Healthy Pet Corner's Information
and Links for Snakes
Each snake has various needs that must be met
to keep it healthy in captivity. Listed here
are the basics. Be sure to read articles on following
links to get more specific information.
Temperature
Snakes have the same temperature as their surroundings.
If it wants to be warmer, it moves to a warmer
place; if it wants to cool down it moves to
a cool spot. Most snakes have a preferred temperature
of 80-88 degrees F. Tropical snakes preferring
the higher range. Snakes have a day-night temperature
cycle in the wild. Studies indicate that snakes
suffer stress if they are kept at the same
temperature for weeks, so it's better for a
snake to have nighttime temps 5-20 degrees
below the daytime temp.
Housing
Give your snake space. Make the housing easy
to clean and adequately ventilated. Snakes
will become diseased with a dirty cage. Clean
it weekly with Clorox diluted per the label
for woodwork. Other products are toxic. Do
not use Lysol and Pinsol which are phenol products.
Use paper, shredded wood (not cedar), or pea-size
gravel to cover the floor to make cleaning
easier. Do not use sawdust, soil, sand or cat
litter which will hold moisure and promote
skin diseases.
Cages can be made of wood with a pegboard top.
Do not use wire or screen since it can rub its
nose raw. Suggested space is 1/2 sq. ft. of floor
space per foot of snake if the snake is under
six feet long. If it's over six feet long, 3/4
sq. ft. per foot of snake is required. If you
have more than one snake, you need to consider
more space. Snakes of different species are less
likely to get along.
Provide a hiding spot for the snake (such as
a cereal box with a hole in the corner. Tree
snakes need a branch. Rocks, plants and other
natural items will provide a more natural setting
for the snake.
Feeding
Water is necessary for all, but diet varies according
to snake. They never eat scraps of bread, vegetables
or fruit. The snake's natural food from the
wild should be offered. It does better on a
medium sized meal every week than a large meal
every three weeks. Mice and rats have been
known to eat captive snakes, so be sure the
rodent is eaten within the hour. Snakes don't
seem to care whether food is alive or dead,
so food can be frozen and thawed for convenience.
Snakes shed their skin every 1-3 months and
usually refuse food during this time. Be sure
to read more about skin shedding since it's
very key to a healthy snake.
Health
Snakes can get many health problems if not well
cared for. Parasites are another problem that
may attack internally or externally. Be sure
to use a vet that is experienced in treating
reptiles. Read more about health issues in
the links below.
Keeping Records
Some federal and state permits require reporting.
Regardless, tracking the feeding, shedding
and breeding of your snake can prove very useful
if it gets sick.
Basic Care Links:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Having
a Reptile As a Pet - Researching
and choosing one, bred vs. wild snake, longevity,
care, nutrition, housing, veterinary care.
Snakes
as Pets - Beginner's guide to choosing
a snake for a pet
Care
of Snakes - General topics and veterinary
care info
Care
Sheet for Snakes - Get the basics
Care
of Corn Snakes - Popular and easy
snake to have as a pet
Safety Links:
Constricting
Snakes - What you need to know before
getting a Boa or Python
http://www.aspca.org/apcc - ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center - 24/7 telephone
help - There may be a fee!
Is
Your Home Poisoning You and Your Pets? -
How toxic is your home?
Pet-Safe
Cleaning Product - Chemical cleaning
products take their toll on pet
Health Links:
Common
Snake Health Problems - Abscesses,
blister disease, burns, constipation, cuts,
inclusion body disease, parasites, mites
and ticks, regurgitation, respiratory, shedding
problems, and stomatitis.
Herbs
in Veterinary Medicine - Feel confident
in choosing natural medicines
The
Merck Veterinary Manual - 12,000
indexed topics/1200 illustrations, search
by topic, species, specialty, disease, and
keywords
Death Is Part of Life:
Do
Animals Have Eternal Life? - A book
based on Bible Scripture. Recommended by
Dr. Jack Van Impe.
Rainbow
Bridge - Comforting pet loss site
Miscellaneous Links:
My
Pets Pages - Your pet's home on the
Internet. Create your own free pet web site
or tribute site using My Pets Pages unique
web design system.
http://www.petfinder.org - Lost
or Found - Post an ad at PetFinder-
the internet has brought many pets back to
owners
