I have two Ball Pythons and a Dumeril's Boa. I would not recommend any of the larger constrictors for a six year old.
I have been doing a ton of research on this, and I will be happy to share with you what I have learned. Tell me more about what you are looking for. But first make sure they are really doing it because they are into it, and not just because it would make them cool or different, or whatever word teen-agers are using today instead of "cool."
Get a ball python. 4 feet is a big one, they are really cute, and quite inexpensive; you could probably find one for $50 or so. Babies have hatched in the last month or so, so they should be readily available... Make sure the pet store owner, or manager has fed them first. I've kept reptiles and tarantulas for about 20 years, and have never had a bad ball python. Have you considered Corn Snakes, the amelanistic ones are quite lovely and go for around $30 or so, and are also EATING MACHINES, with a nice disposition.
Jeff
Why don't you take her to the zoo to see the snakes and study about them in books?
Does she really want a snake or does she want to please her Daddy? Maybe she would rather have a kitten or puppy.
Of the snakes I've seen,
the only snake I've ever
liked is the King snake.
Now that all the wise guys have weighed in, my recommendation would be a corn snake (or red rat snake). They are inexpensive, hardy in captivity, mild-tempered (much more so than your yellow rat was), native to the States, and available in a lot of different color 'schemes' due to selective breeding (albino, etc). Try to get one that is large enough it is no longer eating pinkie mice. Downside is that they are mousers, and, like you, killing the mice so they could not attack and bite the snake during feeding is not a pleasant task. Most of your better captives will be rodent-eaters regardless. My travel schedule sent all my snakes to new homes; my favorite was a Trans-Pecos rat snake that got to be five feet while I owned it. Good luck...
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