Pet Snakes

Snakes might seem scary, but many kinds make great pets. Pet snakes like corn snakes and ball pythons are gentle and calm. Snakes do not need to be walked or groomed. They are quiet pets that are fun to watch and hold.

How Snakes Move and Eat

Snakes do not have legs, so they move by slithering. They use their muscles and scales to push against the ground. Snakes swallow their food whole because they cannot chew. Their jaws can stretch very wide to fit large meals. Pet snakes only need to eat once a week or less.

Snake Care

Pet snakes live in glass tanks called vivariums. They need a heat source because they are cold-blooded. Snakes shed their skin as they grow, usually every few weeks. A healthy snake sheds its skin in one whole piece, almost like pulling off a sock.

Fun Facts

• Snakes smell with their tongues by flicking them in and out.
• Snakes do not have eyelids. A clear scale protects each eye instead.
• Some snakes can go months without eating a single meal.

Did You Know?

Snakes feel smooth and dry, not slimy like many people think. Their scales are made of keratin, the same material as your fingernails!