Let’s face it, snakes gross a lot of people out. Just the mention of a snake coming into our clinic sends shivers through some of our staff. One of our receptionists says she gets “the vapors” (she’s from Tennessee)! Well, I wanted to dispel some of the myths that people have about these amazing creatures, so here’s a little true and false quiz for ya.

1. Snakes are slimy, dangerous creatures. FALSE. Contrary to popular belief, snakes are clean, smooth, dry-skinned animals that usually pose no danger to people. There are over 2,700 species of snakes, and only 375 of those are venomous.

2. A boa constrictor makes a good pet. TRUE. The most common snakes kept as pets are the donstrictor species (boas, pythons, rat snakes, and milk snakes) and the racer, gopher, and garter species. The best snake for a beginner is a king snake because of its gentle nature. Pet snakes should always be purchased from a breeder or a pet store, and not taken from the wild.

3. Snakes require little living space. TRUE. Because of their limited activity, snakes do not need a large enclosure, but it should allow for the inclusion of a privacy box and water source and still allow the snake to stretch out a bit. An aquarium is the best housing for a snake because it allows the owner to see the snake, and the glass or plexiglass helps maintain the right temperature and humidity.

4. Snakes will eat anything. FALSE. All snakes are carnivores and consume a variety of items, eating their food whole, and are able to open their mouths to up to three times the size of their head because they can dislocate their jaw (cool!). Because frightened prey may attack, pet snakes should be fed freshly dead, or incapacitated prey whenever possible to avoid injury the snake. So if you want to keep a snake, you need to feel comfortable keeping dead animals in your freezer, or a separate cage of mice for Mr. Snake. Most snakes only need to be fed every 1 to 2 weeks.

5. Pet snakes require little care. FALSE. Although snakes don’t run around the yard and play like cats and dogs, they still need care. They have special diets, housing, and veterinary needs and should be kept only by people who are committed to understanding and meeting those needs. Many snakes can live a long time (10 to 40 years!), so you need to be in it for the long haul.

6. Snakes need regular veterinary care just like other pets TRUE. A thorough veterinary exam is recommended for any new snake. Newly acquired snakes often have one or more health problems, such as malnutrition and parasites.

I hope you feel a little better about these much-maligned creatures. Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, helped educate the world about them, and I hope this bit of information shed some light on them as well.

Till next time, Dr. Steve

p.s. go to our website (www.ashburnanimals.com) to see photos of our great Rockin’ Reptile Day!

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