New future snake owner with questions!

Snakes exotic to South Africa commonly known as non-venomous.

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New future snake owner with questions!

Postby robyn21 » Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:30 pm

Hi All
I wonder if you can assist me. My 11 year old daughter has decided and is insistent that she wants a snake! She has fallen in love with them. She is a kind, responsible animal lover who has had dogs, cats, fish, rats and wants to work with animals when she grows up. She says if I don’t get her one, she’s getting one anyway. So… now I am on the search for a small gentle snake. I live in the Overberg, near Hermanus. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. From my initial research, I like the sound of the Checkered Garter snakes. Does anyone agree that this is a good choice, and where would I find one in my area (I do travel to Cape Town occasionally)? Also any advice of what age snake to get. Sorry – so many questions. The Ball Pythons and Corn Snakes seem like good pets but they get too big for my liking – over 1 metre. I prefer smaller. I have nothing against snakes, and have even kissed one before. Sadly it didn’t turn into a prince :)
Thanks in advance,
Robyn
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Roann » Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:47 pm

Hi Robyn

I don't know that much about Garter snakes, but in my personal opinion I would think that a Kenyan sand boa is a very good snake to start with, if you are not looking for something that gets to big, if I'm correct the average size of an adult female is about 60cm and males smaller. Kenyan sand boas are very docile little snakes and if taken care of properly can be a very rewarding pet to have.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby pytoxic » Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:49 am

Hi Robyn.
I am 12 and I get my ball python about a week ago and she is awesome.
I would recomend getting one as they are such docile snakes and there are
so many to choose from! Kenyan sand boas are also quite nice.
Just my 2c!

Regards
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby kfc223 » Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:48 am

Why don't you consider something like a Brown House Snakes, they stay smaller than corns. I doubt anyone has Checkered Garters in the Western Cape.

I know that Reptile Garden has some Brown Housies available, here's they're Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ReptileGarden?ref=ts&fref=ts.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby najarw » Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:28 am

I agree with kfc223, house snake are excellent starter snakes
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Lillypod » Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:29 am

House snake, corn snake, ball python or Kenyan sand boa in my opinion.

I prefer ball pythons though.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Bushviper » Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:40 am

Checkered garter snakes would possibly be a better choice because of the fact that they can be fed on earthworms every day or every second day and also take dead food far easier than most other snakes. For little girls to get used to feeding mice is a bit more difficult. If you do take one of the many other species on offer then make sure it is easting dead food so that you can stock up on enough food in the freezer.

Garter snakes should be available again around the beginning of next year. It would not be too difficult to get them down to Cape Town.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Jamster » Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:58 pm

Also try not to get something too small, try to get a yearling snake as they tend to do better as a first snake. Some hatchlings can be a real pain to get feeding. I would go for a brown house but maybe I am a bit biased ;)
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Rabid.Evo8691 » Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:43 pm

I would either recommend a north American colubrid excluding some rat snakes from that region.

Talk to a breeder like Rolf Dennison who publishes ultimate exotics magazine. He even delivers the magazine free to your doorstep when subscribing. Your daughter will love the magazine and will learn all the basics a beginner needs to learn to be a responsible keeper.

Remember indigenous snakes need a permit . Garter snakes are specialised feeders and Sand boas need specific requirements to thrive and are very secretive.

Good luck and remember it never stops with just one snake ;)
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby robyn21 » Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:15 pm

Bushviper wrote:Checkered garter snakes would possibly be a better choice because of the fact that they can be fed on earthworms every day or every second day and also take dead food far easier than most other snakes. For little girls to get used to feeding mice is a bit more difficult. If you do take one of the many other species on offer then make sure it is easting dead food so that you can stock up on enough food in the freezer. Garter snakes should be available again around the beginning of next year. It would not be too difficult to get them down to Cape Town.


Thank you so much to everyone who has answered and given me much to think about and research! Bushviper - that was one of the major reasons I liked the Checkered Garters other than their size - because they didn't need to be fed on pinkies! My daughter says she doesn't mind, but the rest of us can't quite deal with that yet. Wouldn't getting one down from Gauteng cost a fortune though? And how?! My parents are coming down around March but trust me, my mother would never go anywhere near a snake ;) And as Jamster suggests, I should get a yearling (presume that means one that is around a year old?) I don't think my daughter will wait much longer than her birthday in March. She's demanding one now, and she is a very undemanding child, this is the first time I've ever seen her like this!

Rabid.Evo - so are you saying that exotic snakes such as garters do not need a permit? - thanks for the magazine tip.

Another question - my cats bring in lots of tiny to small baby Olive house snakes in the spring and they are usually alive and well and I just release them. Not even sure they can survive on their own so small, guess I never really thought about it! How different are these to brown house snakes, and does anyone keep them as pets? If not, why not?

Thanks again,
Robyn
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Rabid.Evo8691 » Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:34 pm

House snakes require permits and South African Garters do too.

When I get my snakes from Rolf he couriers them for 60 rand. He is located in KZN and I am in Jhb. He is also way more reasonable in his prices than most breeders and all the snakes I bought from him are doing awesome. Not one has shown any signs of any health issues and I almost bought 20 from him this year.

I guess there are also other great snake breeders in our country but I am speaking from my own experiences.

I bought a blizzard corn snake from another highly reputable breeder in this country earlier this year at the sos expo. In 3 weeks the snake died. It goes to show you who to trust and who to not. I won't even buy a mealworm from her let alone another snake. She never mentioned her business name at the expo, never gave us a business card or contact details and forgot to mention before buying the snake that she traveled 600kms with a snake less than a week old and sold it to us.

Be careful where you buy your reptiles because bad experiences could put you off the hobby completely
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Frank » Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:01 am

Hi Robyn, as you are in the Western Cape you will need to a permit for whatever snake you buy regardless of whether it is indigenous or exotic. If you had been living in Gauteng then Rabidevo's advice would have been correct.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby NewtTZ » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:42 am

I am working with Chequered Garter Snakes at the moment. They are very fast moving especially as babies and may be difficult for a child to handle without the snake shooting across the room and escaping under the furniture. Their diet is more complicated than rodent eaters. I have found Kenyan Sand Boas to be difficult feeders as neonates so if you go that route choose a sub adult Sand Boa. I would suggest a Corn Snake as they do not get that big and are easy to care for.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby Rabid.Evo8691 » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:36 am

Corn snakes are the way to go for beginners. You get so much variation in morphs at such affordable prices.
If you can get past the fact that hatchlings can be bitey its the perfect choice.
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Re: New future snake owner with questions!

Postby kfc223 » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:31 pm

If you're anywhere within the Western Cape you will require permits.

Importing specimens from other provinces will require import and export permits, which can take a few months. I would just suggest getting a corn or housie locally. Just make sure the animals are on permit.
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