Are snakes mean? Don't they bite?
Contrary to popular belief, snakes are not mean, cruel, heart-less, cold-blooded killers. They deserve respect just like any other living thing. Snakes are creatures of instinct. They just don't go around biting everything they see. That would be a waste of energy. In their world there are predators, prey, and harmless inanimate/animate objects. A snake will always see you as one of these things. You do not want the snake to see you as a predator, and you do not want the snake to see you as prey either. You want the snake to see you as something that is a harmless part of their world. You do this by handling and interacting with the snake. Eeventually the snake will almost act like you are not there, like you are just a tree its climbing on (though it certainly knows you are not a tree). Not all snakes will tame to the same extent. Young hatchling snakes are often understandably fearful and my bite to protect themselves from the "huge" predator. Many of these young snakes come to realize that you are in fact not a predator. That is when you get a tame snake. Certain species will tame better than others so do your research. And remember that there are always individuals that may prove difficult in taming. It comes with the territory. The best way to stop the snake from seeing you as prey is to always wash your hands well with soap after handling prey animals (to remove the scent). Never hand feed a snake (unless you are force feeding a sick snake)! It is advisable to use tongs and feed a snake in a seperate feeding container. That way the snake does not associate opening the cage with food.
As with any animal that has a mouth and teeth, snake can bite. Usually it is not a serious issue. All bites are out of fear or feeding response. Not because the snake wants to be mean. A fear bite will be a quick strike and release. Of course the bigger the snake, the more pain it can inflict. I've been working with snakes for almost 4 years now and I've never had a bad bite. Mostly my young children's pythons strike at me out of fear but they will calm down as they age. The biggest snake that has bitten me was a 24 inch milksnake. Sure I felt it and it bled a little like a papercut, but it was my fault because I had unknowingly provoked her by hand-shedding her. I think I would take a snakebite over a cat or dog bite anyday. None of my cornsnakes have ever offered to bite. You just have to take the good with the bad and trust me, snakes are so captivating that you will soon lose your fear of them and may get "bit" by the snakebug!

Do snakes have teeth?
Yes, all snakes have teeth. They need teeth to hold onto prey in the wild. Not all snakes have fangs however. Only venemous snakes have fangs which they use to invenemate their prey. Most snakes have a mouth full of thin pointed teeth along the top and bottom jaws. These teeth can be jerked out if a snake bites something.

Are snakes dangerous?
Most snakes are harmless to humans. Only venemous snakes and large snakes are possibly dangerous. Many people are very afraid of large pythons and boas. These snakes are capable of hurting someone. One must always remember that. Even so, these snakes can still be a pleasure to keep as long as they are kept properly. The most important thing to remember is to keep the snake in a large enclosure that locks securely. Also, never handle a snake over 10 feet alone and never ever leave a large snake unnattended and certainly not around children or other pets.

Do people keep venemous snakes?
Yes, actually quite a few people choose to work with deadly species. I personally don't think it is worth risking your life. Only highly experienced snake keepers should even consider taking on such a challenge. You must remember to never underestimate a snake.

Do snakes only eat mice?
Snakes in captivity mostly eat mice and rats because they are more widely available and mice are the cheapest. Most keepers feed their snakes thawed frozen mice because you can store them in bulk for up to 6 months and it doesn't put the snake a risk to injury. Some problem feeders will take hamsters or gerbils. Larger snakes eat rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. Snakes in the wild eat a variety of small mammals, birds, fish, and lizards, depending on what is available in their environment. Garter snakes wil eat fish and crickets. There are a few snake species that are insectivorus, though I don't think they are widely available in the pet trade.

Doesn't it gross you out to feed mice?
Death is a part of life. Snakes must eat and they are carnivores. What is so wrong with feeding them mice just like we ourselves eat cows? They are predators just like cats and dogs. In the wild snakes must hunt and eat to survive. At first feeding snakes mice was sort of a turn off. But you get used to it very quickly. The mice were bred for snake food. Their bodies nurish snakes and for this I appreciate mice. I actually do like mice and respect them. But I like my snakes better than mice. (I have 2 pet mice by the way!)

How often do you feed snakes?
This depends on the age of the snake and if you are preparing them for burmation and breeding. Young hatchlings can be fed every 3-5 days. Juveniles every 6 days. Sub-adults and adults 7-10 days. This is how I do it.

How long do snakes live?
This depends on the species, but most snakes can live at least 20 years. Probably the majority fall somewhere between 10 and 20 years. Some python and boa species have been known to live 30-50 years. Many reptiles are long-lived so you should be prepared.

What kind of special requirements do snakes need?
What kind of snakes are good for beginners?
I would definately recommend a corn snake for anyones first snake. Many people also suggest a ball python, but I personally believe a corn would be better because ball pythons require a bit more heat, are a bit shyer, and may be problem feeders. Corns are colorful, bold, temperate climate snakes.

Do snakes smell?
Snakes themselves seem to have a "snakey" oder at times but it is only noticable if you put your nose to the snakes body. Like all reptiles and birds, snakes expell wastes in the form of feces and uric acid. For a small snake there really won't be a smell unless the enclosure was allowed to be soiled many times. But you should never let it reach that point. It is healthiest to clean the habitat or remove the feces as soon as you see it. Of course the bigger the snake, the more waste is produced (also if you feed a lot and large meals). The feces from my adult corns can smell pretty bad and I clean it immediately because I can smell it when I walk near my snake rack. The smell is also affected by the type of enclosure and substrate used. Any enclosure should have good ventilation. Aspen wood shavings will be more absorbant than newspaper, but newspaper is cheap and easy to clean.

Do snakes need water?
Like all living things, snakes need fresh, clean water available at all times. The exception would be desert dwelling species such as rosy boas that only require water every 1-3 weeks depending on the age.

What kind of habitat do snakes like?
You can use a glass tank, a regular plastic storage container, or buy a custom built cage. Whatever you choose, make sure the lid is secure and that there is no possible way of escape. Never underestimate a snake! Also the enclosure should be well ventilated. If you use a plastic container, drill or burn many holes in it. For substrate you should use aspen shavings, newspaper, or cocconut bark.

Do snakes hibernate?
Snakes don't exactly hibernate, they brumate.

How often do snakes shed?