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"     My teenage son won&amp;#039;t stop pestering me about letting him get a snake. Do some make better pets than others, and what do I need to know before buying one? A.C., Ames, Iowa Beautiful as well as fascinating, snakes have become increasingly popular in recent years. As a parent, however, you&amp;#039;ll want to do your homework before making a decision. Did you know, for instance, that snakes are carnivores, which means your son will have to feed his pet prey animals, such as baby mice? (Live and frozen rodents are available at most pet stores; frozen mice must be thawed in hot water prior to feeding.) Or that cold-blooded reptiles need an enclosure with cool and warm areas (a light at one end will do the trick in terms of heat) in order to self-regulate their body temperatures for both health and comfort? These expert escape artists also require highly secure housing, such as a glass fish tank with a tight-fitting lid. Wait \u2014 there&amp;#039;s more. Snakes can live 20 years or longer. Will you be ready to care for your son&amp;#039;s reptile when he leaves for college and a dorm that doesn&amp;#039;t allow animals? If you can handle these caveats, a slithering pet may be in your family&amp;#039;s future.  When choosing a snake, look for captive-bred species with relaxed demeanors, such as corn snakes, milk snakes, or ball pythons, all of which reach three to five feet in length. Avoid water snakes, anacondas, large constrictors like Burmese pythons and boas \u2014 and, obviously, any venomous species.  Veterinarian Rob Sharp, author of No Dogs in Heaven? (Running Press), would love to answer your pet questions. Drop him a line at countryliving@hearst.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a2942/buy-child-pet-snake-0909/>