Home ss-sweet home
KIDS WHO WANT AN UNUSUAL PET NEED TO KNOW HOW TO CARE FOR THEM, WRITES PASCO ROGATO
Unusual pets seem to be growing in popularity, with snakes and lizards, along with spiders and scorpions among the frontrunners. Most people have a basic understanding of looking after a cat or dog but caring for a reptile is not so much on the “ABCs” of pet welfare. Reptile handler/keeper Brian James of Cairns store Pets to Pamper believes snakes and lizards are excellent pets for children and is able to disseminate advice.
“MUM, can I have a cat?” “Dad, can we get a puppy?” They are two statements most parents will hear at some stage.
But what happens when your child comes home and asks: “Can I have a snake?”
Unusual pets, they seem to be growing in popularity, with snakes and lizards, along with spiders and scorpions among the front runners.
While most people have a basic understanding when it comes to looking after a cat or dog, caring for a reptile is not so much on the “ABCs” of pet welfare.
Cairns store Pets to Pamper caters to this growing niche market, with a selection of snakes and lizards readily available, with resident reptile handler/keeper Brian James on hand to disseminate advice.
He says that while snakes and lizards are excellent for children, he tends to steer away from the arachnids, at least for younger children.
“Snakes and lizards are the main things, we do have spiders and scorpions, but they are not so suitable for young ones.
“The spiders and scorpions can give you a nasty bite; kids can’t really handle them like they can a snake and a lizard.”
As far as snakes go, he recommends spotted pythons and stimson pythons (commonly referred to as children’s pythons) as being best for children. As they are a smaller species that don’t grow large, they are fairly easy to handle.
Before purchasing a snake or lizard, Mr James says you need to get a reptile licence online. “My advice to anyone, if you are getting a snake, whatever species you are getting, it is research, research, research before you get it,” he said.
Once you do your research and get one, they are fairly easy to keep.
Basic snake care requires a well-constructed enclosure that incorporates a hide box, water dish, something for climbing (a small branch), a heat lamp or mat for winter, and a substrate, such as newspaper or fake grass.
Feeding is simple. With a juvenile snake, a thawed-out pinky mouse, once a week, is adequate.
Mr James recommends cleaning the enclosure thoroughly once a week.
“You don’t use any strong disinfectant, there is a product called F10, which is an antiseptic which is best for reptiles and it is harmless to your animals.”
He stresses that the enclosure must be “properly constructed because snakes are ‘Houdinis’ – expert escape artists”.
Mr James says bearded dragons and blue tongues are the most popular lizards, and once again, care is simple.
Basic lizard requirements include a secure enclosure, UV lamp, basking lamp, hide box, calcium powder for their food, something to climb and again, a substrate of some kind, preferably fake grass or newspaper.
He says pets can help teach children responsibility.
“With kids, firstly you need to realise that the novelty wears off after six months, so you need to be prepared for that.
“My advice to parents who have a kid who wants a snake or lizard, just leave it for 12 months before you get it and see if the kid holds the interest.
“Then if they still want it, then get it, but parents need to make sure they understand what is required in the care of the animal and make sure the child carries it out.
“When he (the child) wants to clean his cage out, mum or dad must be there and give him a hand.
“Pets are not toys, they are living creatures and they need to be treated as such.”