Does anyone keep a snake as a pet?

@Bellapop (1279)
July 4, 2010 8:02am CST
Are snakes difficult to keep as pets? And why did you choose to keep something as exotic as a snake rather than a cat, dog or hamster. Do you still take it to the vet?
3 people like this
5 responses
@GS0093 (50)
• China
4 Jul 10
I owned 4 snakes as my pets 2 years ago ,them are totally different with cats or dogs, but them are really amazing animals. I feed them with white mouse, one per week , actually it is ok even if you dont give them any food for a month or longer,they are easy to keep. I dont know why I like snake so much. you know they are not cute and sometimes they are very dangerous, but they are absolutely mysterious. I sent them free when I went to the other city for my work ,so I hope they are ok it their world!
@Bellapop (1279)
4 Jul 10
And I thought owning one was hard work, but owning four? Wow! Snakes are so fascinating and I can just watch them for hours, I suppose when you only need to feed them once a month they can be pretty to keep. Did you need some kind of license or do some registration with the authorities?
@GS0093 (50)
• China
5 Jul 10
it is illegal to keep some special kind of snake and any kind of Python in china,but it will be ok if what you keep is a normal snake and the number is not very big, so you don't need any license or registration! feed them once a month not means you can just let them alone ,you have to clean their rooms very two or three days. watching them is very interesting things,specially when they are eating mouse,i like watching them too, anyways i think the snake is much easier than cat or dog. ^_^!!
@Bellapop (1279)
8 Jul 10
I agree with you, snakes are so fascinating to watch, I can just stare at them for hours and love going to the zoo to see them, although I think my mum would just freak out and scream if i brought a snake home to keep! Although, I'll bear in mind that we don't need a license to keep them :)
@malihat (216)
8 Jul 10
Once we return to university after summer break, my flatmate intends to buy a snake and keep it in our flat. I'm not scared of snakes, but the one she's getting needs to be fed mice and I find that disgusting and will not be going anywhere near it during feeding time! I think she wants to keep a snake because it's different from the usual pets, namely cats, dogs and hamsters.
@Bellapop (1279)
9 Jul 10
Oooh, good lucj with that one, not sure where you are, but do make sure it's ok to keep one with your landlord, here in the U.K, we'd be in trouble if they found out! :)
@malihat (216)
26 Jul 10
I am in the U.K. and wasn't aware of this. I will be sure to tell my flatmate that she needs to inform the landlord. Thanks for letting me know! I keep thinking about the mice and feel a little grossed out...
• India
9 Jul 10
All snakes are not poisonous, they are harmless creaute, in my place you will see snake charmers, they have many snakes as pet, it is their source of living.. Thanks for sharing. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor
@Bellapop (1279)
13 Jul 10
Do you mean places in the far east like India, where there are lots of snake charmers? I have never actually met one or seen one in real life, although in the films it does look a bit 'fake' (!) how would it be possible to control snak like that - to hypnotize it? It is all so amazing and i would love to see it :D
• Portugal
5 Jul 10
a snake as a pet? well some people have but me i couldnt ahah thats a bit disgusting to touch a snake^^ well me i have an hamster as a pet. he is very caring and sweet. even if he doesnt know the person he doesnt bite. well we didnt take him to the vet yet but we take good care of him. even when he was hurt i always took care of him and cured his wounds^^ me and my older sis^^ also my young sis we all give him food and water and take care of him and he is a happy pet^^
@Bellapop (1279)
8 Jul 10
Snakes are fascinating to watch, I'd actually be a bit wary about stroking or touchig them. Hamsters are so cute, but I prefer guinea pigs and i would like to get one of those too! :)
• South Africa
24 May 12
The simple answers, yes, lots of people have snakes as pets and most of them have more than a few. And no, snakes are not difficult to keep. The more sophisticated answer, difficulty depends on the snake, some snakes are just high maintanance. You do however need snake keeping permits for every snake you have depending on the law in your country. It is illegal in most countries to keep wild caught snakes. I personally have 8 snakes, a spotted bush snake, an eastern natal green snake and 6 brown house snakes. The green snake and the spotted bush snake make more of a mess than all the others put togetogether, they are much higher maintainance. Luckily, all snakes usually eat about once a week. So feeding isn't an issue. For a beginner, I would never advise a venomous snake. Corn snakes are great beginner snakes and so on, venomous snakes are STRICTLY for the experienced. I have handles deadly snakes before including forest cobras, boomslange (south african tree snake), mozambique spitting cobras, snouted cobras, shield nose cobras and so forth. Always take extreme precaution with snakes as dangerous as these. And yes, snakes are amazing to keep and observe.
@Bellapop (1279)
9 Aug 12
yes I totally agree, they look absolutely amazing and I could stare at one for hours and hours. There is something that looks like a snake in our garden now – the slow worm, at first I really thought it was a snake but is that it was a legless reptile that looks like a snake. I think having this is already enough, I don't think I would be capable of keeping any snakes!