If you are the kind of pet owner who loves quiet moments with your pets, then a snake is the perfect pet for you. Snakes will not distract you with their noise. They may even help you out with those unwanted mice in your home. These animals have been a constant fixture in books and movies eternally playing the "bad guy." But if we get to know more about them, well' find out that all of these talks about the "bad guy" is just a figment of one writer or director's imagination.



REMEMBER, snakes should always be cradled with great care because sudden movements by the one carrying it can result to a defensive mode.

A pet snake offers a lot of possibilities for the owner. First, snakes are very quiet animals which could really be beneficial to the owner since it will never be a cause of disturbance. Second, they are easy to maintain since they do not emit any foul-smelling odor or make a big mess in their cages. Third, feeding them will not be a problem for the owner since small snakes do not really eat that much. They only begin to require much food when they grow to about a couple of feet but prior to that, no expensive dietary supply is needed.

Choosing the kind of snake you would like to take in as a pet will require a lot of considerations. Price will obviously play a major role in choosing the kind of snake you want. Another thing to look into is the housing of the animal. The last and probably most important of all is the appearance of the animal you would take home. We have seen many kinds of snakes on screen and even in the books we read but it is another thing to actually see them live in front of you. You may be overwhelmed by the wide array of choices available to you. What you should do to overcome this is to familiarize yourself first with the snake you have an eye on. You can go to the pet shop twice or thrice a week to have a feel of how to take care of it. When you think you have enough familiarization and training, you can then purchase it.

For a beginner snake owner, Garter Snakes would suit you best. They start out small but may eventually grow up to four feet. These snakes are inexpensive and, with proper care, may live up to 12 years. If you have children in the house, owning Garter Snakes is not a problem since they are one of the most tolerant snake species. The only thing Garter Snakes need to have in its environment is a vertical limb to give them room to climb since this is their habit.

Snow Corn Snakes are those snakes often seen in zoos. They are displayed more often than other species since they look more attractive and comes in different colors. They are as small as Garter Snakes. Snow Corn Snakes can easily adapt to human handling therefore they make good pets.

On the other hand, there are snakes better left to those well-trained to handle them. Snakes like Python (Ball Python or Royal Python) should be handled by herpetologists. They are constrictors or snakes which constrict their prey to submission. Royal Pythons can be found in Africa measuring from three to five feet. They can live up to three decades.

Purchasing an exotic animal would require permits and clearances from your local community since they may have ordinances against owning snakes. It is better to be sure prior to making that purchase.