Frequently Asked Questions!
FAQ
"What Are the Best Beginner Snakes?"
I get many messages per day so I thought it would be easiest to make this FAQ page to answer commonly asked questions. If you don't find your answer here, feel free to DM me and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have!
I'm also often found at the Ohio reptile shows (Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati) so feel free to chat with me there!
This page is still a work in progress!
There are a few species that are awesome for beginners due to their hardiness and simple care! Some that I recommend are Ball Pythons, Central American Boas, Kenyan Sand Boas, Rosy Boas, Rubber Boas, Western Hognoses, King Snakes, Milk Snakes, Corn Snakes & other Rat Snakes, and African House Snakes.
Central American Boas get the largest (around 5-6 feet max) and male Kenyan Sand Boas, Rubber Boas, and Western Hognoses are the smallest listed (around 20 inches).
When picking your first snake, be sure that it is captive bred (CB for short). I also strongly advise against purchasing from a chain pet store, often times the reptiles aren't well taken care of mostly due to lack of knowledge or carelessness.
"You Aren't Afraid of All Those Snakes?!"
I grew up around them! I got my first snake when I was 3 years old and I've been fascinated by them since. I understand that there is nothing to fear about them, they are shy creatures that don't want to harm people, most snakes bite because they are afraid and think we are predators! They are much more afraid of us than we are of them.
If you want to get over your fear a great place to start would be a reptile show! Reptile shows are fantastic places to seek information, pick your first reptile, talk to breeders, and to meet others with a common interest. Many breeders and keepers would be happy to introduce you to the world of snakes and help you conquer your fear! To find shows in your area try a quick Google search and you should be able to find all the information you need, most reptile shows have a website with the dates, location, and other general information about the show.
"Do You Sell Reptiles?"
Sort of! I am friends with many breeders and I help them vend at local reptile shows. I occasionally part with my personal reptiles as well. If there is anything specific you are looking for then I will see if I can find what you're in search of!
I also have several breeding projects I am currently working on and I hope to have babies for sale next year (2018)! I will be posting updates on my Instagram so stay tuned.
"Where Do You Keep All Your Reptiles?!"
I used to keep them all in my house in a heated space but with recently moving I now have them kept outside in heated, insulated barns! The barns provide lots of space that I can fit many enclosures in. I still have several animals that are kept inside since they prefer cooler temperatures.
As for what I keep them in, I use Exoterras, aquariums, tubs, and some custom built enclosures as well. Personally I prefer tubs since they don't take up large amounts of space and they keep heat and humidity in very well!
"Have You Ever Been Bitten?"
Many, many times! I've been keeping reptiles for about 15 years, I've had my fair share of bites. With as many species as I work with now, I get bite on a weekly basis since I often have to reach into their enclosures to give them fresh water or do other maintenance and many snakes don't like their space invaded. This is where the term "cage aggressive" comes from but I wouldn't like my space invaded by a large person either!
I've grown used to it-- I don't fear it anymore since I know it only hurts temporarily and heals up very quickly. I've never had an infection or anything of the sort from a snake bite, I wash my hands and be sure to keep it as clean as possible and within a day (or a few depending on the severity) it disappears!
"Where Do You Get Your Snakes From?"
Most of my snakes come from local reptile shows (in Ohio)! If not, they come from people who sell them online on sites such as Faunaclassifieds.com and Kingsnake.com or friends that offer them to me.
Reptile shows are the best place to get a reptile so you can see it in person (versus pictures online) and be able to ask the seller in person about it! Not only that but many reptile shows have supplies for sale. Also, reptiles and supplies at shows are much cheaper than pet stores. For example, many baby Ball Pythons at pet stores are sold for around $40-100 while I see babies at reptile shows for $15-30!
