Snake Care

Keeping a snake as a pet is not as dangerous as you may have thought. There are a handful of breeds that are tame, gentle and easily maintained. However, like any pet, a snake will require unique care and attention, and should only be kept by those who are willing to commit the time and energy needed in order to keep a snake healthy.

Choosing a Snake

Like any other reptile, you should look for snakes that have been captive bred. Wild snakes tend to be stressed, irritable and hard to feed in captivity. For beginners, you'll want to look for the following breeds.

What you'll need


Housing  

  • Until snakes reach sizes exceeding 24" in length, a 12" x 8" cage will suffice.
  • Avoid cedar, bark and sand. These are either toxic to the snake, or at the very least, not absorbable, which promotes the growth of bacteria.

Hiding Places  

  • All reptiles get stressed out at some point. Giving your snake a place to hide in "dismal" times is vital for their physical and emotional health

Heat  

  • Snakes prefer daytime temperatures of between 79-85 degrees fahrenheit, so it's best to simulate this through tank heaters.
  • Lamps come in in-tank and under-tank varieties, but for snakes, the under-tank option is the best.

Snakes to avoid

Here are some snakes to avoid if you're a beginner.

What to do when your snake comes home

Snakes are all unique and require a variety of living environments. Regardless of what your snake needs, it's important that the living arrangement your snake is in be completely sealed. Snakes like to climb and wander, so it's important to keep them under control.

The faint of heart may want to steer clear of snakes, as they feed on mice. Most owners feed their snakes pre-killed mice, which can be kept in the freezer and prevent less danger to the snake. A live mouse may injure the snake in self-defense, or if the snake is not in the mood to eat. Live mice are more dangerous than beneficial, so it's in your (and the snake's!) best interest to use frozen mice.

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