All About Snakes

By Joseph Devine

Snakes are very interesting creatures. They have permeated throughout our society for centuries. Their slippery and slithery bodies have fascinated some of us and haunted others of us. The fall of man, according to the Bible, was instigated by a snake. We also find snakes in many other forms of entertainment, ranging from books to movies, often portrayed as an evil entity. Along with spiders, they are probably one of the most fear-inspiring animals on the planet today.

But what is it that instills fear of snakes in most people? If you guessed "the bite," you're probably right. About 8,000 Americans are bitten by poisonous snake each year. Of those, about twelve die. It's not so much the statistics, however, that scare most people. It's the way in which you succumb to the bite. The snake slides quietly as you walk through the forest. You hear something and stop to listen, but you here nothing. As you begin to walk again, you feel a sharp pain on your leg. You look down only to find two teeth marks. You then suddenly grow tired and weak as you realize that the venom is slowly spreading throughout your body.

The most common poisonous snakebites in America come from Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouth Water Moccasins, and the Coral Snake. They populate our grasslands, wetlands, and even desert country, striking fear in those unfamiliar with the terrain.

If you ever find yourself bitten by a snake, be sure the wash the bite with soap and water. Then get to a medical health professional immediately. Try to immobilize the area where you were bitten and keep it below the heart, this ensures that you maintain blood flow and that the venom isn't easily spread to other parts of the body, like your head. Keeping a clean, moist towel and using it to compress the wound helps to minimize the spread of venom. Monitor your vital signs every moment of the way to the hospital. If there is a change in skin color, loss of breath, or the person beings to faint, time is running out.

Despite the looming threat of dangerous snakebites, many people would like to keep a snake as a pet. Before purchasing a snake, consult a professional about the maintenance requirements of the snake and the best way to prevent dangerous occurrences. Make sure that the snake is well fed so that it does not become hungry while someone is holding it. No matter what choices you make about owning a snake, always remember that safety comes first.

For more information on the treatment of snakes and how to avoid getting a snake bite, consult this website: http://www.sanantonioveterinarianclinics.com

Joseph Devine

Choosing The Perfect Pet Snake

By CS Swarens

Are you thinking about keeping a pet snake in your home? While pet snakes can be a great addition to your home, there are several things that you need to keep in mind in order to guarantee the best possible experience for both you and your slithery friend.

Think About Size

Before purchasing a pet snake, you need to consider the size of your reptilian friend. Don't be fooled by the size of the snake that you see at the pet store. Often, pet stores sell snakes that are not fully grown. So, while the snake may seem like a manageable five feet of slithering scales, it may grow to be much larger and much thicker than it currently is.

Before you purchase a pet snake, be sure to do your research about that particular breed. That way, you will know how large you can expect the snake to grow and you can choose one that will be manageable for years to come. Not only will this help you have a much more pleasant snake-raising experience, it will also ensure your snake's habitat is the proper size and that your snake remains happy and healthy.

Consider Breeding

Ideally, the pet snake that you bring home should have been captive bred. If you snag a snake from the wild, it has two distinct drawbacks. First, the snake will be decidedly unhappy because it is used to running free and wild. Second, the snake is more likely to be aggressive because it is not used to human handling. Obviously, this will result in a poor experience for both you and your snake.

In order to create the best possible solution for you and your snake, you should purchase one that was bred by a reputable breeder. This way, you can be certain the proper methods were used for the breeding process. You can also be more certain the snake will not be diseased or contain parasites.

Choose a Good "Starter" Snake

When purchasing your first pet snake, you should start out with one that is generally considered good for beginning snake owners. These include king snakes, corn snakes, and ball pythons. Each of these breeds tend to be gentle, which means you should have a good experience when handling them. These snakes are also relatively easy to care for when it comes to meeting habitat requirements and feeding.

Just as there are some snakes that are good for beginners, there are others that are decidedly bad for beginners. These include red-tailed boas, Burmese pythons, water snakes, tree boas or pythons, and any snake that has been caught in the wild.

Regardless of the breed of snake, it is best to avoid any snake that is overly large or that has a poor temperament. Be certain to handle the snake before making a purchase and observe how well the snake takes to being handled. If the snake makes a sudden movement at you or bites you, move on to another one that will be easier for you to handle

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html

Reptile Breeders - How to Find a Good One

By Scot Johnson

Three things to look for when buying a bearded dragon from a breeder. The first is the quality of the pics. Are they in focus? Do they show the entire lizard? Are they big enough to see? You want to be able to be sure you are getting a healthy animal. If there is anything wrong with it like missing toes or tips of tail is it distinguishable in the pic. If not can you e-mail the breeder to get better ones?

Which leads me into availability. I'm not just talking about whether or not there are any lizards available. I'm also talking about how easy it is to get a hold of the breeder. If the breeder is close to you can you visit the facility to pick up your new pet? That is the best way to tell if you are going to be getting a healthy animal. If they are going to have to ship, how are they going to do it? If they are Fed Ex Certified that is a good sign that your pet will arrive safely.

The third is, how long have they been breeding dragons. These are one of the most popular pet reptiles on the market today because of there temperament, size and ease of breeding. Many people breed them without really trying and can incubate them to hatch fairly simply. For quality babies the mother will need to be fed a lot of supplements and extra food. An inexperienced breeder might not know how to do this. This could result in babies that are small and unhealthy.

For further information please check out my blog.

http://beardeddragonbreeders.blogspot.com
http://beardeddragonbreedersresources.blogspot.com