The Snake Keeper's Checklist
Before You Bring Your Snake Home

Snakes are becoming increasingly popular as a type of pet. There are several reasons for this. For one thing, there's a lot more care and keeping information available these days, which makes for healthier snakes and happier keepers.

The reptile industry as a whole has also come along way. Once viewed as a weird subculture, the act of keeping snakes and other reptiles as pets is now approaching the "mainstream." As a result, the industry has become a lot more organized and professional.

But before you bring your first snake home to keep as a pet, there are certain things you should know and do. Here's a checklist of some of the most important actions:

Checklist - Before Purchasing a Pet Snake


Research your state's laws regarding reptiles in general and your chosen type of snake in particular. Every state is different with regard to what they allow as pets.
Create a list of eight to ten breeders who produce the type of snake you want. Seek a captive-bred specimen and avoid wild-caught specimens. The animal will likely be healthier as a result.
Start researching reptile shows and make a list of those within driving distance of where you live. These shows are a great place to obtain healthy specimens.
Contact breeders to find out about the shows they attend, snake availability, shipping procedures, etc. Record this information in a notebook for future reference.
Use the Internet to gather some care sheets about the species you want. If you can find one, read a book about that species as well. You should know as much as possible about the care and keeping of your snake species.
Using the information you've gathered as a guide, start preparing your snake's habitat (cage, heating, lighting, etc.).
Obtain a food supply (frozen rodents) or a reliable food source (live rodents).
Finish your pet's habitat, paying particular attention to temperature and humidity.
Purchase your snake and introduce it into its new habitat. Leave it alone for a few days so it can adjust to the new surroundings.
Get help from experienced keepers when needed. Join some snake forums for this purpose. For starters, check out the care and keeping forums at Kingsnake.com.

I hope you've found this guide to snake keeping helpful. If you have questions about caring for a specific species, please see the resource website listed below.

Brandon Cornett publishes a website dedicated to reptiles and is the author of a book on corn snake care and keeping. Learn more by visiting http://www.reptileknowledge.com

by Brandon R. Cornett - 10/01/08

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