by Cheryl Smyth

Created on: August 14, 2008   Last Updated: August 10, 2010

Many people would never think a snake could be a beloved family pet. Cherished pets are generally thought of as furry, playful mammals that can be cute or affectionate. There are, however, some people who love their pet snakes as much as those who love their furry animals; even if the snake happens to be a 7 foot, 30 pound red tail boa constrictor, such as Diana's snake, Ozzie.

Diana, a divorced mother of two teenagers, had thoroughly researched the subject of snakes before she bought her boa four years ago. Today, she has an awesome pet that is content and sociable. Owning a boa is not an easy undertaking. It involves a lot of responsibility and commitment. Snakes have specific needs, but can make wonderful pets as long as those needs are taken care of.

To have a healthy and contented snake, an enclosure fitted with accessories simulating the wild is necessary. Wild red tail boa constrictors can be found in a variety of climatic regions, but mainly prefer the rainforest. It is essential to have a custom built enclosure large enough to hold a giant snake and secure enough to keep the snake from escaping. Being cold-blooded animals, they need a certain range of temperatures to keep them comfortable.

Specific materials are needed to keep the snake contented in its enclosure, such as a strong forked tree limb to relax on and hides to conceal itself in. Even the proper humidity levels must be maintained. Any material used in the enclosure has to be able to be easily kept clean and sterilized regularly; otherwise there can be a problem with disease and parasites. Getting a privately bred boa from a reputable breeder, as opposed to getting a boa from the wild, also lessens the chance of disease and parasites. Also, a privately bred boa will more likely be less stressed and easier to tame.

Diana knew that getting a snake from a breeder was the best option. She had a basic knowledge of snakes, since she had always been interested in them. The times she went to the zoo, as a child, she would watch the snakes in fascination and could have stayed in that particular section all day. She wanted to get a snake after she married. Her husband didn't take her seriously and the rest of the family talked her out of it since her children were still young. Diana realized she didn't have enough knowledge to properly own a snake anyway. After her marriage ended, she started saving money. This gave her time to study the species in depth. Since she was on her own with two children,

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