- What are Snakes?
Snakes are reptiles of the order Squamata (along with nearly
all of the lizards), and of the suborder Serpentes. There are
some 2,700 species of snakes, 10% of which are vemonous with only about
half of this percentage being deadly to humans. They are divided into
families including the Boidae & Pythonidae(boas & pythons),the
Colubridae (the most prevalent "typical" snakes, such as garters,
rats and kings), Elapidae (cobras, corals, kraits) and Viperidae
(rattlesnakes, adders).
Snakes were the last of the living reptiles to evolve, having come from
ancient lizards who "shed" their legs upon adapting to the life of a
burrower. Once burrowers only, snakes again evolved, this time taking
to the trees and the seas. (Snakes are marvels of nature, and can traverse
all of the places limbed creatures can, if not more.) The last of the
snakes to evolve were the venomous species, who came about not long
before the bipedal primates.
Snakes have no ears and can only hear
vibrations, and their eyesight isn't all that good either, with the
exception of a few aboreal members. Some snakes have facial pit organs that allow
them to see in the infrared, such as rattlesnakes  and
pythons. Most of how a snake "sees" its world
is via it's sense of smell/taste, and the instrument applied is their forked
tongue which grabs particles from the air and carries them
to the jacobson's organ located in the roof of the mouth.
What is a Snake's nature?
Snakes are simple creatures who live a simple, preferably quiet life.
They are generally shy and reclusive beings who generally have no desire
to alarm or harm (including vemonous snakes) anyone. Despite the myths,
 lore and straight out lies, they
are normally gentle animals who are a bit on the nervous side to say
the least. Because they are dinner for a large number of predators,
they have to be alert to dangers. For some snakes, this means putting
on an aggressive stance meant to scare a threat off. In most cases,
the snake is bluffing: Except for the large constrictors and the extremely
toxic snakes, most of them don't have too much in the way of a real
defense, especially against humans.
When
it comes right
down to it, you really can't generalize with snakes, anymore than with
any other animal. They all have their own personalities, temperaments
and dispositions. Some snakes are "happy-go-lucky" while others are
downright cranky. Many snakes just can't relax in the presence of humans,
especially if not handled regularly.
Okay, so do they make good
pets? That all depends on what your idea of a good
pet is. If it's tricks you want, or an animal who'll do your bidding,
a snake is not for you. If you crave affection from a pet, or expect
loyalty, then again, I'm afraid, a snake is not for you.
Being reptiles, snakes lack a limbic
system, the part of the brain that evolved in mammals extensively.  This
"emotional" brain makes for more social ties and more parental involvement.
What this means is that reptiles, although they may come to trust and
"like" you, cannot display what we know as affection, even if it appears
to be expressing it. They may take an interest in you, but the main
reason a snake will "snuggle" with you is for warmth. One also has to
consider that, even if captive-bred, snakes never lose their wildness.
Some snakes resent being held captive, while some "live with it". However,
give any snake the chance and it will escape, especially during Spring,
the mating season. When it comes to escaping, snakes are pros. You really
have to look at it from the captive animals perspective: Even though
you may be the perfect keeper in every way, the animal is still
a captive, and by rights, it should have been born free, and
it knows it.
If snakes have always been a fascination
for you, and you understand it's different from dogs and cats, and are
willing to accept their nature, then it should bring you much delight,
especially if you take the time to choose the right kind of snake for
you, the beginner. Be
gentle and kind even when the snake doesn't appear pleased by your attentions.
Like people, snakes have their good days and their bad days (a good
rule of thumb is not to handle a snake when its "opaque", the time when
it is undergoing the shed process, nor should you handle your snake
after it just ate). Respect is the key. (See Snakes
For Beginners.)
- Snakes the Beginner Should
Avoid: When choosing your first snake, be reasonable.
There is no sense in running out and getting that Burmese Python you
always wanted if you haven't had any real experience with the smaller
species (especially if you have young children in the house). Same goes
for the venomous species: You should have near a decades worth of experience
with non-venomous snakes (at least!) before even thinking of getting
what in the herp world is known as a "hot". The reason for this is simple:
At some point or another, your snake is going to behave aggressively
and you, the snake, or both could be hurt, sometimes seriously. Also,
feeding accidents are not unusual, especially with a beginner, in which
the snake grabs you instead of the intended food item. Whereas this
is not a big deal with most colubrids (Ratsnakes, Kingsnakes, garters,
etc,. who's bites are minor indeed), with a large or venomous snake
it could be very serious, even fatal. Also, if you keep a "hot" that
isn't native to your area, there's a good chance the anti-venom isn't
being stocked at your local hospital. And what to do if the animal escapes?
There are many reasons for not acquiring a venomous snake.
Another major consideration is the health
of the animal. Check any potential pet snakes for sores or abrasions, especially on its belly (Keep in
mind that a snake that is shedding won't look its best - and its eyes
may be "opaque" or blue - but it shouldn't be peeling in bits and pieces).
Check its mouth for excessive mucous or what looks like cottage cheese.
Have a 
good look at its current housing situation: Is there feces everywhere?
Fresh stool is wet: Is it dried up like it's been there for days? Is
the snake active or is it lethargic? Most snakes look for escape routes
when being handled, especially youngsters, or will behave in a curious
fashion (Again, a snake that is shedding may behave lethargically).
And make sure the snake is eating. Best way to be sure is to be present
when your potential pet snake is fed. Find out when that day and time
is and be there. Also, a well fed snake's muscle tone will be firm and
its backbone or ribs should not protrude noticeably.
If possible, try to get your snake from
a reputable hobbyist. Depending on your area, a lot of pet stores don't
take good care of their reptiles (I find this true of some of the bigger
chain pet stores). Check for Herpetoculture clubs or societys within
your area (It wouldn't hurt to join the club, either). They are bound
to know someone who breeds snakes, and if that doesn't work, try the
Internet: There are a lot of reputable breeders/dealers out there, it's
just a matter of a little homework.
There's other considerations, too. If
the snake is intended as a pet for a child, remember that snakes
often out-live the child's interest in them. Once this happens, who's
going to take care of the snake? (I'd be very hesitant to get a snake
for a child if the very thought of having take over the care
of the animal presented any kind of problem for me. If you have
any kind of fear of snakes, I really don't advise it, unless you're
willing to get over it.) Also, is the child gentle with animals and
mature enough to understand that it's a living, breathing, feeling being?
If so, you might consider catching a local snake in the spring, so that
if the child's interest's wanes you can always put it back into the
wild where you found it. Don't keep the animal if it refuses food for
too long. (We feed our captive snakes once a week, but a wild snake
may eat smaller, more frequent meals.) Keep in mind that not all snakes
readily feed on rodents. The garters in my area feed on amphibians and
small reptiles, both of which are harder to obtain, especially in the
winter. The mild-mannered common Smooth Green (Grass) snake is particularly
hard to get eating in captivity, but is a fine introduction to the world
of snakes that a child can keep for a day or two.
A "hands-on" snake show can help make the decision easier as well. J&P Serpent Gardens can help you with this.
See About J&P Serpent Gardens at our latest site for more information.
For extensive knowledge
as to how to care for snakes and for species-specific
information, we advise visiting the links
provided.
Also recommended:
Go to our Snakes
For Beginners pages.
Back to Top
|
