Male and female snakes appear identical for most species. Your veterinarian can carefully examine the snake vent (opening on the cloaca) with a special instrument to determine the sex of your pet. Snake sex should only be done by a person trained in this procedure, since the snake can be injured by an inexperienced person. Exotic animals such as tigers, lions, monkeys, marmosets, foxes, caimans, cobras, poison dart frogs and many others are illegally kept as pets in British Columbia. Some snakes, especially the ball python, may not eat for weeks or months after the stress of going to a new home and environment. Loss of appetite can be a normal reaction to stress, but if it is prolonged, it can be a sign of a more serious problem that requires immediate veterinary treatment. There`s a thriving trade in exotic animals in Canada — from tarantulas to tigers to giant snakes that contract, Laidlaw says. But there is no federal law that controls it. Ideally, only captive-bred animals should be sold as pets. Wild-caught snakes are less tolerant of stress, are more likely to refuse food, and often harbor a greater number of internal and external parasites. The law also prohibits snakes that reach an adult length of more than three meters and all lizards that reach an adult length of more than two meters. Start right away with a healthy pet.
Avoid snakes that appear thin or bony, have loose skin or sunken eyes, and appear inactive or lethargic. A healthy snake is usually bright, active and alert. Eyes should be clear. Cloudy eyes may indicate that the snake is about to lose. Although it is not a sign of illness, excretion is very stressful for snakes, and they often do not eat when they lose. It is better not to buy a snake that is about to lose. Look in the eyes of snakes and under their scales the mites that look like tiny black dots that move. Make sure there are no bumps or bumps and there are no sores or discoloration on the skin. If you simply slowly push your hands into the snake`s body, you can detect swelling.
Ventilation should be clean and free of moisture or stool. If possible, open your mouth thoroughly. There should be a small amount of clear saliva and a pink tongue. Large amounts of cloudy mucus or cottage cheese or red, bloody or squeezed gums can be a sign of an infection of the mouth. There are about 2,500 different species of snakes. Several species are usually kept as pets, including king snakes, rat snakes, garter snakes, corn snakes, various pythons (especially ball pythons) and various boa constrictors (especially the common boa constrictor). The needs of one species may be different from those of another, so be sure to discuss specific issues with a competent herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians) or a veterinarian who is familiar with reptiles. The ball python is used for this discussion because it is one of the most commonly kept pet snakes. Most of the information about the ball python is applicable to other species of land snakes.
Most owners buy snakes locally from pet stores, although shipping orders from reptile breeders are also common. If you buy a pet in the mail, make sure you know what you`re getting! It is best to see the animal before buying it. Ask for a guarantee if it turns out that the animal is not what you want or is not healthy Snakes are also available for adoption in shelters. Exotic animals are becoming increasingly popular among those looking for an animal companion that is a little more outside the mainstream than cats, dogs and goldfish – through there are some animals that should definitely not be taken into account when looking for a pet due to factors such as welfare and cruelty to animals, environmental impacts and public health and safety. It is illegal to own a number of exotic animals in Canada, although exotic animal regulations and laws can vary greatly from province to province and even municipality to municipality. Described by an expert as a “patchwork” of regulations, exotic pet ownership is certainly not uniform across the country, so it`s important that you do your research and learn what`s allowed for your situation before you bring a pet home. With that in mind, here are some of the exotic animals that may be illegal in your province or city in Canada. The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies has spoken out against the trade or keeping of exotic animals as pets and sees banning these practices as the ideal legal scenario across the country, said CEO Barbara Cartwright. Changes to the list would be lengthy and often outdated when they were finally introduced. This leads to frustration among retailers who see their customers travel to a neighbouring province to legally acquire the species they want (e.g., Ontario-Quebec hedgehogs), and can lead to trends and trends that favour black market operations.
Lists of prohibited species are much shorter, easier to maintain and manage. References to the list can be viewed more quickly and controlled by a larger number of people. The size of the list alone facilitates reference with a common and scientific name. Most snakes sold as pets are easy to handle and generally not aggressive. Although some species of snakes, usually guarded by serious reptile collectors, are inherently aggressive, these species tend not to appear often in the general pet trade, so they are usually not available in pet stores.
