This website was
actually first conceived as a book entitled 'Beginner Snakes'. This project
began in January 2019, the main body of text developed relatively quickly with
a manuscript of around 40,000 words plus other miscellaneous info and data that
had been gathered along with around 1000 images. When the species guides are included this will swell to around 100,000 words.
Fast forward to January 2020
and a distaste for persuing publication of the text had begun to form. The main
issue was the idea of charging for knowledge. So if the information could be
made public access and the only trade off was a few links and adverts for our
specialist reptile centre this seemed like a fair trade off. This hobby can
have elitist tendancies and knowledge can be carefully guarded. This website aims
to change that.
The information contained within is potentially useful to many
keepers but it was created with the intent of helping those with the least
experience, the novices navigate choices and pitfalls. It is written in a
manner to help them understand, often what experienced keepers may take to be
common sense principles.
Nothing is taken for granted and this is designed to
be step by step and build from the ground up.
Many breeders exercise their opinion based upon what they
are breeding and can therefore be partisan in their advice. The information and
opinion contained within this site is garnered from a career spanning 30 years
in the hobby and 20 years in a professional capacity as a specialist pet shop
owner.
Because of the volumes of animals cared for over the
years we have raised thousands of animals and as a result have a great idea of
what constitutes an excellent pet snake species.
Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa)
Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
(Pituophis catenifer annectans)
Species of snake
are judged of five criteria we consider to be the foundation of making a great
pet. These criteria are scored out of 100%. A score of 100% in a specific criteria
is considered perfection. Very few of these are given out. No
partisan scoring has taken place and fairness and a very broad church of
species are the order of the day. A selection of 90+ species and subspecies
have been chosen.
An average is taken across the 5 criteria, the closer an
animal get to the magical score of 100% the more suitable it is as a species.
Exceptions exist as in all walks of life. Snakes that score lower here will
have examples within their numbers capable of scoring 100% as an individual.
Remember it is only what our experience tells us. It is not written in stone.
Always seek to learn about the individual.
The remainder of the site has been kept in line with how
the book was going to be set out. The species and their scores come last. We
have so much to go through first.
Enjoy.
Olive House Snake (Boaedon olivaceus)
Albino Japanese Rat Snake (Elaphe climacophora)