Healthy Foods to Give Your Pets

Posted on: 21 October 2016

If your son or daughter has recently become enthralled by reptiles, and they have begun begging you for one, then it's time to learn about snakes. Your son or daughter might love looking at cobras at the zoo, but these snakes are obviously not something you can bring home. There are some die-hard fans who traffic in "hot" snakes (hot snakes are venomous) but this is definitely not something you should consider. You want to choose a non-poisonous snake. Here are some other things to consider when choosing a snake for your child.

Size

One thing you need to do is determine is what size of snake you can handle. The snake will need to be kept in a glass tank. You can find these glass tanks at any shop that deals with reptiles. Some popular pet snakes, such as boa constrictors, will require a large tank. So if you live in a small apartment and don't have the room for a large tank, then you are going to have to opt for a snake that does not grow too large. You can speak with the reptile expert and mention to them that you need a snake that does not require a large tank. What you should not do is try and confine a large snake to a less than adequate tank. The snake can become sick from being confined in too small a space.

Feed

If the idea of feeding a snake mice freaks you out, then think carefully about owning a snake. You can't feed a snake with only pellets. If you just can't deal with the idea of feeding mice to a snake, then maybe consider a different reptile that doesn't have such stringent (and carnivorous) dietary requirements.

However, if your main problem is seeing a tiny, living mouse (or large rats, as with the boa constrictor's food) getting eaten, then you might want to check out frozen mice and rat products. Most stores that sell reptiles and reptile supplies will sell bagged frozen rats and mice. These can then be thawed out and fed to your snake. However, consider if you're going to want to thaw out mice or rats. If even this is too much you might want a small lizard, frog, or turtle.

Lifespan

The next thing to consider is the lifespan of the snake. Unlike dogs and cats, there is a huge range in lifespan depending on what type of snake breed you choose. For instance, a corn snake has a life span of around ten years. Boa constrictors, on the other hand, might live up to thirty years. So when you are speaking with the reptile expert, make sure to ask about the lifespan of the snake you are interested in buying. If you are not ready to commit to a snake for a very long time, make it clear that you want one with a shorter lifespan.

Check out a pet shop like Snakes at Sunset for more information.