Enaa Mari
There are many snakes that make excellent pets for people of a variety of different walks of life. One such snake is the African house snake (boaedon fuliginosus). This non-venomous, moderately sized constrictor is known for its exceptional adaptability in human care, making it a popular pet. If you have never owned a snake before, you may be wondering what exactly makes a snake a good pet, and why so many people are drawn to them. With this brief guide, we hope to explain why many people love the African house snake, and why you just might as well.
Relaxed Temperament
African house snakes are known for their relaxed dispositions. When properly socialized, these animals are docile, tolerant of handling, and generally undemanding. Now, you can expect an animal that’s young or new to your home to be nervous and less than sociable at first. With a little bit of patience and by respecting your snake’s body language and boundaries, it will soon calm down.
To maintain a good relationship with your snake, it is best to avoid handling it when it is giving signs of stress or overstimulation, such as:
- Moving too quickly
- Tail vibrations
- Hissing
- Attempting to escape from its enclosure
Long Lives
While most snakes live for an average of 4-5 years in the wild, their lifespans can be significantly lengthened in the safety of captivity. In fact, many African house snakes can live 15+ years when cared for properly. If you’re looking for a relatively healthy, long-lived companion, snakes of all varieties are an excellent choice.
To ensure that your African house snake is living to the full potential of its lifespan, be sure to provide it with regular medical care and up to standard husbandry. That means providing it with the space, enrichment, and lighting it needs to maintain its physical and mental health.
Relatively Low-Maintenance
One of the benefits of seeking out and caring for an African house snake for sale over more traditional pets is their easy upkeep and care. While you will certainly have to invest some time, money, and thought into their enclosure, you won’t have to worry about much else aside from maintenance and cleaning once it’s set up. They don’t have many social or emotional needs to speak of, won’t pee on the rug, and don’t need walks. You won’t have to worry about them as you travel, and they can go for weeks without eating.
With all this being said, it is still important that you take the time to do your research and familiarize yourself with the basics of caring for this animal.
Final Thoughts
Reptiles of all varieties can make for wonderful, docile, unobtrusive pets. African house snakes for sale are no exception. However, these are not totally hands off animals that can just be left in the corner for its entire life. They have complex environmental needs that need to be kept up to a high standard. Once these needs are accounted and cared for, you can expect to enjoy a long, unique relationship with your pet.
