Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Set up your terrarium
• Method 2 of 4: Feeding your snake
• Method 3 of 4: Handling a Snake
• Method 4 of 4: Keep Your Snake Healthy

It may seem like snakes don't need much care, but they actually need a lot of care to keep them healthy and happy. If you've recently gotten a snake, you're probably wondering how to properly care for it. Start by setting up your terrarium. Then learn how to properly feed and handle your snake. Finally, keep your pet healthy, clean the enclosure regularly, and observe the snake during moulting periods.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Set up your terrarium

1. 1 Get a terrarium that is the right size. The terrarium is a glass container designed for keeping snakes and other reptiles. It looks like an aquarium, but doesn't need to be filled with water. Make sure that the enclosure is specifically designed for snakes, as they are very skillful escapees and will most likely slip away if the enclosure does not have a secure cover. Depending on the type of snake, you may need a long or tall enclosure. If you are going to have a large snake, you will need a larger enclosure.
   • For example, if you have a large boa constrictor, you will need a 150 liter wide enclosure. If you are going to have a small tree snake, an 80-liter terrarium will suffice. Make sure the terrarium is taller than the width of the enclosure so the snake has enough room to climb up the branches.
   • Keep only one snake in each cage. Snakes are not social animals, so each snake needs its own home.
2. 2 Purchase a hideout to place in the terrarium. Snakes love to crawl into dark, enclosed places where they feel safe, and it is possible that a suitable shelter will even help keep your pet healthy. Purchase a snake shelter from the pet store and install it in the terrarium.
   • The hiding place should be large enough for your pet to fully fit in, yet relatively small and snake-friendly.
   • Snake shelters come in a variety of forms: they can be stones or hollow logs. You can also make a shelter yourself from a suitable plastic container, for example, from a clean cat litter box for a relatively large snake or an opaque food container for a smaller one.Cut a hole in the side of the container large enough for the snake to crawl through, and then place the container upside down on the bottom of the enclosure and press it into the bedding material.
3. 3 Choose a suitable bedding material. With this material, you will cover the bottom of the terrarium. It will absorb urine and feces. Many pet stores offer bedding material specifically made for snakes.
   • Old newspapers can be used as cheap bedding material. Simply tear the sheets of newspaper to small pieces and cover the bottom of the terrarium in several layers.
   • Aspen or pine shavings also work well for bedding, but make sure they are not treated with any substances or contain volatile oils that are toxic to snakes.
   • You can also purchase a special "rug" for reptiles and cover the bottom of the terrarium.
   • Do not use sand, cat litter, or dirt as bedding.
   • Find out what type of bedding is best for your species of snake.
4. 4 Get some rocks and twigs. Snakes need to climb branches and bask on the rocks. This is what they do in the wild, so you need rocks and twigs to keep your pet healthy and happy. Suitable branches and stones can be purchased at most pet stores, or simply collected from the street.
   • Ground snakes require several rocks to bask on and one branch to climb, while snakes that are accustomed to climbing trees, such as the striped king snake or maize snake, will need more branches.
   • If you decide to collect rocks and branches outside, make sure they are clean. First, rinse the dirt off the stones with warm water, and then boil them in water for 30 minutes. To clean the branches, wash them in warm water and bake them in the oven at 95–120 ° C for 30 minutes.
5. 5 Install a heating lamp. Snakes are cold-blooded animals, so they need at least one heating lamp to keep them warm. Reptile heating lamps and other gadgets are available at most pet stores. They are specially designed to be attached to the walls of the terrarium or to be installed inside it.
   • Incandescent bulbs will give the snake warmth and light. The higher the lamp power, the more heat it will emit. Small terrariums often require one lamp, while larger terrariums may need multiple lamps.
   • You can also purchase special heated mats that are placed under the terrarium to heat the bottom.
   • Be careful not to allow the snake to touch the heated mat or other heating device, as direct contact can cause severe burns.
6. 6 Get a thermometer and hydrometer to keep track of temperature and humidity. Different types of snakes require different temperatures and humidity, so find out what conditions are best for your pet. A home thermostat is not enough to tell if your pet is warm enough. A thermometer and hydrometer should be placed in the terrarium to maintain optimal conditions.
   • If the temperature is too low, it may be necessary to install another heating lamp or use a more powerful lamp.
   • If the humidity in the terrarium is not suitable, you can put a wet towel in it or put an extra saucer of water to increase the humidity, or remove some of the water to lower it.
   • It is advisable to place a thermometer on both sides of the cage and make sure that it is warmer on one side than on the other. In this case, the snake will be able to choose the most suitable place for it.

Method 2 of 4: Feeding your snake

1. 1 Fill your freezer with booty. Although in the wild, snakes have to hunt their prey, many of them prefer to eat already dead mice and rats at home. Frozen mice and rats can be purchased at the pet store. Buy a dozen and put in the freezer to feed your pet as needed.
   • It is best not to keep snake food in the same freezer where you store your food. Get a small freezer to store only your pet's food.
   • Find out what food is best for your species of snake.
2. 2 Young and small snakes should be fed more frequently than their larger counterparts. Young and small snakes should be fed twice a week, while larger and older snakes should be fed once every 1-3 weeks. Females also need to eat more often as the breeding season approaches. If you are unsure of how often to feed your pet, be sure to check with your herpetologist veterinarian.
   • How often a snake should be fed can be judged by its behavior. For example, if your pet is oblivious to the food offered to him, he probably isn't hungry yet. However, if the snake eagerly swallows food immediately after placing it in the cage, it should probably be fed more often.
3. 3 If your pet doesn't want to eat dead "prey", move it. Sometimes captive snakes are not interested in the carcasses of mice, and they refuse to eat them. If your pet ignores food, try wiggling it in front of its face. This may be enough to get the snake's attention and entice it to eat the food.
4. 4 Cover the enclosure when the snake is eating. If the snake rejects food at first, try covering the enclosure with a cloth. Throw a dark cloth over the terrarium and leave the snake alone for 30-60 minutes.
5. 5 Give your snake live food only if it refuses to eat dead prey. If the snake still rejects dead prey, it may need to purchase live food. At the pet store, you can buy live mice or rats that are specially bred to feed snakes. If you are going to give your pet live prey, you need to make sure that the snake catches and eats its prey. Otherwise, the rodent in a panic may attack the snake and seriously injure it.
6. 6 Keep the bowl of water clean and full. The snake must have constant access to fresh, clean water in a ceramic container. Change the water daily and check often enough that the bowl is free of sediment, feces, and other debris.

Method 3 of 4: Handling a Snake

1. 1 Start picking up the snake only after it has eaten in a new place at least four times. The snake must eat four times before you try to pick it up for the first time. In this case, she will have time to get used to her new home and will feel comfortable.
2. 2 Do not handle the snake while it is still digesting food. Snakes swallow their prey whole, and if your pet hasn't digested it yet, you will notice a thickening in its body. Holding your snake while it is digesting can cause discomfort, so wait for the lump in your body to disappear.
3. 3 Support the snake with your hands under the middle 1/3 of its body. Never grab a snake by the head or tail. It is best to support the snake under the belly in the middle 1/3 of its body. This will make the snake more comfortable and easier to hold.
4. 4 Consider purchasing a snake hook. It will make it easier for you to remove the snake from its home, especially if you have a large terrarium. In addition, sometimes the snake can mistake your hand for food, and the hook helps to avoid this. Use the hook constantly when you get the snake out of the enclosure and it will get used to it and understand what it means.
   • To use the hook, slide it under the snake's body so that it is at the beginning of the middle section, and then carefully lift the snake out of the enclosure.Place your hand under the belly of the snake as it slides over the hook, and lower the hook after you have a firm grip on the snake.

Method 4 of 4: Keep Your Snake Healthy

1. 1 Pay attention to when the snake sheds its skin. Although snakes shed more often at a young age, even an adult will shed their skin every 3–6 months. Track when the snake sheds its skin to get an idea of ​​how often it sheds. If your pet has been shedding for quite some time, you may need to take it to your herpetologist veterinarian to check if everything is in order.
2. 2 Keep your terrarium clean. Remove debris and dirt from the enclosure at least once a week, and clean it thoroughly once a month. Remove any excess dirt and water changes every day. Disinfect the enclosure and all items in it when completely cleaning. When cleaning, be sure to wear gloves and goggles, and then thoroughly wash used tools and hands, as disease-causing bacteria such as salmonella can be found in the enclosure.
   • To clean your enclosure, you will need brushes, buckets, a snake-friendly cleaner, paper towels, cotton swabs, a sand sieve (if using sand as bedding), dishwashing liquid, and a sponge.
   • You will also need a backup terrarium in which you can place your snake every time you clean its home.
3. 3 Take the snake to your herpetologist veterinarian in case of any health problems. It is advisable to show the snake to a herpetologist after purchasing it to make sure that it is healthy and learn more about how to properly care for this species. If you suspect that your pet is sick, it is best to take it to a herpetologist veterinarian. The following symptoms are common signs of snake disease:
   • lethargy and tendency to hide or bury in the litter;
   • refusing to eat for weeks or months;
   • pink shade of the lower side of the body (a sign of sepsis);
   • inactivity, the snake does not try to curl up when you touch it;
   • incomplete molt;
   • sunken eyes.