MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Pet Snake?

Pet Snake?

posted 8 years ago by LeiaOfLothlorien (1980)
93 replies | jump to latest

I know this is random and off topic, but I just needed a break from [spoiler] all the hullabaloo about the new rules and mods taking over the site and yadda yadda. [/spoiler] Besides, there have been posts about supermarkets and flying cars, so why not snakes?

Anyway, my younger brother recently decided that he wants a pet snake. The only kind of pet we've ever had is fish. My mom's against it, because she doesn't want to end up being the one to feed it (which is what happened with the fish) nor worry about it getting loose in the house. I think it'd be cool to have a snake, but I don't want to feed it dead mice *shudder*. My brother said he would do that part, though, which is surprising because he doesn't even touch normal food (salad, meat, sandwiches, etc).

So the point of this thread is: Do any of you have a pet snake and/or know anyone with a pet snake? What species would you suggest for a beginner?

EDIT: Wow, lots of responses here. I just want to clarify that we are most likely not getting a pet snake. However, I wanted to know people's thoughts on the matter just in case we do decide to get one.

[–] pancine (40) 8 years ago

I had a garter snake for awhile but they don't make good pets, they bite. I fed it feeder fish and it was quite a spectacle watching it devour them one at a time. In my experience corn, black,milk and rat snakes are docile and make better pets.

[–] LeiaOfLothlorien (1980) 8 years ago

Good to know, thank you.

[–] db20db (17235) 8 years ago

It's been one of the more interesting threads.

[–] [email protected] (5854) 8 years ago

Definitely interesting and now I know a lot of places to avoid. lol

From some of the other posts, yes its true snakes catch live prey, kill it and eat it. But in captivity they will eat prey that is fed to them if it has been killed.

Has anyone heard of Clyde Peeling's Reptiland? It's here n Pennsylvania where I live. Clyde Peeling opened a zoo for reptiles in 1964. He is very committed to conservation and the proper care of his animals.

I took my son there once when he was little. They do shows and presentations and teach a lot about reptiles. I bought Clyde's book in the souvenir shop. Very interesting read!

Reptilland uses frozen mice which they thaw out to feed the snakes. One employee said that they call them "mouse-sicles." (blech, but to each his own!) Clyde Peeling said that problem with feeding live rodents to snakes in captivity is that it can be a danger to the snake.

He explained that snakes and rodents would not hang out together in the wild. And if you put a live rodent in with a snake who isn't really hungry, he will just ignore it. Snakes don't kill for sport. But mice with their razor teeth will sometimes start gnawing on the snake. He said that happened with one of his pythons. The mouse chewed on the snake and did some damage. Chewed up the snake's tail.

[–] Prelude (1443) 8 years ago

It's been a really fun and interesting thread, whatever you get in the end! :)