Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ME? I have never owned a snake before! I am kinda scared of snakes, I have always wanted my own snake though! Anyone know how i can get over my fear?

I have about 50 other pets right now. HOw bad can a snake bite be compared to a hamster bite or a cat bite?

Try a local herpetological society or a nature center to expose yourself first. It wouldnt make sense to go through the motions of making financial commitments if YOU are not ready yet. The snake would suffer most in the end if you were not prepared.

50 pets and still not satisfied? Any other reptiles in that menagerie somewhere?
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Jerry Kruse

"One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it". - Master Oogway

I am stuck on the "50 pets" part. I can't imagine being able to give them the attention they need unless you are a pet store or a breeder. Then, to add an animal that you are afraid of..... Keep in mind that unless you wash the heck out of your hands, that playing with any rodents before handling your snake increases the odds you will get bit a thousand-fold.
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

ESPECIALLY a kingsnake!

//Todd

You right handed people face the challenge of Clicking pics with you left hand when being assaulted by a snake,myself being a lefty i just point and shoot with my right hand since my left is pre occupied

Todd, that first picture is just begging for a subscript.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

And we also have snake jewelry. Here in the top photo Todd shows off his kingsnake necklace with a small mouse pendant.

...of that splendida pic, Todd!! Too damn funny!!
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Diego

SWCHR

You guys are horrible! Starving your poor kingsnakes so that they have to prey on unsuspecting fingers...shameful. LOL

Seriously though, the first one is funny, but the second pic looks like it hurts. Were you feeding the MBK in that pic, or did he just decide that you looked tasty?

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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
0.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cat - Pirate

Hey there. I'm not even going to touch the 50 pets thing, but I will tell you that a bite from small to medium colubrids like Corns and Kings is NOTHING compared to the bite of a rodent. Kings and Milks can be nippy, especially if they're younger, but their bite is inconsequential. IF they draw blood, it's tiny little pinpricks, as opposed to whole chunks of flesh being torn off by mice, rats, or rabbits.

Corn Snakes are the best beginner snake, IMHO, but a getula King (California, Eastern, Brooks, Speckled, etc...) isn't a bad choice either.
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Diego

SWCHR

Everyone else has given great advice. The only thing I will add is that if after you've worked with snakes for a while, do a serious amount of research before you commit to getting one. Talk to some breeders and experienced owners first. They can point you in the right direction as to where you can get a snake and the proper husbandry.

As far as bites go, I'd be more worried about rodent bites than colubrid bites. Generally speaking, kingsnake bites aren't much to worry about. Maybe a little blood, but otherwise no harm done. You can do much more damage to the snake by jerking away when it bites you.

Either way, good luck.
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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
0.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cat - Pirate