In the biblical story of Adam and Eve, the devil took the form of a serpent. Of course, there was a reason for this. Since time immemorial, people have been afraid of snakes because of their uncanny ability to take the life of human beings with just a bite. But this is not always the case. People can actually make good pets out of snakes – that is, if you have the right kind of snake and, of course, with proper handling and care.
If you want to have a snake as a pet, you should first make it comfortable with you and not let it feel threatened by your presence. One of the more effective ways to do this is to play with your snake. However, this is easier said than done. If you want to learn how to play with your pet snake without getting hurt in process, then read on.
Not all snakes can make good pets
The first thing that you have to do when you want to have a snake as a pet is to choose the right type of snake. This simply involves checking whether a particular type of snake is venomous or not or whether a specific snake species can survive out of its natural habitat or not. Do your homework first before you obtain your pet snake.
Feed your snake before playing with it
When hungry, snakes are more agitated and unruly. Give your pet snake the right food. While there is stuff that snakes eat in general, like earthworms, fish or mice, you should know in the long run what the best food for your pet snake is.
Do not disturb your pet snake’s tranquility
Any harsh, sudden movement can startle a snake, and in turn, bring out the predator instinct in it. It can either bite you or constrict your hand, and you surely do not want this to happen. As such, when picking it out of its tank, make sure that you do it slowly and calmly. Hold it first on the middle of its body and then grab it gently somewhere along its head. Never ever hold it on its tail if you want your pet snake to be comfortable with you.
Do not take your eyes off your pet snake
Snakes have the natural ability to sneak out and escape. Sometimes it can happen in just a blink of an eye.
When playing with your pet snake with your kids, always orient them first and never leave them unsupervised. Kids are just as fascinated as adults when it comes to being able to play with snakes. However, kids are less wary in the proper ways of holding and playing with snakes.
To remedy this problem, all you have to do is to teach them the proper way of doing it, such as holding it gently and not squeezing it. As mentioned above, any harsh, sudden movement can startle a snake, and this is when things can get a bit messy.
There you have it! Follow these easy tips and have fun playing with your pet snake.