A Maple Ridge veterinarian will soon be looking for new homes for two large snakes.

Dr. Adrian Walton was recently sent a 4.5 ft. long ball python, Basil, who comes from the Interior. The BC SPCA branch in Penticton was unable to adopt the animal after a few weeks. With Walton鈥檚 contacts in the exotic pet world through Dewdney Animal Hospital, they were hopeful he would have more luck in finding the reptile a good home.

When Basil arrived, Walton already had an eight-foot red tailed boa constructor in his care. The RCMP had discovered the snake in a dilapidated house with no power. It was surrendered to the SPCA, who gave it to Walton to ensure it is in good health, and that it finds a happy home. No owner has come forward.

The ball python, named for the way it curls itself into a ball when resting, was surrendered to the SPCA by its owner.

鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 realize the time commitment,鈥� said Walton, noting that while snakes can be low maintenance compared with other pets, they are enduring.

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He said there is no way for him to determine the age of the snakes, but notes they could live 30 years.

Basil the ball python would be a suitable pet for someone who was owning their first snake, he said. It will need a tank that is about four feet long, and survives on rats and mice, swallowed whole, which are generally purchased frozen from a pet store. Everything his new owner will need should be found at a good pet store.

鈥淗e鈥檚 very easy to take care of,鈥� said Walton.

Basil does not have colour patterns that are often sought out by ball python owners, so Walton anticipates it might be a bit harder to find him a home.

The boa constrictor is a much larger snake, would need a more roomy enclosure of about six feet, and generally isn鈥檛 suitable for someone who has never owned a comparable pet.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a sweet snake 鈥� very calm,鈥� said Walton.

While they don鈥檛 crave the 鈥渓ove and attention鈥� of a cat or dog, he said owners can feel their snakes appreciate their company.

鈥淭hey do seem to enjoy interacting 鈥� it鈥檚 mental stimulation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey do engage with their owners.鈥�

He plans to keep both snakes for a couple of weeks to ensure they are in good health, and notes they appear to have no issues beyond a few easily-dispatched mites.

鈥淏oth are very calm, well-behaved snakes.鈥�

Anyone interested in adopting one of these pets can email Walton at dewdneyvet@gmail.com.

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