These days there are masses of different species of snake currently available in the pet trade. This raises an interesting problem: what are really the best small pet snakes which are suitable for beginners and require minimal space in captivity? As it turns out, while some snake species are difficult to look after thanks to …
Pet garter snakes are some of the most rewarding reptiles to keep in captivity. Unlike so many other snake species they may be kept safely in groups, they thrive in beautiful naturalistic vivariums, they grow only to a very modest size and the snakes themselves are absolutely stunning in appearance. In this introductory care sheet …
King snakes are a large family of non-venomous snakes, many of which can make ideal pets. Generally speaking king snakes are very hardy in captivity, grow to a very modest size, and many will become docile enough to handle with ease. Like any pet reptile, however, keeping your king snake successfully is rather more involved …
Much has been written in the past about ball python cages, and each keeper will have their own preferences. The intention of this article is to provide a balanced guide to choosing and setting up your ball python cage, in order to keep your pet snake happy and healthy throughout its life. If there’s one …
Make no mistake – bullsnakes are impressive reptiles. Large in size, bulky, beautifully patterned and with a variety of strategies to ward off potential predators these snakes can put on a real show when they feel threatened. Indeed, my first ever experience of this species was a large adult specimen, in a pet shop where …
My first proper introduction to rainbow boas was as a teenager, when I started to date a girl who kept one as a pet. I was immediately taken with the incredible iridescence shown under natural sunlight (or the right artificial lighting). It is this ever-changing color that has resulted in their common name of “rainbow …
When I first started to keep reptiles in the 1990’s ball pythons were still seen as something very unusual and exotic. Any mention of a “python” drew awe from other people, and with their stout, chunky bodies they really were something totally different to the corn snakes and garter snakes that were prevalent at that …
My obsession with keeping exotic pets began at a very young age. By the time I was twelve I had already kept a range of different tarantulas, stick insects and praying mantis. I’d also begun to branch out into reptiles, where I started by keeping green anoles. However it wasn’t until the age of 16 …
One of the things that many people find scary about snakes is that they seem to show very little emotion. They wonder how you tell whether a pet snake is happy or depressed, friendly or aggressive. A common question is therefore: “do snakes like being pets?” The short answer is “no” – snakes do not …