Things all beginners should know!

[Luvyna]

Be patient and aware of the fact that you're making a multi-decade commitment.

If you do things right and your snake doesn't have any underlying issues (ie. cancer), your snake could be with you for several decades, potentially for the rest of your adult/working life. Many colubrids can live for 20 years. Pythons and boas can live even longer, potentially for 30-40 years (and I've heard a few cases of 50-year-old rosy boas). Ask yourself: are you really ready to take on an exotic animal that could live longer than many marriages?So, take a few months to do some research, find out what species fits in with your interest and your lifestyle, and decide if a reptile really is the pet for you. Is your desire for a reptile just another impulse or passing fancy? How does having a reptile fit in with your future life plans/goals? Can you provide for a reptile right now and in the foreseeable future?

This is a really good point. I see so many cases of people buying several snakes when they're excited about it (it's just so tempting to get more once you have one!) and then lose the passion in a year or two and suddenly have a handful of snakes they abandon or need to rehome. There are also situations to consider like moving, going to college, having kids, and getting older--what will you do with your snake when these things happen? They can live much longer than cats or dogs so you really need to think ahead.