FAQ Page

FAQs

Birthday Parties

Where do you typically do your snake parties?
Most of the time, parties are at someone's home, in front of the family TV or fireplace. Sometimes people also rent their neighborhood clubhouse.

What are the age range of kids at your snake parties?
The most common ages are between 4 and 14. Although, we have done parties for 1 year olds and even 70 year olds!

How many snakes do you bring to a party?
Typically I bring 8 snakes and sometimes a lizard (bearded dragon) named Norbert or a turtle named Charlie. Click here for our snake roster. All the snakes we bring are nonvenomous and docile. The children are allowed to hold/handle/touch all the snakes that we bring!

Who performs the snake parties besides Mr. Clint?
Andy Maddox started into herps when he was probably 3 or 4 years old; he is now 20. In his own words: "My passion started as a love for dinosaurs, which then evolved into a love for the geckos, frogs and toads, anoles, and rough earth snakes that frequented the backyard and flower beds. And it is history from there. I currently attend Texas A&M (Class of '08) and am aiming for a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries in hopes of one day working Texas Parks and Wildlife. In high school, I volunteered from the age of 16-18 at TWRC (Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition), usually a few times a week for a few hours each of those days. I had the amazing opportunity to work with a wide array of native Texas animals that are rarely seen, and even more rarely observed in close quarters, including a few different endangered species. I got to see everything from the occasional deer to bats, hawks and owls, box turtles and rat snakes, and much, much more. Working with Texas Snakes & More now is extremely rewarding as well. Teaching people about the animals that live around us has always been a mission of mine. I don't want to make people love all these animals (although that would be the most wonderful thing I could hope for). I simply want to at least instill a sense of tolerance and respect in not only children, the future of our planet, but the adults that inhabit it now. Every time I see a child's eyes light up as they hold or see a snake for the first time, it makes me swell with pride knowing that hopefully this child will grow up very in touch with his or her surrounding ecosystem and have a healthy respect for all creatures, great or small, not to mention ones that lack limbs and have scales instead of fur."

Gina Disteldorf is a Biology teacher and wildlife rehabilitator and loves educating kids and adults with snakes and lizards almost as much as she loves caring for a menagerie of animals. Now with Gina onboard, we can have complete lizard presentations or mixed (four or five really cool lizards and four or five awesome snakes).

What are people's favorite snakes that you bring?
The two snakes that continously win over even the most skeptical of people are Knot and Lucky. Knot is a Florida Kingsnake and Lucky is a ball python.

Do the snakes you bring bite?
With over 10,000 people holding, touching, or petting my animals last year, we did not have a single incident (unless you consider a snake relieving itself ("pooping") an incident!).

Other Common Questions

Have you ever been bitten by a venomous snake?
No, but I get bitten by non-venomous snakes on a regular basis. I have never had a reaction or infection from any non-venomous snake bite.

Does it hurt when a nonvenomous snake bites you?
Yes, sometimes more than others. Sometimes it feels just like a little pin prick. Most of the time you can't even tell the next day where you were bitten.

Which snake do you recommend for a first time pet?
That's an easy one. 1)The ball python or 2)a king or corn snake. Snakes can be amazing escape artists, so a truly snake-proof cage is mandatory.

What should I do before buying my child a snake?
Purchase the setup with UV lighting, if needed, under tank heaters, etc. at least one week before bringing your snake home to its new enclosure. If you buy your snake and setup at the same time, ask the pet store or breeder to hold on to your pet until the enclosure is just right.