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 Pine-Sol® 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 moisture 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