Snakes are thought to have evolved from lizards and share many characteristics with this group-particularly the so-called legless lizards, which have tiny, almost imperceptible legs.

If you ask some people what they like to be a pet, most often answer you will get will be “a dog” or “a cat”. Few people are up for exotic pets like snakes and other reptiles. Snakes can be expected to live longer than 20 years, so choose wisely what to choose. Obviously, snake pets are not for everyone. You should have a thorough understanding about snakes before having them. Find out what species are best for you.

Get a captive bred snake. Wild caught snakes tend to be more stressed and prone to parasites and disease, and more importantly, they are difficult to tame. Pet snakes need housing appropriate to their size so that they have the room they need to move around. Know that snakes are very adept escape artists, make sure you have an escape-proof room. Make sure that the cage where you keep your pet snake is well ventilated and easy to clean. It is important to have a thermometer in the cage to let you know what the temperature is because if it is a few degrees higher or lower than what it should be, your snake won’t eat.

Keep the cage clean all the time. With a dirty cage, your pet might develop a condition known as Dirty Cage Syndrome. You can use a disinfectant, but take care not to use any products that are poisonous to snakes. Depending on the species of snake, you may or may not need to have any lighting in the cage. Sunlight coming in through the windows of the room is usually sufficient for most snakes.

You know that snakes never eat plants, so feed them with natural meal such as mice and rats are the most common. Once a week is enough feeding for adult snakes, but with baby snakes, feed them more often. If you’re a beginner, It doesn’t hurt to ask for a feeding demonstration from an expert snake pet owner. Do a research on proper feeding on your snakes, the more information you have, the better.

If you’re a beginner, avoid venomous snakes, large constricting snakes, and snakes with more difficult care requirements. Here are some recommended snakes for beginners:

• Corn Snakes
• King and Milk Snakes
• Ball Pythons