I really want a snake but...

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:39 am Post subject: I really want a snake but...

I have always wanted a snake since I was 5 years old. The only person between me and my snake is my mother. She is terrified. Her main fear is the snake getting loose in her house. Is there a strong enclosure or even better an enclosure with locks? she really doesn't want to look at it so it will obviously be in my room. I am 15 years old and have done my research on different kinds of snakes but havent looked into their enclosures.

What kind of snake should I get. I would prefer a larger snakes but not a burm.

dpjm · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

Hey. There are lots of ways to make an enclosure escape proof. Most cages for snakes have screen tops and there are clamps available at most pet stores that securely fasten the screen to the cage. If you don't want to go that way you can always put a rock or heavy object on top of the screen, but the clamps are a better idea and they are cheap. When choosing what sort of snake to get, you first have to consider how much money, room, etc. that you have for an enclosure. Most pythons and boas require a large cage, so you need alot of space and money. Then you have to consider how much money you have available to feed it and once again larger snakes like boas and pythons eat alot and cost alot to feed. My blood python costs me about $300 for the cage and $10 a week to feed. Smaller colubrids, like kingsnakes, corn snakes, rat snakes are somewhat cheaper to feed and cage, and are definitely easier to take care of. They mostly have really great temperament and are very handleable. I would really recommend something like this for your first snake, until you get some more experience with snakes. My first was a Mexican Black Kingsnake.

Trippercook · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:23 am Post subject:

Go for a Ball Python. They're not too big and not too small. I have 2 of them. They are the nicest snakes in the world. They are easy to care for and they don't need a lot of space.
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reptileking · Member Joined: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Indiana

I am new to the snake world, but have had numerous lizards before. My first snake was a corn snake. Very docile and arent that expensive. They get around 5ft so that is a decently sized snake. I dont have any other snakes, just the corn. But I would highly recommend it to any new beginners.
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gunznrosez13 · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject:

I think I'll go with the ball python. What is a good size to start out with and apprx. how many grams is that? What would be a good enclosure for that size?

CRG · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

personally I think balls are boring.(no offense some people love them)Ive had mine for over 4 years and he is exactly like a pet rock.Never comes out of his hide except to eat and thats only at night..I will say that balls are pretty easy as long as you dont get a picky eater. personally love BCI they are my absolute favorite.Even though they are a bigger snake they do have pretty mellow personalities and generally good eaters.But ;your mom might freak when it keeps growing and growing.Corns are fun and active and very easy to care for, my second favorite snake.if you want a good enclosure I like my Visions or Boaphiles, they can be locked with a jewelry case lock from any hardware store.I dont like tanks, hard to open if you have those metal clipon things and they dont retain heat at all.But they are cheap..My stupid cats always sit on top the tanks and cave in the screen tops, thats the main reason I switched to pvc cage

Nero557 · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

in your case, i would suggest a ball python. Just buy a juvie for a cage you can start with a 20L or so, or like a 29g, I have 4 ball pythons and 2 of them love to climb, the other two just kinda sit around and watch tv or the wall. I would also recommend the vision cages or pvc cages from boaphile, they are so much nicer than glass aquariums. And the locks (like mentioned above) can be just latches or with a key, and they work great, especially with a ball python, no possible way of escape. Plus bps are more likely to curl into a ball (hence the name) than strike you. Another name they are called is Royal Pythons. good luck

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TallBaldNTatt2ed · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:35 pm Post subject:

I had two ball pythons, and loved em. Mine were somewhat active, but both had alot of personality, loved to watch t.v. They are also easy to handle, and hide rather than bite. I also had a cornsnake, very squirmy, extremely active, and always looking for a way out. If you do get a corn, be sure to get an escape proof cage, if there's even the smallest crack they'll find it and get out. And after an afternoon of tearing the house apart looking for a snake the size of a pencil, your snake owning days will probably be over. Remember what it's like to live with a mom, they always win!

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:04 pm Post subject:

My mom just gave me a lecture about her "phobia". Looks like im not getting one. damn. I will find a way. Thanks for yall's help.

dpjm · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject:

I've seen many people get over their phobia pretty quick when they see a nice snake. I think your mom just needs to handle a nice tame smaller snake, like a king or corn. Go to a petstore and find a nice one, then take your mom and show her. Don't give up, bud.

Grimlock · Honored Member Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 213

you stated in another thread that you are 'just a kid', and as such you couldn't afford to neuter your sugar gliders and have to get rid of them. that means you need financial help from your parents to take care of your pets, but they are obviously not willing to give it to you.

i think you should wait until you have your own source of income before getting any more pets. if you cannot afford to get a sugar glider neutered then you wouldn't be able to afford other vet bills in the event of emergency. what if you got a snake and it became ill, or got injured? would your parents pay the bill? if not, then it is not fair for you to own an animal until you have a reliable source of income.

dpjm · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject:

Great point. You should always do all the math before you buy a new pet, factor in every conceivable cost. If that works out, then buy the animal.

Daggit_Columbian · Honored Member Joined: Oct 10, 2006 Posts: 251

Nero557 · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject:

they are right. with the money thing and the getting over the phobia. My gf hated snakes, she was so afraid of them and told me to never bring one home... and i brought one home, and after she saw how (cute) it was small it was and tame, she has no problems with them now, unless they are like over 10ft or if they hiss at her. My mom hated em too, but i brought it home anyways and she doesn't mind em now. my dad hates em but he hates all my animals, ever since i brought my first one home he's like no more or you're getting kicked out and now i have 4 ball pythons, 4 bearded dragons, 2 tegus, a savannah monitor, tokay gecko, marbled gecko, golden gecko, whites tree frog, a sulcata tortoise and two decent sized fish tanks. but i don't recommend going against your parents, i just know how mine are and i know they'd never boot me no matter what.

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CRG · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject:

Does your mom like lizards? You may just have to stick with those till you are older.Heck you only have a few more years anyway..I dont understand why people are afraid of snakes but not lizards, they are basically the same thing but lizards bite twice as hard as snakes.
I also dont understand why so many moms dont like snakes.Sheesh Im a mom and its the opposite at my house, my boys arent that interested in my snakes.But they do like the lizards.I wish they would take more of an interest in the reptiles with me but all they care about is World of Warcraft....I hate that game, its soooo all consuming....A waste of a life....