Four Reasons To Choose A Kingsnake As Your First Pet Snake
If you have been thinking about getting a snake as a pet for the first time, you need to understand that there are a great many different snakes to choose from, but not every snake has the same requirements. In addition, some snakes are better for those who have experience with snakes. However, for a beginner, the kingsnake is an excellent choice. The following are a few reasons for this.
They are easy to feed
Compared to many other pet snakes, the kingsnake is one of the easiest to feed. They don't have a specific menu of food items like many other species. Although they will eat rodents, they can also eat other reptiles, including smaller snakes. They don't even require their prey to be living, although it does need to be fresh. This means you can buy your pet's prey frozen and then thaw it out for your snake's consumption. This has the advantage for a first time snake owner, since you won't have to worry about live prey fighting back and doing harm to your pet.
The aquarium setup is simple
No heat lamps are needed as they are with some snakes and reptiles. However, you will need a heater underneath your aquarium. You will also need a lock on the mesh lid for your aquarium. These snakes can get loose. In addition, you need to have a large enough water dish that will allow your kingsnake to submerge itself if it desires. The size of the aquarium will be dependent upon whether it is still a juvenile or full grown.
They are easy to handle
Although you will need to learn how to handle your kingsnake as well as when it is all right to do so, they are forgiving creatures. Other snakes take more experience when handling or you may get bit. In the case of constrictors, you can get into trouble with their strength and ability to squeeze.
They are abundant, so low in cost
When you buy your first snake, you don't want to spend a lot of money because you can never be sure how much you will enjoy a pet snake until you have one. A kingsnake is cheaper than other species of snake, so you won't be investing as much money up front. There is likely a pet store near you that carries kingsnakes, so you won't spend a lot of time and money looking for one.
Although kingsnakes are common in the wild, you should not attempt to capture one as a pet. There may be laws against doing this, but equally important is that these snakes can carry parasites and disease. It is best to purchase your kingsnake from a pet store. These snakes are bred in captivity and are disease free.