Why do you keep snakes?

Why do you keep snakes? Bloods or other species? Why? For what reason(s)? Really why?

Because i feel like it.

I've been fasinated with snakes since I was a little kid. I knew a few people that had red tails and balls. fast forward to a few years ago I wanted a pet that was low maintance that didn't need to be fed everyday, I bought my first Ball Python. I didn't buy it because I thought it was cool to keep a snake but because I liked the thought of caring for the animal and watching it grow, ya know like there is a lot of people that think they are just cool because they have that big burmese python and want to show it off to everyone, not thinking that there are more people scared of the snake.

Always like animals growing up. Not just snakes, just all animals. Got first one because I wanted too, got more because people suck at taking care of them and getting more because I want too expand my collection.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Because i feel like it.

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x2

Cause they're cool and simple! And their care is easy too.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Because i feel like it.

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x3

Snakes are beautiful and fascinating creatures from the way they move, to the way they eat! All my life I loved to look at them but was deathly afraid of them until someone simply placed one in my hand at my first repticon show. After that I had to have one then two more then another! Amazing generally easy to care for animals, and its just nice to care for properly and watch them grow.

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Originally Posted by Luciferskeeper

Snakes are beautiful and fascinating creatures from the way they move, to the way they eat! All my life I loved to look at them but was deathly afraid of them until someone simply placed one in my hand at my first repticon show. After that I had to have one then two more then another! Amazing generally easy to care for animals, and its just nice to care for properly and watch them grow.

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I agree

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Originally Posted by JoeNapoli

Why do you keep snakes? Bloods or other species? Why? For what reason(s)? Really why?

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Because I want to and because I can!

Why do you ask?

I just do not have the time to feed a lizard 2-3 times a day or walk a dog every few hours. I am rarely home now.. But I have always loved and kept tons of species of animals growing up and now snakes have stuck out to me to be the most simple to care for. Feeding once a week, cleaning here and there, and a misting every other day or so.. Fits my schedual perfect! And plus I always had a thing for snakes especally pythons and boas.


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Because...I love them. I love the simplicity and the lack of demand...I can't really handle animals that demand love from me, other than my one dog.


And they really help my anxiety.

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Originally Posted by Anya

And they really help my anxiety.

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Yup, same here. Handling my snakes or just watching them relieves my stress/anxiety



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I've always loved animals, both in the home and out. I bought a ball on a whim 7 years ago and can't really say that I have any regrets. Do you have any, and if so, why do you keep them?

Because I am stupid allergic to all things furry. The rodents I can keep in the garage and away from living areas

And I also work long odd hours. They are up and fiesty when I get home from work at 2am. I can leave them in the house for a few days and go out of town. Cant do that with every other pet.

I have been keeping snakes for over 1/2 my life now. Started back in the early 90s.
I always wonder why I like them so much and I really don't know.
I'm interested in all kinds of animals really and work with them everyday.

I was always in trouble for playing in the creek when I was a kid. Catching salamanders, snakes, bugs etc.

A few years back I went through a pretty big rescue and rehab phase. All type of critters. Then that died out for a while.

I guess now that I'm getting older and spend more time at home, my animal collection has exploded.

Because I find them fascinating. Not only just the looks and how they are, but also because of the breeding aspect and messing with genetics to achieve different morphs. My parents, and sisters think I'm crazy especially when a Ball Python was what I asked for, for my 16th birthday. I still have him too and he's going on 8. Luckily I've found a girl who loves reptiles as much as I do!

They are fascinating in so many ways. Even people who "are afraid" or "dislike" them will stop and observe with intrigue at the way they move and interact. Their differing personalities and silent communication keeps me interested and continuously varying the species and breeds I work with.

And as a teacher, my students LOVE them!!

Because they never need walking.

Because it makes me happy.

Because they make me happy.
Because I love seeing them everyday.
Because I like caring for them and that they're easy to care for.
Because they're beautiful and unique.
Because I can educate people about them with personal experiences.

ive always loved snakes since i was little but was never able to have one growing up because my parents didnt like them, and still dont really care for them either. i used to go out and catch garter snakes all the time lol but since i moved out here to SC (4 years ago) my boyfriend let me get a bp then i just fell in love with them even more :) i like them because they are quiet, easy to care for, they dont demand attention, they come in so many colors, they are facinating creatures. :snake:

I think they make great pets. Why? When set up properly, their care is easy. Facinating and beautiful!

Why do I have so many? Because selective breeding and caring for different kinds of snakes has become a hobby for me. I enjoy keeping/caring for them!

I have always been a herper!

For a few reasons: they're adorable, I'm interested in the genetics, I've always loved them (grew up Steve Irwen-ing every poor garter I came across) and because they give me structure and reliability (I know that as long as I do my job as a keeper, they'll thrive).

But mostly because I think they have cute little heads.

my daughter has severe allergies to fur and feathers...SHE chose our non-furry pet. We love him now and will probably end up with more, but it was my 6 year olds choice.

Because I can impress girls, by asking if they want to come and see my spitting cobra (sexual innuendo?) ...

No, but on a serious note. Just because I like them, the same reason I have anything I own, simple as that.

I like snakes
I can keep them
Equals me keeping snakes

Many many reasons...
1. Ive always been fascinated by them since i was a kid
2. They come in such a beautiful array of colors n patterns
3. They give me something to do
4. They make me proud when they produce beautiful morph babies, and also when people say my snakes are the nicest and friendliest ones theyve ever seen
5. I can have multiples in one room without a problem of cost or space.
6. They travel well
7. Are quiet
8. Wonderful to hold
9. Wonderful to photograph
10. Amazing to watch hatch out. :D

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Because I find them to be the most fascinating animal on the planet.

Can you name another animal that is truly terrestrial, subteranian, arboreal, aquatic, even capable of gliding through the air, nocturnal, diurnal, live bearing, egg laying, venomuos, a constrictor, live eater, egg eater, all without limbs, and in as many colors and patterns as can be imagined as well as some you never would?

They are like Fonzie, just plain "Cool".

Because my wife said I could.

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Originally Posted by Andybill

Because my wife said I could.

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Thats a good one!

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Originally Posted by 4theSNAKElady

Thats a good one!

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Lol! Well thats the fact of the matter. My love and fascination for snakes means nothing if my wife wasnt comfortable with me collecting and breeding these magnificent creatures. Some folks just arent so luck as me to have a partner that fully supports my addiction! :P

Ha! I feel very lucky i met my hubby on this forum! Now THATs support! ;)

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Because my landlord said I technically can.

Because they have adorable faces.
Because they are easy to handle, poop a lot less than dogs, and don't make noise at night.

Because my husband begged me!

Since then I have fallen in love with the little buggers and can't get enough!

I think they are beautiful, fun, pretty easy to care for, and have nice little personalities.

Also they're soooo cute!

I originally kept snakes as a child. I had an assortment of wild caught animals I kept outside as I learned the ropes. I was never allowed a pet snake inside- as my mother was far too afraid. I did; however, have a large assortment of lizards growing up. When I was old enough to actually buy my own snakes and supplies I ended up getting into all sorts of stuff. I kept and bred corns, balls, racers, rats, bulls, among other things. I had racks and cages- but the main reason I kept them was to make money doing something I could at least enjoy a bit- and it helped finance my ever growing collection of monitor lizards which where my true passion.

I ended up having a life altering series of events and sold everything except 1 animal that I moved into my new place with. I started having people give me random reptiles again that I fixed up and rehomed. Went through some ball pythons, corn snakes, bloods. Frankly if I'm honest though- they where all very boring to keep. Breeding was easy, care was easy, they didn't interact much. I ended up picking up a ~10 foot burmese python female and a small yellow anaconda. I wanted the challenge of the giant species and was hoping for more interaction/a more enjoyable keeping experience. The yellow anaconda was a monster, very fun to keep but scared the hell out of the other half, so I sent her off to a breeder (hopefully I'll get a pair off him from that same female in a few years!), and kept the burm for awhile. She ended up feeling no different than keeping a large ball python who ate rabbits instead of rats. She sat there, interacting with her was boring, I could look at her and knew she was just a snake.

So there I was, with 1 snake and feeling bored to tears, ready to just call it quits on keeping snakes as a hobby all together because it couldn't hold my attention. I hate to say it but once you interact with something like a smart varanid you've raised from a hatchling it just makes other reptiles seem a bit "bland" to me. Anyway, so I answered an ad on craigslist for a man looking to rehome his reticulated python. So I got in my car, drove 2.5 hours and shelled out $100 to get this "10 foot" retic out of a 2x2x6' tall cage (cage was beyond bad). In all reality he was about 14 foot, fed a terrible diet, and poorly handled, so hell I brought him home built a cage and started feeding him/getting him hydrated and putting him on panacur.

There was something about that snake. I could get him out, and he would interact and move with me, not just sit on the floor and look around. He wanted to explore, he wanted to climb, but the thing that absolutely won me over was I could look into his eyes- and tell he was looking back. I don't feel that with most snakes out there in captivity, this animal even with the smell of food around knew who I was, and that I wasn't dinner, he knew when I was getting water in his dish, and waited for me to bring it back and set it down so he could take a fresh drink. He reminded me a great deal of the intelligence of a varanid.

That single animal, that I got with the whole purpose of rescuing/getting to a breeder ended up causing me to fall in love with owning retics. I even this year produced them. I've produced plenty of clutches of eggs over the course of my reptile keeping carrier, but none ever had me staying up all night, with pure joy, looking in the cage watching every last egg be laid, and feeling so amazingly proud.

Sadly, I ended up selling off that animal to someone I thought I could trust who ran a pet store. They wanted to use him as a display, and had a very nice cage, plenty of food, and somewhere everyone could hopefully enjoy his tremendous personality and experience what I did. Those people ended up losing their store, never paying me fully for him (oh well), and now he's in someone else care completely. The downside of these animals is the sheer size doesn't allow me to keep many in my current living situation. I have a 17-18' female, a 13-14' female, and a 10'ish male. Moving into my new house and out of this crap apartment in a month or two so I can hopefully expand though. ;)

Ive always wanted snakes. My parents never allowed ot though. When i got old enough i nought one myself. I now have 4 and plan on getting more.

I've liked snakes since before I can remember. My mom often told the story of how at an event, they called up a bunch of kids to hold a Burmese (assuming it was a Burm, I don't remember it), and it ended up that I was the only one standing there holding it, grinning from ear to ear. I've always been fascinated by reptiles, and there was something about snakes that just makes me happy working with them. I think it's the rewarding feeling you get, because unlike a dog or even a cat, they don't necessarily want to please you or even want your company. You can't train a snake, so you have to have a level of respect working with them (especially larger breeds or venomous ones). They're just amazing creatures, and so misunderstood.

Getting my BP actually started out as a joke; my boyfriend and I were in a pet store and when we walked by the snakes I told him he should buy me one for my Christmas present. He said no of course, so I said "Fine, make it my Christmas AND birthday present?" and he actually agreed. xD We got Loki, then a few months later my boyfriend goes, "I want a bigger snake! What could we get?" so I found Satin on a rescue's webpage. Originally we were trying to get another BCI, but someone had already put in an application before us, so we gave up. We ended up with the right snake in the end, I think; I couldn't trade her for anything!!

40 replies in 4 days! Thanks everybody! Lots of interesting reasons. Mine overlap with many of yours, and run into some spiritual reasons as well, with reverence for life forms that existed long before humans did.

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Originally Posted by Dehlol

... There was something about that snake. I could get him out, and he would interact and move with me, not just sit on the floor and look around. He wanted to explore, he wanted to climb, but the thing that absolutely won me over was I could look into his eyes- and tell he was looking back. I don't feel that with most snakes out there in captivity, this animal even with the smell of food around knew who I was, and that I wasn't dinner, he knew when I was getting water in his dish, and waited for me to bring it back and set it down so he could take a fresh drink. He reminded me a great deal of the intelligence of a varanid... That single animal, that I got with the whole purpose of rescuing/getting to a breeder ended up causing me to fall in love with owning retics. I even this year produced them. I've produced plenty of clutches of eggs over the course of my reptile keeping carrier, but none ever had me staying up all night, with pure joy, looking in the cage watching every last egg be laid, and feeling so amazingly proud...

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I can relate to this very much, but we don't need reptiles (Varanids, snakes, etc) for this. In fact, some would argue that we can receive this more frequently & intensely from other species, dogs, humans, cats, etc... so what gives? Just wondering :taz:

You keep pet humans?

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

... unlike a dog or even a cat, they don't necessarily want to please you or even want your company. You can't train a snake...

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Does everybody agree with this?

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Originally Posted by MarkS

You keep pet humans?

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No, but years ago had a girlfriend that kept me as a pet :rofl:

Anyway the question was Why do you keep snakes, not Why do you keep pets... .. .

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Originally Posted by JoeNapoli

Does everybody agree with this?

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No. Snakes won't fetch a ball for you or get your slippers but they can be trained to respond in a certain way to various stimuli.

Why I keep snakes was covered in my previous post. 'because it makes me happy' I also have a dog and a cat and a bird. Because they also make me happy.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

No. Snakes won't fetch a ball for you or get your slippers but they can be trained to respond in a certain way to various stimuli.

Why I keep snakes was covered in my previous post. 'because it makes me happy' I also have a dog and a cat and a bird. Because they also make me happy.

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That's more of what I meant: you can't train a snake to "sit", "stay" or "fetch" the way you would a dog. They don't learn commands. But my Ball Python had a problem eating if substrate got on her food, so I would lay out paper towels over a portion of the tank, move her onto them and then give her the mouse. Eventually, I could lay out the paper towels, walk away to get the mouse, and when I came back she was out sitting on the paper towels. She put together that "paper towels"="I receive food", so she would go to them when she saw them. I guess in a way she was "trained" to do that, but I couldn't point at the paper towels, say "go" and she would listen. xD

I keep them because they are awesome, cute, and not stinky!!! Worst downside, is my new addition my BP eats live...


*~*~*~ Love always bring difficulties, that is true, but the good side of it is that it gives energy ~*~*~*
-Vincent Van Gogh-

I fell in love with snakes as soon as I held one. Now that was only a little over a year ago. A ball python is the ultimate pet for me (not saying I don't absolutely love other snakes). They are misunderstood by many people and I seem to always like the misunderstood. I think snakes are just beautiful and axing creatures. Snakes also have a great maintenance schedule for our lifestyle. They demand very little attention so we can go camping etc. for a few days without worry. They also accept quite a bit of attention as well which I have to say they do get a lot. They just look so aggressive and are super gentle (more of a ball python example but many snakes fit this as well). I also really enjoy learning about these amazing animals. Breeding some ball pythons is an experience that my wife, daughter and I are doing as a family project. If we enjoy it we may do it again next year and make it a family hobby. (No interest in making it a business).

Simply put keeping snakes brings me happiness. It happens to be the best pet for me because of my allergies and how little time I have at certain times in the year. They just fit our family perfectly. I just want to give them the best life I can in return.

Enjoyed reading the responses to this.

I've always loved animals, ever since I was a child. Snakes were no exception.

I find their symmetry appealing. They are utterly perfect in design. Sleek and graceful and elegant.

And in a way they are very alien. Keeping them is so unlike keeping mammals. Holding them gives you a glimpse of a creature that is completely different from you. They are remote and primitive and strangely complex in their simplicity.

I find it soothing to hold a snake, to watch it weave through my fingers or feel it wrap snugly around my wrist. I love feeling the feathery tickle of their tongue when they are examining me, and watching them navigate me as though I were a tree or an inanimate object.

It's humbling and thrilling to be able to hold such mysterious animals, to interact with them and care for them and come to understand them.

Also they remind me of dinosaurs, and I've always LOVED dinosaurs. :oops: