Rules of owning a snake

SPRINGFIELD - Kids love exotic pets like snakes and reptiles. But they've got to know the rules and regulations when it comes to owning one. Jeremy Turgeon of J and D Reptiles talk about those and show some of the great snakes he's got.

• Skittles - albino corn snake
• Ball python. Born in september.
• Lightning - adult python, female. Born about ten years ago.

First off you want to get the bare basics. As soon as your kid says that, more than likely, they'll continue to ask about it. Snakes are everywhere in popular culture. They will see a snake and you know what? I want it. The bare basics. You have to figure out how they need to be cared for. The size tank, temperature, humidity, and especially feeding. Feeding is probably one of the most important things and for some people, it is the main turnoff. Because you know, you feed mice, rats and big snakes, sometimes bigger prey. Mostly of the time what you feed them is live.

I feed all of my snakes prekilled prey. This way, it is a lot safer for the larger snakes if they don't grab the prey in the right spot, the prey won't come back and try to bite and harm the snake.

Certain snakes you do need permits to own. Certain snakes like green tree pythons and emerald tree boa, you need a permit by the wildlife department. Most things like boa snakes and python, best to start off, you need pythons for. You can get them in local pet stores. They eat once a week.

Once a week, this female eats one every ten days. One rat every ten days because she is a large snake that she eats large prey.

These guys don't have hands or feet or anything like that. Their only way of protecting themselves is to bite. So the one thing that you are going to get injured by, is by a bite. You have to be willing to take that risk. I mean if you are going to get bit by a baby bald python, it may draw blood but not the end of the world. It is just a fact that you have to live with in the industry.

With bigger snakes we do hook training which is basically where we open the snake's cage and gently tap them on the nose with the snake hook. This way, prey will not tap them in the nose, so not food. Boulder snakes, pythons and boa, they will not bite you unless into shed and really, really hungry. That case, using feeding tongues to give you a far reach to feed the snakes. A lot of times, tap the snake on the head and back off. You can go in and grab it.

They use a nose for breathing. With the tongue, you notice that it is forked. The tongue goes into what is called a jacobson's organ on the tooth of the mouth.

Two prongs go up and send scent trails to the brain. If they are going after food and get more scent to the right, from the right prong, they go to the right to their food.

Research is important. If you are thinking about getting a snake like this, and it is little bit lower maintenance on a dog. They need specific heats and temperatures, but generally it is a lot less work. You don't have to take one of these guys for a walk.

J and D Reptiles

47 Savoy Avenue
Springfield, Ma 01104
(413) 301-3674
website: janddreptiles.com