Q&A for How to Build a Relationship with Your Snake

Snakes do have an incredible sense of smell. Leaving your scent in his/her bedding could potentially make them more familiar with you for sure.

It depends on how much the scent changed. If it is just soap or something, the snake will still recognize you. It will also depend on the animal itself.

If you have a good relationship, yes. But if he/she starts to get too tight for your liking, try to suck in your stomach to grab him/her off. If your snake is very big or you don't have a good bond yet, I wouldn't recommend this.

It depends on what kind of snake, but most of them eat mice. You should feed baby snakes baby frozen thawed mice every week or so. You should feed adults adult frozen thawed mice every other week.

Ball pythons have high humidity requirements (at least 60%, ideally 70-80%) that can be difficult for a beginner to maintain, and can be finicky eaters, especially if their husbandry is off. Garter snakes are more active, tend to musk (which smells pretty bad), and are more likely to be flighty. They have different dietary requirements (ball pythons eat rats and birds, garters eat worms, certain fish (without thiaminase), and mice when big enough). Both species are likely to get stressed out if handled too much, so don’t overdo it. Neither species gets massive. If you get a garter, make sure they’re captive bred (they’re often wild caught) and from a reputable source.

That’s a great thing to do for enrichment. Just be sure to bake them in the oven before adding them to the enclosure.

Yes, usually they will. Although if your hand is close to their head, they may bite if they mistake you for food or feel threatened.

Yes, go with a different species of snake. Unfortunately egg eating snakes are almost always wild caught, which is unethical.

That depends on the species. A lot of harmless snakes (water snakes, for example) can flatten out their head in an attempt to ward off predators. Familiarize yourself with the species in your area.

You can sometimes finding naturally occurring hybrids in the wild. Don’t keep wild caught snakes, though.

There’s no such thing as a banana snake, although there is a banana morph of ball pythons. Get the species you’re most interested in and can properly care for. Do extensive research before getting any snake, and keep in mind that that there’s a lot of outdated information still circulating (so be careful which sources you use). Reptifiles.com is a good source. Make sure you have room for a 4ft enclosure or larger, and money for everything (including emergency vet bills).

Not really. Mostly, they will just respond to touch. Snakes hear by picking up vibrations, so they won't really respond to your voice.

Potentially, depending on how responsible the kid is. Spotted pythons are relatively low maintenance and generally good with handling. The kid needs to be able and willing to properly care for the snake for its whole life. If you think they’ll get bored of it, don’t get one. Make sure you have enough money for all of the snake’s care and emergency vet bills. You also need a plan for what’ll happen to the snake when the kid goes to college.

No, ball pythons aren’t capable of eating anything bigger than a rat. They can’t eat dogs.

Yes. Ball pythons are only big enough to kill rodents and similar sized animals, they pose no danger to humans.

Snakes don't have good hearing, so they should be fine unless there are big vibrations.

Maybe she hasn't found out what to associate your scent with. Try to spend more time with your snake, and she will eventually get used to you.

It might do but it is not a good idea to raise a snake from the wild. Or, do you mean you have a rescue snake from a shelter? If you spend time with your snake, it will probably get used to you and befriend you.

You don't have to. You can stick your hand in their tank for a little while so they get used to your scent.

You can put a water bowl inside to keep the humidity levels up, and to provide water for the snake.

You could put an article of clothing that you’ve just worn in the enclosure. Although, keep in mind that the snake may poop on it, and fabric harbours bacteria.

Never keep wild animals. It’s not fair to the animal, often illegal, and they can have parasites. Get a captive bred one from a reputable breeder.

Check morph market or faunasclassified, just research the breeder before buying. Avoid BHB, underground reptiles, LLL, backwater reptiles, snakes at sunset, and cb reptiles.

A few are ball pythons, corn snakes, milk snakes, Kenyan sand boas, rosy boas, and boa constrictors.

Yes, this isn't dangerous.

Garter snakes can eat frozen thawed mice, earthworms and certain types of fish. Do lots of research before getting one and do not get a wild one; get a captive-bred snake from a reputable source.