Other pet snakes

Other common breeds of snake that can be kept as pets are; Ball Pythons, Burmese Pythons, Boa Constrictors, King Snakes and Milk Snakes.

Ball Pythons

Ball pythons are also good snakes for beginner owners as they are quite docile and easy to handle. They can grow up to 5 feet long and are not as large as many of the other constricting breeds.

Ball pythons can live for 20 – 30 years with proper care.

They can be fussy eaters, so it may be a good idea to ask the breeder for a feeding demonstration before you buy to make sure that it is readily eating and to find out exactly what its feeding requirements are.

Ball pythons and Boa Constrictors are prone to a disease called Inclusion Body Disease. The disease can have a long incubation period, which means that the disease can be present for a long period of time before the snake shows any symptoms.

Signs of infection include central nervous system disorders, such as paralysis, an inability to right itself when turned over and an inability to strike or constrict. Other signs can include chronic regurgitation, extreme weight loss, respiratory infections and dysecdysis (shedding problems) due to an inibility to control body movements to rub off old skin.
The disease is rapidly fatal in young and juvenile boas. This disease is highly contagious and always fatal, so the best course of action on diagnosis is euthanasia.

As there is no cure, the only hope is prevention. IBD is thought to be a virus therefore strict quarantine and cleaning procedures should always be adhered to. If you are aquiring a new Boa or Python you should keep it in strict quarantine for three to six months. If you already have a pet Boa or Python take great care and precaution when visiting reptile pet stores.

Burmese Pythons

Burmese Pythons can live for up to 25 years or more if looked after properly. They can grow to enormous sizes, adult sizes of 15 – 20 feet. Their size makes them both expensive to keep and potentially dangerous so think first before committing to a snake this size.

Burmese Pythons are generally quite docile and hatchlings can be easily tamed with regular handling. However, the snakes are quite aggressive feeders and they can inflict serious injury to their owners. Two people should be present when handling a Python over 8 feet long.

A large and strong enclosure is necessary as the snake grows, these snakes are excellent escape artists and are very strong so will think nothing of flattening a weak enclosure. Housing for these snakes must be large, strong and secure.

Burmese Pythons are usually good eaters and care must be taken not to overfeed to prevent obesity. Hatchlings can start on mice or fuzzy rats, moving up to rabbits when fully grown.

As with any snake it is important to handle it regularly from a young age or it will become more difficult to handle as it gets older. Avoid handling for a couple of days after feeding to avoid regurgitation. If your python wraps itself around you, unwind it starting at the tail end.

Boa constrictors

A fully grown Boa Constrictor can grow up to 8 – 10 feet and weigh up to 20kg. They can live for 25 – 30 years so are a large commitment, you need to be sure that you can handle the size and strength of a full grown Boa before commiting to one. These snakes are also very strong and good at escaping so a secure house is also necessary. Boas are also prone to Inclusion Body disease as mentioned in the Python section.

King Snakes and Milk Snakes

King Snakes and Milk Snakes are closely related, they can reach fairly large sizes, up to 6 or 7 feet in length. They can live for 15 – 20 years. They are constrictors, suffocating their prey before eating it. Both King and Milk snakes will try to eat cage mates so should always be housed on their own. Basic care is the same as most other species but special care should be taken for breeding, duplication of the natural habitat and hibernation is important.