The Art Of Keeping Snakes

Snakes are among the most beautiful and fascinating creatures of all the vertebrates. It is no wonder there are more than 50 species of snakes regularly bred in captivity and more than 100 species available for purchase. But how does the keeping of snakes become an art? By developing a naturalistic vivarium system that puts a snake's welfare and quality of life above all. This will enhance your enjoyment in observing these fascinating creatures. Here you will learn how to set up and maintain vivaria. You'll learn which snakes are the best display snakes and how to handle, feed, and care for them. Most importantly, you'll learn that the reason for keeping snakes is not just not for captive breeding, but to derive enjoyment from watching a snake's behavior in a captive environment. For author Philippe de Vosjoli, snakes are a passion. He believes they are among the most beautiful animals on earth. Incorporating snakes into a naturalistic vivarium, similarly to lizards and amphibians, adds a new element to snake keeping, elevating the hobby to a true art form. The Art of Keeping Snakes is divided into two parts. The first, A New Way to Keep Snakes, discusses design planning, enclosures, background possibilities, substrates, landscaping, plants, heating/lighting, quarantine, and introducing the snakes to the vivarium. This part also includes chapters on feeding, handling, health care, and general maintenance and husbandry. The second part, Best Display Snakes, presents over 30 different snake species, including photographs, physical descriptions, and tips for selection, handling, vivarium design tips, feeding, and breeding. The snakes in this part are divided into chapters: pythons, boas, water and garter snakes, hognose snakes, rat snakes, kingsnakes and milk snakes, and others. Resources and index included. If you own or are thinking of owning a snake this is a guide that will help both you and your new reptile best friend.