I found this snake, and I've been told it's a "Tan Racer". I live in southeast Texas, so snakes are all over. This one is only about 7 inches long right now, but I've been told they can get up to 5 ft. I wanted to keep it as a pet, because it seems pretty docile. It's a constrictor type snake, non-venomous. So since it's little, will it be easier to tame? Will it be hard to feed? Help?!
margecutter
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Before you decide to keep it, check with your DNR to see if it is legal. Im many states, there are restrictions on what wildlife, if any, can be legally taken and kept captive.
ferrisulf
If it's a native species then it's not legal. You'd need a special license to keep it.
Secondly, a wild-caught snake is likely to have parasites (internal or external). You should take a snake to the vet, regardless of whether or not it's wild-caught because sometimes there are no signs they have internal parasites until it's too late.
Also, this snake knows what the wild is. Snakes will never be domesticated (as in loving and such like a cat or dog). They are solitary animals that don't need or want companionship. And you've picked up a wild specimen, which will make it that much harder to tame.
You also have to know what it eats; if it needs a special type of lighting, what heat the tank should be at in the day time and what temp it should be at in the night; the size of the tank it should have; the appropriate type of substrate; etc.
All of these things can be answered easily with snakes that are actually kept as pets (corns, kings, pythons, etc). You've picked a type that isn't, so there are no books on their specific needs.
Racers themselves aren't known to have the best of attitudes. You'd be better off with a corn snake or a ball python; especially if this is your first snake. A wild-caught snake--esp. one like a racer--is not for a beginner (or anyone without a license for that matter)
Let it go and buy a snake from a breeder who'll give you a guaranteed healthy snake that you'll be able to know how to take care of it.
Bulldog Lover
It is never a good idea to keep a wild caught animal as a pet, especially reptiles who have very specific dietary needs.
A wild caught snake when brought into a domestic situation could become very easily stressed out, and refuse food/water. It will slowly die from dhydration, starvation, or stress alone. It is also very hard to recreate the environment it is use to. A wild snake is use to a wide area to search for food, and the ability to go where it pleases.
Although the animal may seem tame at the moment, once it gets over the shock of the change it could become very aggressive. Plus this animal could be illegal for you to keep as a pet!
Unless you have a lot of experience with snakes, and even if you do, a wild caught is NEVER a good idea. I suggest going to the pet store and picking up a snake. If you want a tame, easy to care for snake, I suggest a king or a corn snake!
Good luck!
Anonymous
Milk snakes make excellent pets, especially for first time snake owners. It may be more aggressive because it was caught in the wild. Try googling "Caring for milk snakes" that will tell you anything you need to know
Anonymous
I have successfully kept many wild caught snakes, including racers, as pets. There is nothing wrong with it, as long as it is not a rare species, or protected.
However, there are other considerations;
-Wild caught snakes often carry parasites
-Wild caught snakes are often poor feeders in captivity
-Wild caught snakes are often nippier than captive bred
-Racers, in particular, are nervous, high strung snakes. They are active, and need large cages, lots of heat, lots of food, are difficult to handle (they bite and defecate on you), and spend most of their time trying to escape. Very few hobbyists keep racers.
If you are new to snake keeping, a wild caught racer is one of the worst choices you could make. My suggestion is that you release it, and look at some of the captive bred colubrid species.