Things to Consider Before Choosing a Pet Corn Snake

Video Transcript

"Hi I’m Debbie McCanna on behalf of Expert Village.com, I am going to be talking to you today about the care and handling of corn snakes. In this segment we will be discussing if having a corn snake is right for you. The typical corn snake will live up to 15 years with proper care. It also needs to be noted that many snakes will eat live rather than frozen and thawed food sources such as mice, rat and even pinkie mice in the juvenile stage. You should consider the following questions when deciding whether or not having a snake is appropriate for you. First are you comfortable handling a snake? Snakes are not wet. They are shiny but they are not wet or gooey. They are cool to the touch, have no protrusions but should be handled with respect as they are wild and not domestic. They can startle easily and should never be handled while being fed or shortly after being fed. Secondly, do you have small children or pets in the house that either could harm the snake or that the snake could cause harm to. If this is the case, the snake should never be without supervision and should always be maintained in a locked habitat out of reach of children and other pets. Are you comfortable providing for the snake up to 15 years. In the event that you had to move, would you be able to take the snake with you or would you be able to find a suitable home for the snake? Do you have a source of food that might involve live food from a local pet store or breeder that could supply you with food throughout the year? Do you have a local veterinarian that specializes in exotic animals? Can you provide the proper habitat for a reptile and are you willing to learn about the care and maintenance of this pet so that you could enjoy the animal while it enjoys being your companion? If you can answer yes to these questions, then a corn snake is the right pet for you. "