Five Snake Care Tips for Beginners

If you’re looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it’s hard to go wrong with a snake. They’re exotic enough to catch people’s interest, yet hardy enough to require minimal care. Nevertheless, uninformed first-time owners tend to make some basic mistakes, some of which can be quite costly. Here are some simple tips that can help ensure the health of the snake and prevent a lot of aggravation as well.

1.First, take note of how large your snake can grow to be. Most North American varieties only grown to be about four feet long, which is a reasonable size. Don’t let a pet store employee talk you into buying a Burmese python, since these critters can grow to be over thirty feet long, and will require huge cages and tremendous amounts of food. (And before you ask… No, most zoos will not accept these as donations.)

2.Don’t scrimp on cage size. A cage that is too small can be very stressful and unhealthy to your pet. Pet store clerks will sometimes try to sell you caging that is inadequate in size, so don’t fall into this trap. For adequate comfort, the combined length and width of the cage should at least match the snake’s length. Snakes can grow fairly quickly, so don’t forget to take that into account as well!

3.Do find out how docile that particular specimen is. Most non-venomous North American snakes are fairly docile, but if you’re a first-time keeper, you should probably make sure that your prospective pet can be handled easily.

4.Make sure that you select a pet with a hearty appetite. Ball pythons, for example, make great pets—but they are notoriously finicky eaters. Corn snakes make great starter pets because they are exceedingly docile and aren’t picky about what they eat.

5.Snakes—indeed, any reptile—can potentially spread salmonella. The risk involved is very small, but one should still play safe. This is especially true when young children or people with compromised immune systems are involved. Do read up on reptile hygiene and salmonella before purchasing your pet.

Obviously, these tips only constitute some basic advice. I recommend that all prospective owners should read up on snake care in general, as well as the specific needs of the species that they plan to purchase. A little bit of basic research can prevent a great deal of aggravation in the future.


This article was written by V. Berba Velasco Jr., PhD, a is a senior electrical and software engineer at a small biotech company ( Cellular Technology Ltd - http://www.immunospot.com) who has a love for reptiles and is reported to have a very impressive menagerie of snakes, lizards and tarantulas.

See http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com for more articles on pets in general and reptiles in particular.

Two-headed snake up for auction!

An American aquarium says it intends to auction a rare two-headed albino rat snake for $150,000.

The World Aquarium in St Louis has been home to the unique reptile, named "We", for the past six years.

Aquarium president Leonard Sonnenschein said he hoped the snake would generate as much demand on the eBay auction site as a priceless work of art.

However eBay bans the sale of live animals and says if the creature is listed it will promptly be removed.

A spokesman told the BBC News website: "It is against eBay policy to sell this on the site. We can't stop them from listing this snake, but we've told them we'll pull it down immediately."
An aquarium spokeswoman said conditions were in place to make sure the snake went to a responsible buyer.

We was being sold to pay for education, conservation and research programmes, the aquarium said.

Healthy size

The aquarium purchased the snake for $15,000 when it was six-and-a-half years old, despite knowing that most two-headed snakes do not live for more than a few months.

"It's an amazing snake," Mr Sonnenschein told the Associated Press news agency. "When people see it they are awe-struck."

The snake is a healthy size for a rat snake, at one inch thick and four feet long.

It is currently at the prime age for breeding and is expected to live for another 10 to 15 years.
It has survived for so long because both heads are connected to the same stomach, Mr Sonnenschein added.

We was almost sold in 2004, after it was stolen by a city museum worker. Fortunately, authorities found the snake in the man's garage at his home in Illinois.

Mr Sonnenschein said the man was intending to sell it.

See www.reptilefile.com for more facts on reptiles!

Snake displays changing colors

A snake with the ability to change its color has been found in the rain forested heart of Borneo.

Researchers from Germany and the US discovered the water snake's chameleon-like behavior by accident when they put it into a dark bucket.

The environmental group WWF, which supports conservation work in Borneo, says wildlife in the region is threatened by deforestation.

It believes the newly described snake may exist only in one river basin.

Found in the Kapuas river in the Betung Kerihun National Park in Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of Borneo), it belongs to the Enhydris genus of rear-fanged water snakes and has been named E. gyii.

It is about 50cm (18 inches) long, and venomous.

Bucket research

The new species was described by Mark Auliya from the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, and John Murphy and Harold Voris from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

It was Dr Auliya, a consultant for WWF, who discovered serendipitously its color-changing capacity.

"I put the reddish-brown snake in a dark bucket," he said. "When I retrieved it a few minutes later, it was almost entirely white."

The reasons why it has evolved this attribute are unclear. The chameleon, possibly the animal kingdom's most famous color-changer, is believed to alter its hue depending on mood and temperature.

In the last 10 years, more than 350 new animal and plant species have been discovered on Borneo.

"The discovery of the 'chameleon' snake exposes one of nature's best kept secrets deep in the heart of Borneo," said Stuart Chapman, WWF's international coordinator for the island.
The environmental group warns that the home of the new snake is threatened, as Borneo's forest cover has declined from 75% in the mid-1980s to about 50% today.

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Florida's Top Gator Trapper Captures His Last Reptile

Florida's top gator trapper captures his last reptile

By KRISTEN KRIDEL
kristen.kridel@heraldtribune.com

John French straddled an 8-foot alligator as pain gripped his chest Monday. No time for a break.

Not even a massive heart attack could stop the trapper of 20 years. French wrapped tape around the reptile's snout, disarming his last gator. He died 12 hours later on Tuesday morning.

"I couldn't pick a better way for him to go," said French's daughter, Dawn Hansen. Just last week, "he grinned and said, 'I sure love huntin' these alligators.'"

French, of North Fort Myers, Florida, spent the past two decades trapping thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of gators, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He was the main trapper handling the territory from Lee County to Venice.

And he relentlessly sought his gators, even if it meant returning to the same spot again and again, said FWC spokeswoman JoAnne Adams.

His next stop Monday would have been the DeSoto Marina, said Tracy Hansen, French's son-in-law and a fellow trapper. A 13-footer has been stalking the shoreline since last year.

French tried to catch the reptile, known by locals as Harry, at least seven times.

On Monday, residents spotted Harry lurking once more near a sea wall. "He was going to get Harry" this time, Tracy Hansen said.

French started hunting gators because his neighbor was one of the state's original licensed trappers. When his family sold its small furniture business more than 20 years ago, French took on the task full time.

French, who was married for 43 years, supported his family by selling the hides of the alligators he caught. And his son-in-law and grandson learned to love the trade as well.

His hunting partner Monday was his 11-year-old grandson Jacob Hansen. Once in a while, French would let the boy tape up a gator's snout or load it into the truck, Dawn Hansen said.

Jacob "always thought it was neat if him and his pappy could go gatoring," she said.

During his career, French caught more than his share of killer alligators. French trapped the gators that killed landscaper Janie Melsek, 54, and environmentalist Bob Steele, 81, on Sanibel Island. The fatal attacks were in 2004 and 2001.

He also got the gator that mauled a woman to death in a pond near HealthPark Medical Center in Lee County and the reptile that killed a man in an Englewood lake. French trapped the alligator that attacked an Englewood woman trimming bushes near a retention pond in 2003. The gator had ripped off her arm.

"He basically risked his life every day to help others," FWC's Adams said. "He was really the ultimate professional. He was always there for you, and he would come out at any time of the day and night."

But in a recent interview with a reporter, French acknowledged that trapping gators was getting harder as he got older. French had two heart stents.

On Monday, French tried but could not lift the 8-foot-2-inch gator found at Hunters Ridge in Bonita Springs, Dawn Hansen said. French called his daughter and asked her to come help him pick up the gator. He said he was overheated. After several phone calls, he finally told her that he thought he'd had a heart attack.

On the way there, Dawn Hansen and her mother called 911. When the 911 operator called French's phone, his grandson, Jacob, picked it up and stayed on the line.

A firefighter watched the gator until another trapper arrived to take the alligator away. French's family went to HealthPark Medical Center with him. French died the following morning.

Dawn Hansen said her father lived a good life, and she only wishes she'd had more time with him."Some people have regrets, but fortunately, we have none," she said.

Last modified: June 07. 2006 6:16AM
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Bearded Dragons are an easy reptile to care for

BEARDED DRAGONS ARE AN EASY REPTILE TO CARE FOR

BY JEAN STARR

He doesn't breathe fire or lose his tail. Sid the Sunfire Yellow male bearded dragon lives in sand and loves attention. Michelle Duca did her research on this Australian lizard before acquiring Sid, and is enjoying his laid-back personality.

"He seems to love attention," Duca said. "When he meets someone new his beard turns black and he opens his mouth and makes a hissing sound."

Bearded dragons have risen in popularity over the past few years and with good reason. According to Dr. Larry Reed of Porter, they make good pets. "They're gentle, they don't bite, they're easy to care for, and they don't escape," Reed said. "For lizards they're one of the easiest (to care for)."

Care requires warmth and proper feeding. Most people use an aquarium with bedding purchased at pet stores. Reed recommends feeding the dragons on a surface that prevents them from eating their bedding, which can cause intestinal blockages. They don't need veterinary care unless they get sick, so there is not a lot of maintenance.

"The only problem is when people buy the animal without the book," Reed said. "The worst we see is when it's not fed properly." Bearded Dragons eat crickets and other insects, but if they do not get the calcium supplements they need they can have serious problems. BDs grow very quickly in their first year of life, which is the reason they need the calcium.

Vickie Dachiu has had BDs for 10 years and now breeds them. "They hatch at 4 inches (in length) and they can grow quickly to 21 inches," she said. The Honey Brook, Pa., resident said the lizards are friendly and tolerate people very well. "They're the equivalent of a couch potato but sometimes you have some that are more active," Dachiu said.

She warns people who have large pet birds to keep the lizard in another room. "Dragons are afraid of big birds and cats," she said. "They'll run around their cage or hide in a corner because they seem to know there is a predator about."

Once the dragon grows to its full size, cats seem to just ignore them, as do most dogs, Dachiu said. The oldest dragon Dachiu has is 10. Although he looks the same as the youngsters, he eats a little less and is not as active as he once was.

Several years ago it was discovered by scientists at Cornell University that lightening bugs or fireflies are toxic to bearded dragons. Dachiu said it's a good idea to stick with the insects you know are good for your pet.

In addition, Reed said you can share your vegetables with a pet dragon, as long as they're raw with no butter. You can take them outdoors, and as long as you haven't used chemicals on the lawn, let them eat your dandelions. Although some people fashion leashes for their dragons, they don't move that fast as long as you keep a close watch on them, let them enjoy the fresh air.

Both Reed and Dachiu stress researching the care of a Bearded Dragon before considering purchasing one. "The biggest reality is that the parents buy them (for their children) without doing the research," Dachiu said. People tend to slip up most often with the lizard's feeding. Otherwise, Reed considers BDs "about the best reptile pet you can have."

Resources*
"The Bearded Dragon Manual" by Philippe de Vosjoli/Roger Klingenberg, DVM (Bowtie Press, 2001)*
"Your Bearded Dragon's Life: Your Complete Guide to Caring for Your Pet at Every Stage of Life" by Liz Palika (Prima Lifestyles, 2000)*
"The Bearded Dragon: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet" by Steve Grenard (Howell Book House, 1999)*

The Bearded Dragons and other Creatures' Web site, www.dachiu.com

See www.reptilefile.com for more facts on reptiles!

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY

For detailed information on North American reptiles, go to:

http://www.cnah.org/

Great site!
More info than required!

Check out this informational website.

Here's a fun site full of articles and even a survey on reptiles.

http://www.reptilefile.com/

The Worst Reptiles for Beginning Hobbyists

This article appeared in the June 1997 issue of Reptile Hobbyist

The Worst Reptiles for Beginning Hobbyists
by Petra Spiess

With all of the reptile species available today has come some misconceptions about which reptiles are best for beginning hobbyists. The cheapest species are very often not the easiest or most suitable for the beginner. Several species have in fact, been traditionally sold as "starter" reptile pets, when in fact, they are far from suitable. Many of these "starter" reptile species should only be kept by experienced herpetocultuists.

What Makes a Reptile Species Difficult?

Just with the best reptile species, there are several factors that contribute to making a reptile the "worst" species for beginners. Aggressive reptile species should not be kept by beginning hobbyists, these animals can be difficult to handle and can cause injury to an inexperienced keeper. Reptile species that are heavily parasitized, as is the case with the majority of imported species, are difficult to maintain for the beginner and should be avoided. Large species that are potentially dangerous, or that are expensive to feed, house, and maintain should be left to experienced keepers. Reptiles that require demanding environmental conditions, or reptiles that stress in captivity easily are difficult to maintain for everyone, not just beginners. Unfortunately, there is rather a long list of difficult reptile species, but it is important to know which commonly seen species to avoid.

Burmese, Reticulated, and African Rock Pythons.

All of these species are very cute as hatchlings, but quickly grow HUGE not matter what size of enclosure they are kept in. Although Burmese pythons often can become very tame, this is seldom true for the other two species, reticulated and African Rock pythons. A large, aggressive snake is not much fun to maintain for the beginner. Unfortunately, these species are so prolific, there are many captive born hatchlings for sale on the market. Subsequently, the price is relatively low for a hatchling, and this often tempts beginning keepers into a purchase they should avoid. The reticulated and African rock python are often imported, to both their and the purchasers detriment. Imported specimens are often emaciated, dehydrated, tick and mite infected, and sick, which creates a whole host of problems for the purchaser. Adults of these species require room sized enclosures, and can be expensive to feed and maintain.

Green Iguanas

Green iguanas are by far the most common reptile pet on the market. This is unfortunate as this species is not suitable for the beginner for several reasons. Iguanas are large lizards, adults can easily exceed 5 feet. Iguanas require very large enclosures to fare well, and most homes cannot provide for this necessity. There is no aquarium on the commercial market that is large enough to house an adult iguana. Although some iguanas can become tame, many never do, and some animals may even be aggressive, especially males. Iguanas have specific dietary and environmental requirements in captivity that cannot be met by children of any age, so they do not make good children's pets. This species is one of the cheapest on the market today, do not let this fool you, iguanas are difficult, demanding, and expensive captives.

Box Turtles

Box turtles have been sold for many years as a "easy to maintain" or "ideal children's reptile pet". Neither of these two statements are true. The majority of people who wish to purchase box turtles want to maintain them inside year-round. This presents several difficulties. Box turtles require a lot of room to fare well, even one box turtle cannot be housed in an enclosure any smaller than a 30 gallon breeder aquarium. Almost all box turtles are wild-caught adult animals that are heavily parasitized. As with the green iguana, box turtles require very specific dietary and environmental conditions, which make this species less than ideal for the beginner. If the purchaser researches all the captive needs of box turtles, and can find a captive born animal to purchase, box turtles make excellent captives. Unfortunately, this seldom occurs, and box turtles die by the thousands due to ignorance.

Green Anoles

Anoles are another "disposable reptile" in the industry. Green anoles are a lot more difficult to maintain than most people realize. Many people purchase anoles as pets for their children because they are very inexpensive. What they do not realize, or are not told, is that the proper set-up for anoles is ten times the purchase price of the animal. Anoles are still relatively inexpensive even with the proper equipment, but there are several other factors that make this species a less than ideal captive. Almost all anoles on the market are wild-caught animals that are heavily parasitized. Even a healthy looking anole can carry a huge parasite load that will eventually lead to its demise. Anoles DO NOT tolerate handling well. This lizards are naturally very wary (everyone eats them) and become very stressed by handling. Captive born anoles in the proper, naturalistic enclosure can make a beautiful display, but they are not suitable for beginning reptile pets.

Wild-Caught Ball Pythons

Although captive born ball pythons make one of the best reptile species for the beginner, wild-caught or captive hatched species are among the worst. Wild-caught adult ball pythons are notorious for finicky eating and heavy parasitization. Do not let the term "captive hatched" or "farm raised" fool you, these animals are only slightly better than wild-caught specimens. The reason for this is the fact that captive hatched or farm raised ball pythons are still imports, and although they many not be as heavily parasitized as their wild-caught brethren, are still subject to the stresses of the importation process. Imported ball pythons, whether they be wild-caught or captive hatched, are often stressed severely by shipping, and crowding together with other animals at dealers and importers. The crowding that occurs often acts as a vector for the spread of external parasites and disease. The only ball pythons a beginner should consider are captive born, feeding animals that have not been subjected to excessive stress. Although the wild-caught and captive hatched ball pythons are cheaper, they will cost more in vet bills and frustration in the long run.

Wild-Caught Chameleons of any Species

Even captive born chameleon are demanding captives, but mixing together an antisocial nature, the stress and crowding of importation, and heavy parasitization, makes wild-caught chameleons terrible captives for the beginner. Some dealers make a concerted effort to establish wild caught chameleons before sale, deparisitizing and acclimating their animals, most importers however, are not this conscientious and subscribe to the idea of "buyer beware". Chameleons are asocial, and do not tolerate handling well. Chameleons need to be housed away from other chameleons and from stressful household occurrences such as cats, dogs, vacuum cleaners, and high traffic areas. Feeding and housing chameleons appropriately requires a lot of effort and time, these animals are stunning, fascinating, and beautiful, but are too difficult and frustrating for the beginning hobbyist.

The Tokay Gecko

There are few other reptile species of any genera more aggressive than the tokay gecko. This species is very common on the market, and is subsequently very low priced. Most tokays are imported animals and have all the problems that go with this process. Tokay geckos, with very few exceptions, do not become docile and do not tolerate handling well. In addition, they are extremely quick and, as with all arboreal geckos, can climb even slick surfaces with ease. The first thing a tokay geckos does when it feels threatened (which seems to be anytime anything comes near one) is to gape its prodigious mouth as a warning, which is why most close photographs of the tokay geckos show the animal in this position. The second course of action for a threatened tokay is a load barking noise followed by a lunge at the threatening object (if you are keeping one, this is usually your hand). The last course of action is biting, and boy, can they bite! Tokay geckos have very strong jaws, capable of causing serious injury to anyone fool enough to be bitten by one of these animals. This beautiful and interesting gecko can make a good captive for those who are experienced in handling aggressive, fast moving reptile species. Beginners generally do not fall into this category, so should pass this species by when looking for a new purchase.

Caimans or Alligators

There are many reasons not to keep these two species, among them is the fact that many states ban the private sector from owning these animals. Baby alligators are produced heavily in the East and South, a determined person will be able to purchase one, legal or not. Caimans can be found in almost every state that does not ban their sale. Baby caimans and baby alligators are undeniable cute, they make cute sounds, and are extremely soft to the touch. Most people who purchase these animals as babies have never seen an adult animal or do not plan on caring for the animal for its entire life. I will never forget speaking with a person who had just purchased a baby alligator and asking,
"What will you do with this animal when it gets anywhere near the adult size?" The answer I received was,
"I Dunno know",
which is the typical response of a person who purchases one of these completely inappropriate reptiles. Many alligators purchased by people such as this die or are killed long before they reach an "inconvenient" size. Alligators are extremely unsuitable to just about all reptile keepers, experienced or not. Their huge size, demanding housing and feeding requirements, and aggressive nature makes this species one of the worst reptile species to maintain in captivity. Caimans are much smaller than alligators, but size is relative considering alligators are beyond HUGE. Caimans are also aggressive, and require very large aquatic enclosures most people cannot provide.

With so many reptile choices on the market today, it is sometimes difficult for a beginning hobbyist to choose an appropriate reptile pet. There are many reptile species that are wonderful for beginners, but there are many commonly available and cheap species that are not. It is important that beginning hobbyists have good experiences with the reptiles they choose to purchase, as this encourages them to become more involved in a fascinating hobby that will last a lifetime.

Copyright © 1998 Rocky Mountain HerpetocultureLast modified: March 15, 1998

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