>>1. Can this snake hurt me?

yes, in dthe sense that tearing your knuckles trying to break a rusty bolt loose when working on your car can hurt you: in other words, it can't really HARM you, it's not venemous. but if it decides to bite, it might also decide to chew, and you just have to calmly figure out a way to pry it off--submersing it in a pail of cool water might do it. If you don't pull your finger or hand out of the mouth, which would tear your skin, you'll just end up with some little pin-prick kind of wounds. They'll bleed a lot (like those working-on-the-car knuckles) but wash it, put antiseptic and a bandaid on it, and a day later it'll be forgotten.

>>2. Is four feet long big? The lady at the petstore looked at me funny when I said 4'.

serious answer: four feet's about average.

more fun answer: were you wearing a clown suit when she looked at you funny? (sorry)

>>3. I forgot to feed it for 2 weeks. It struck at me. The previous owner said he's never been struck. When I first got him he was dosile as can be. I fed it 2 hoppers. Should I be worried?

you, worried, no. tdhe snake, since it might have been forgotten for two weeks, yes, it should be worried. it might have struck at you because it was hungry and expecting food. or it might have struck because it hadn't been handled for several weeks, and maybe not before that by its previous owner who had lost interest. Not being used to being handled, it might have simply reacted naturally.

Here's a tip: if handling it makes you nervous until it calms down, buy a pair of garden gloves and wear those to handle it until you see it's not going to bite you. The other advice on washing hands, etc., is good too.

>>4. He's in a 20 gallon tank which came with the snake. Is this too small?

should be ok.

>>5. I've been thinking about tank designs. Do they like to climb? Would deep sand be better?

i've been using a product pet stores sell, called "CareFresh." it's made out of recycled newsprint, is very absorbent and easy to clean. I'd highly recommend it.

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>>Thats it for now but I have a genuine interest in this hobby so I'm sure there'll be more.

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>>Thanks!

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>>Gene

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