Looking back I would never have thought that I would get sucked into the world of reptiles. It happened fast, and it happened hard. Now I have nine snakes, and with no intention of stopping.
Snakes require minimal care. You get them a cage, set up a heater with a thermostat so the temperature is regulated, put in a hide and water bowl, and they’re set. Every couple of weeks you feed them, and of course clean up after them. Corn snakes usually “go” a few days after they eat, while with pythons its only every 5-6 weeks. Regardless, to keep them clean is a piece of cake compared to any other animal.
If you choose one of the beginner snakes, corn snakes or ball pythons, they will in 99% of the cases be more friendly then a dog or cat. Also, while a dog wants your constant attention, and you can’t just “put it in the closet” when you want some time alone, a snake on the other side will be fine even with a month without any handling. How much you see of it will be completely up to the owner. As long as its environment is kept clean and it gets fed, the snake will be fine.
Entering the world of snakes will definitely give you a new and broader perspective of life. You’ll start becoming more interested in the natural history of snakes, and who knows; maybe next summer you’ll plan a herping trip?
You might pick up a few books on the subject from the library or bookstore, and find yourself swept into a world you always feared or simply ignored. There are almost 3000 different species of snakes, and to read and do research on them is simply amazing. All the beauty in all different colors and sizes, and you can see how they compare to your snake, or maybe towards a future investment.
While more common pets require alot of space, snakes are happy in an enclosure big enough for them. Make a rack the size of a bookshelf, and you could keep 10 snakes there. The size of your dwelling is no limitation, as long as we’re not talking about big snakes like retic and burmese. Those snakes go on a different level, only experienced snake handlers should be allowed to own these, as they require much more then you would think when seeing them as tiny hatchlings.
Money is always an issue, but luckily to feed one snake costs close to nothing, just make sure to buy the rodents frozen online. There are several very good companies out there, and they have very good prizes. If you buy in bulk, let’s say for six months at a time, the prices they have beat everywhere else.
Another very good aspect of owning snakes must be the fact that they do not smell. They are completely odorless, as long as the cage gets cleaned right after the snake defecates. They can also not get fleas or lice, like other house animals, so you won’t have to buy flea treatments for $$$ every year, and deal with bugs everywhere (which I greatly appreciate).
Finally, I must add that snakes are awsome! To me, that itself is a reason to having them. The way they act, move, shed, or the way you sometimes think that they do care about you is just superb. It’s also something which the neighboor is almost guaranteed not to have, so my advice would absolutely be to get a corn snake or a ball python.
If I managed to convince you, be sure to read lots of care sheets and there are several very good forums out there too. Good luck!
