Which Snake???

There are over 2000 species of Snake, and although about 100 species are generally available, there are about half a dozen species of snake that make excellent pets for a newcomer to Herpetology - the study of reptiles.

Although this may seem to be a small choice, these snakes are all of good temperament and grow to managable sizes, so they are suitable for most domestic vivariums.

These are generally disease free providing that a few simple instructions are followed and there exists a wide variety in colour due to the subspecies and colour variations.

All snakes are carnivores and this generally involves feeding them on various sizes of rodent. However would-be snake keepers reluctant to store and to feed dead mice or rats to their snake will prefer garter snakes, where fish and earthworms can comprise the majority diet.

Garter Snakes

These snakes are slender and active. They have large appetites and are tolerant of a range of temperatures. Garter Snakes produce fully formed baby Garter Snakes - they do not lay eggs. They should be fed on a mixed diet of small whole fish, fish pieces and earthworms and may occasionally take pinkies (Baby Mice) and fuzzies (Small Mice).

Fish pieces should be heated to over 80 degrees for a few minutes to denature an enzyme (thiaminase) that causes a vitamin B1 deficiency.

Garter Snakes benefit from vitamin supplementation since heat treating destroys vitamins and worms contain little calcium. They often prefer food that wiggles so that you have to offer it at the end of a long pair of tweezers.

Feeding should take place every other day.

Garter Snakes can grow between 60cm and 120cm (24" and 48") depending on the species and will have a life span of approximately 8 - 10 years. They can be kept singly or in a group

Corn Snakes

These snakes are easy to maintain, they grow to a manageable size, they are available in a wide variety of different colours, feed well and generally have a good temperament. All in all they are a good beginners snake.

A Corn Snake can grow up to 150cm long and can have a life span of twenty years. They may be kept singly or in groups

King Snakes

In terms of housing, diet and general husbandry, the king snake is similar to the Corn Snake. The major difference however, is that the King Snake eats other snakes, including its own species and must be housed individually. Even during mating they must be watched very closely.

The king snakes are generally black or chocolate brown with yellow or white stripes but they also have a wide variety of different colour forms and sub-species, including the Mexican Black King Snake. The baby King Snake is frequently more stroppy or defensive than a baby Corn Snake, but they are easily tamed if handled regularly.

King Snakes are slightly more secretive than corns and should be provided with hides in both the warm and cool areas of the vivarium. They can grow up to 120cm (48") and have an approximate life span of about 10 - 15 years.

Milk Snakes

Milk Snakes are small, brightly coloured with striking bands of yellow, red, and black. As members of the King Snake family they need to be housed individually.

Some species come from northern South America and the hot end of the vivarium may need to be as high as 30 degrees C.

Milk Snakes frequently burrow into the substrate and a particular mix of wood chips, sand and dry moss is generally preferred.

Milk Snakes can grow up to a maximum length of 50-120cm (depending on the sub species) and have a life span of 10-15 years.

Royal Python

The Royal Python is not always recommended as a good beginner's snake as it down tend to have more problems with sloughing and feeding than the other snakes previously mentioned.

However its beautiful colouration, size and docile nature make it a popular choice for the slightly more experienced.

These snakes may be kept individually or in a group. An adult can grow up to 200cm and has a life span of 18 - 25 years.

For more information please contact the York Road Branch where our specialists will be happy to help