| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| tk72 |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 09:42:48
Hi all, my name is Terry and my two children want a pet and as my wife is alergic to cats and dogs our choice has been narrowed down to a snake or a bearded dragon. After some advice first though. Been doing a lot of research as dont want to get the wrong one as both of these seem to have a long life span and want to make sure we can provide a good home for either one.So here go my questions.
1. which makes the best pet.and are they good pets to have.?
2. are they ok with children handling them? kids are 6 and 3.
3. which snake is best for beginners? corn snake/king snake or ball python. all have good reviews.
4. where should i get one from? i live in liverpool and have found a place called warrington exotics which looks good on the web site and i have spoken to them a few times and they seem very knowledgeable and helpful. any one reccommend anywhere else?
thanks for looking and any advice given would be greatly appreciated as i know once we get either pet it is going to be with us for a long time and want to make sure i dont go into it without being able to look after it properly.
Thanks again Terry. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tomp33 |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 14:36:36
Congrats on your decision :)
But yeah, a 3 year old and a hatchling really shouldn't mix -.-
Lol, enjoy |
| tk72 |
Posted - 26/08/2011 : 12:52:53
GOING TO TAKE THE KIDS YP TO WARRINGTON EXOTICS NEXT WEEK FOR THEM TO HAVE A LOOK AND A HOLD OF A FEW SNAKES. WILL TRY DIFFERENT AGES TO SEE WHAT IS BEST AND WHAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. LIKE A FEW OF YOU SAID MY BOY MIGHT BE A BIT SMALL SO WILL POSSIBLY GO IN A FEW TIMES TO KEEP THE INTEREST UP AND GET HIM USED TO HANDLING THEM. (AS LONG AS THE SHOP IS OK WITH THAT OF COURSE) THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP AND ADVICE GUYS. |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 20:57:58
Yeah my faun is on top of the heat mat. If you look in the general keeping subforum there is a hacthling setup thread that may help? |
| tk72 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 20:29:48
thanks for the advice. will keep it in mind. and been looking at those sites a bit more and they are by far the cheapest. thanks. do you just slide the heat mat under half of your faun then? |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 18:13:36
Buying a bug viv straight away is much too big for your hatchie. I've got the large faun. And it probs won't out grow that for 6-8months. So you could save up on that time for the larger viv.
All I did with the bowls was hacksaw some access, filed it down with a nail file then smoothed the edges with a lighter. |
| tk72 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 17:46:21
we have those bowls in our cupboard. was going to buy a three foot tank straight off so i dont have to buy another viv. would you reccomend this? if the snake needs a smaller space could put the faunarium inside the bigger tank.
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| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 16:33:25
No probs. A heat lamp isnt really needed if you going to have a heat mat. If you want lighting for the Faun/Viv. You can use these http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90192071 - They are adjustable lenght wise (i currently use 1 strip with two spare for when i upgrade). They also dont need a guard as they dont emit a lot of heat so are safe for the snake etc.
EDIT: Below is an example of the lighting (this is my set up c/w homemade hides - £1 kids bowls from asda pack of 5 or 6)
 |
| tk72 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 16:24:28
thanks for that guys. And Simmy just been onto both of those sites and knocked off £100 quid just by having a quick look. Ta very much.
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| Kittypuss85 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 15:45:43
I'd say that was expensive too. The shop I stock up at does a complete set up including Carolina corn snake for £100. That is a plastic faun, but even if you wanted to wooden viv instead of the faun it'd only be About £125. |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 15:13:01
To me that looks a bit expensive. And if you have a heat mat a bulb set up is not needed IMO. You'd need an extra hide. Best thing to do is go to http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/ or http://www.renzaexotics.co.uk/ (Renza isnt fully operational yet i dont think). Add each item in the above list to the basket and see what it works out at. You can normall get your Snake hatchling at a local store. I paid £29.99 for mine.
here is a list of what i got for my hatchling (this will last 6-8 months before you need to buy a bigger heat mat and faun/viv) I made my own hides tho. Just an idea of costs thats all.
quote:
Originally posted by Simmy_82
Thanks for that Andy. Revised all items (see below) and its come to £48 ish excluding the hides, and with a Larger Faunarium.
1x Exo Terra Flat Faunarium - (Large)
1x Habistat Heat Mat 7W
1x Habistat Mat Stat Thermostat
1x Zoo Med Digital Thermometer (same as i saw on ebay 50p difference)
1x Liquid Crystal Thermometer (for the cooler end)
1x Exo Terra Water Dish - Medium
1x Exo Terra Silk Plant Abutilon Small
Deffo looking to get a younger snake. Local shop has a selection of younger snakes, No older than a year as they are still in fairly small RUBs. So wil acquire the hides when i buy the snake and ask the store what would be best etc. Thanks everyone, i can officially get excited about the weekend now!
EDIT: I am also using kitchen roll as a substrate so that i can get used to what their poo looks like (ie whats normal etc). |
| tk72 |
Posted - 24/08/2011 : 15:05:38
Hi all and thanks again.Been to wales for a little holiday and while we where there we went to a place called Pili Palas it is a small animal park just inside anglesea. They have snakes for you to hold and the kids where both great with them. Got talking to A guy called Edd who works there an he said they sell snakes with a full set up which includes the following.
a viv exotic vivarium 915mm x 470 x 525
a 29" x 11" heat mat
a mini stat 100
aspen bedding
snake hide
2 plants
water dish
book on corn snakes
UVB 2% bulb
a starter unit for the bulb
a smaller container to put inside the vivarium to keep hatchling in
oh and the most important is a carolina corn snake. (hatchling)
plus postage for £230.00
was just wondering if anyone knows whether this sounds like a good deal. and got a good feel about the place as all animals where in good condition and all tanks and vivariums where spotless. both kids where great holding the snakes and loved touching them so at least i know they would be ok with one at home now.
if you are ever in Wales i would reccomend this as a place to visit as there are loads of animals to hold. (snakes, tarantulas, beardies,stick insects etc) and there is an amazing butterfly house where they all fly around you.
it also has a good play area too. |
| Mort13 |
Posted - 18/08/2011 : 17:34:49
My children were 8 and 9 when we got our first snake. He was only a hatchling but they handled him fine. With children your age I'll echo whats been said previously and recommend a yearling or adult corn snake. They are so much easier to handle at that age,for adults as well as children.
I've also previously had beardies (before I had kids) and while they are brilliant animals they too can be squirmy and suddenly shoot off if they decide to. There is also the issue of them accidentally scratching your kids.
Corns can live for considerably longer than beardies.
I've visited Warrington Pets a couple of times. I've never actually bought an animal from there,but they have quite a lot of corns. My recommendation would be to go there with your family and see if you can handle some of the animals there. It does get busy there as its a lot smaller than it looks online but they have a lot of staff so you'll be able to get some help I'm sure. |
| Simmy_82 |
Posted - 18/08/2011 : 16:29:31
My first reptile is my corn snake. Fairly easy to keep really. Nothing major, but i've only had mine 3weeks this sunday... |
| Sammysnake |
Posted - 18/08/2011 : 16:03:18
I have corns and a Rankins Dragon (basically a smaller version of a Beardie with almost identical care requirements). We got the Rankins first as it was what my daughter wanted. I love him to bits but he definitely takes more looking after than the snakes do - you have to keep replacing the UV, have daytime heating and night time heating, dust the food with powders, feed daily and keep the live food alive too etc. Costs a lot more in setup too. Also, now he's an adult he doesn't do much and he brumates for 6 months out of the year when he never wakes up . The snakes are definitely more fascinating to us and to my daughter's friends and much easier and cheaper to care for but she can't get them out of their vivs unsupervised whereas with Keydo our Rankins, she can. Swings and roundabouts but I think I would go for Corns from now on. |
| tk72 |
Posted - 18/08/2011 : 14:09:28
thanks again. will possibly go into the pet shop and ask if tke kids can have a hold and see how they get on. my eldest has held the before and loves them but will make sure my youngets is ok handling them before getting one. anyone else know of any other places than warington exotics in or around liverpool? |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 22:15:51
I would echo gp's latest post, I would go for at least a yearling, maybe even an rescued adult that's all nice and friendly off preloved or something as they are less likely to whizz. I cannot speak for lizards, I always wanted one but the bugs were an issue, so I got a yearling cornsnake when I was quite young :)
I would probably say no to royals... D:
Kings are more active than corns, mine is always out! He's super friendly too, but as gmac said, they can be unpredictable specially when they think it's food time! Mine will often bite himself and any other object at that point xp corns tend to be more predictable in their actions. |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 20:16:53
quote:
Originally posted by scottishbluebird
I'd say a corn!
of course you would!! 
and i'd agree, though i'd go for a yearling that's placid to handle, an established feeder and a manageable size |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 20:14:19
quote:
Originally posted by west5680
...never had a beardie but they seem a bit scratchy to me...
that's a good point actually, when i've taken reptiles into nurseries/preschool groups/out of school clubs/to work for our trainee vet nurses  , although there's usually a lot of interest in any lizards i've taken, when it actually comes to the handling part the kids have got a bit freaked out with scratchy claws/toenails......i suppose the lizards look more familiar in a way, having 4 legs a head and a tail, then are a disappointment to handle, whereas the snakes are held/touched with great trepidation and it turns out that actually, snakes don't feel that bad!! lol  |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 20:13:54
I'd say a corn! |
| Red123 |
Posted - 17/08/2011 : 19:21:48
We started off with a corn just over a year ago now and it was one of the best decisions we ever made. They really do make excellent pets. We got our first 2 lizards about 4 months ago. Not beardies but skinks nothing alike I know but, lizards of any type are more complicated to care for what with the lighting and temps. And the feeding, alot easier to defrost a mouse for a corn than having to buy various feeder insects and calcium powder and multi vitamin powders. Good luck with what ever you choose though . |
