Thinking of getting a snake for a pet?

Many reptiles are sold as ‘pets’ because they are deemed to be easy to keep. You can contain them in a tank, they are relatively easy to feed, don’t need walking, and make you look like someone a bit edgy when you tell people what you have as a pet when they are talking of the delights of their cat or dog.

But many of these snakes are fragile and sensitive creatures, who are captured from their natural homes and shipped to other continents to be sold as if they were engine parts. Others come from breeding mills, where their needs are disregarded, and their natural behaviours are ignored.

There are no good reasons to buy a snake, and here’s why.

No captive environment can compare to snakes’ natural habitats - In their natural surroundings, these complex animals warm themselves in the sun, burrow through leaf litter or loose soil, swim, climb trees, and travel long distances. They mate when they want to or go solo when they feel like it. All these natural behaviours are impossible for them inside cramped, solitary glass terrariums.

Snakes aren’t ‘starter pets’ - The captive reptile industry continues to market snakes inaccurately as ‘beginner companions’ or ‘starter pets,’ but they are in fact high-maintenance animals who deserve respect and compassion.

They have complex needs - There are around 3,000 species of snakes in the world, and it’s estimated that over a million snakes are kept captive as ‘pets’ in the US alone. Experts believe that more than 70% of snakes and other exotic animals in the pet trade die before they even reach stores. According to one study, 75% of reptiles - including snakes - die within one year, many from captivity stress, which shows how difficult it is to meet their complex needs in captivity.

Even though their many needs might be downplayed, snakes require special spectrum lighting, specific temperature and humidity levels, precise diets and feeding schedules - and lots of space. Taking adequate care of a snake is a nearly impossible and very expensive. In one survey, veterinarians estimated that 47% of the exotic pets brought in to them didn’t have their needs met and many often lacked a suitable environment. A lot of people wouldn’t realise a captive snake’s skin might need moisturising, which replenishes water in their skin, but you need to be careful about which products you use. Some snakes rely on their skin to breathe, so it is important that their skin does not become too dry. In addition, moisturizing helps to keep the snake’s scales healthy and prevent shedding problems. By providing proper hydration, they stay healthy and happy.

You can’t cuddle a snake - Snakes won’t be receptive to your affection. They’re wary animals who don’t like being handled or petted. It’s stressful for them and puts them at risk of illness and injury, and because they don’t whine or yelp, you may not realize that they’re hurt.

Snake Food - Buying small animals to feed a snake supports the cruel pet trade. Even if you adopt a snake, there’s no getting around the fact that they eat rabbits, rats, mice, and other small animals who are typically bought from pet stores. Investigations revealed some horrifying facts - including live rats that were stuffed into plastic bags and put in a freezer, where they were left to suffocate and freeze to death slowly—even as some frantically tried to claw their way out. I am not a big fan of rats, but I couldn’t do that to them.

They can make you sick – Salmonella and other bacteria that can cause diseases in humans are commonly found in snakes and other reptiles. They can pass along botulism, trichinellosis (muscle, nervous system, heart, and lungs disease), leptospirosis (liver disease), and bowel infections.

It’s not edgy to get diarrhea or life-threatening illnesses from a reptile you chose to have contact with for no good reason, and relegating a snake to a glass prison cell isn’t impressive. Learning to play an instrument, making your own bread, or speaking another language— now that’s impressive.

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