Buying & keeping snakes (as any animal) can be an expensive hobby.  However, there are ways we've found to keep the costs down - without unnecessarily cutting corners.  HINT - try EBAY!

I'm not pretending to be an expert - there are MANY more people who have kept snakes for a lot longer! - but, after some trial & error and lots of internet searches/books etc, this is what I've found..........................

BUYING SNAKES - I've nothing against reputable reptile shops - indeed, a few of our collection have come from them.  However shops will usually charge more than private breeders because they often have import fees and overheads - heating, lighting, wages rent - etc.  Also, not all shops know the full history of their snakes ie the parents of their hatchlings so, if HETS are important to you (ie what colours/patterns the parents are carrying and/or genetics) make sure you ask the right questions.

KEEPING SNAKES TOGETHER - Lots written by people who know much more than me, but the general rule is DON'T - especially early on.  Keeping them separate means it's easier to feed, clean out etc, there's little chance of any cross-contamination and, if one decides to regurge (not pleasant and it WILL happen!) you know which one's done it!!  If you feel that you REALLY want more than one snake together, then go for 2 females once they're 12m+

SUBSTRATES - There's lots written about bark chippings/aspen etc but there's really no substitute for keeping it simple.  Kitchen roll for hatchlings and - as they get bigger - newspaper.  It's easy to clean the boxes out, very cheap (you might even get your papers FREE!) and the snakes seem to love it for hiding in/under!!!

FEEDING - As with a lot of snake husbandry, nothing is set in stone but here's my guideline..................1 defrosted pinkie per week, moving to 2 when the snake has stopped hiding to digest after the 1st one ie it's still looking for more!!!!  Then 2 per week until it stops hiding again - then move to 1 defrosted fuzzie etc etc etc.   I use a long pair of tweezers to feed mine - just so they get used to the idea that my fingers are for playing with/handling and NOT food!!  Your local pet shop may have frozen pinkies/fuzzies/mice or it may be worth shopping around on the internet - especially for larger quantities.  BUT - watch for the shipping costs - these might make it too costly.  I found The Reptile Room in Blackpool that can deliver to me for FREE (if they're in the area) or, if not, it's local enough for me to nip across with a cooler bag and some freezer-blocks to collect them.

HEATING - Snakes don't need extra lamps/light etc so a simple heat cable or heat mat under the plastic boxes is sufficient.  Again, shop around - ebay is great for 2nd hand AND new.  Remember - depending on your shelves you could put 3/4 plastic boxes on one long heat strip rather than 3/4 individual ones!!! (yep, I did this!!)

RECORDS - Some people stick a bit of paper/card to the top of the box to keep a track of feeding/shedding dates.  I decided to get a little sprial notebook from Morrisons for each of mine which lives on the top of each box.  I've also printed name labels for each snake - in pink for girls & blue for boys(!) and stuck them on each box with cellotape..........as they grow and re-house I can just restick them!!

1st SET UPS - little snakes need little boxes!  Don't be fooled into thinking that you need to go and buy a full-blown glass vivarium with lots of paraphinalia!!  A little plastic box, with kitchen paper, small bowl, and half a toilet roll is all you need!!!

2nd SET UPS - When your little snake is eating well and starting to put on weight/shedding etc you will want to give it some extra space.  Don't be too eager - they DO prefer smaller boxes for less stress - but a general rule is, that when your snake is 1 length & 1 width of the box, it's time for a new one.  Again, I've sources from DSPETS - a slightly bigger box but still with a flip-up lid for easy feeding. 

SUBSEQUENT SET UPS - larger plastic storage boxes (Really Useful Boxes are BRILL) with hols soldered into both of the short ends - low down at the front and high at the back (over the heat mat) to draw the air through.  With larger boxes/vivs the snake will now need larger bowls (rabbit/dog plastic/ceramic etc), larger hide (flower pot, seedling box, cereal box etc) and newspaper or, if you are moving into a glass fronted display vivarium, you might want to now consider the pros/cons for chips/aspen