| Snakes are very easy pets to keep because they do | | | | from the source of heat so that you protect the |
| not require daily exercise outside the cage. They will | | | | snake from it. It is very dangerous for the snake to |
| spend their entire life in the cage quite happily, which | | | | come into direct contact with the heat source in the |
| is why you should to make the cage as close to the | | | | cage. Although a hot rock may look very nice in the |
| natural snake habitat as possible. In order to so this, | | | | cage, it is not suitable for the habitat for a pet snake |
| you need to do some research on what this habitat | | | | because snakes can get burned in this manner. |
| looks like in the wild so that you can have similar | | | | Some species of snakes like to bask in the heat. If |
| features in the enclosure. | | | | you have such a species, you need to provide a |
| There are certain elements of this cage habitat that | | | | basking location in the cage with an incandescent |
| are extremely important in keeping your pet snake | | | | lamp shining on one specific spot. You can include |
| healthy. The most important one is the temperature | | | | pieces of driftwood for the snake to lie on, but |
| and the humidity of the cage. Snakes are reptiles and | | | | make sure you have the wattage in the lamp to |
| cold-blooded, which means they cannot generate | | | | provide heat appropriate for the species you have. |
| their own body heat to keep them warm. Their | | | | Lighting in the cage is also important. Some snake |
| bodies adapt to the temperature of the air around | | | | species need a specific kind of UV lighting in order to |
| them. | | | | remain healthy. These species need the UV light in |
| Whatever type of cage you decide to use should | | | | order to produce Vitamin D3 and without this they |
| have a temperature control and a thermostat so that | | | | can develop a calcium deficiency in their metabolism. |
| you can raise and lower the temperature when | | | | Natural sunlight is best for this, which you can obtain |
| needed. In the natural habitat, when they get too | | | | by having the cage close to a window, but if you |
| warm they move to a colder area where they can | | | | have a glass cage, the glass will block the UV rays. |
| cool down. If you keep the temperature in the cage | | | | For other species for which light is not as essential, |
| steady in the range of 25 - 30, this is the perfect | | | | you do need to have lighting so as to replicate day |
| temperature during the day and you can lower it to | | | | and night in the wild. |
| about 24 at night. You still need to have cooler places | | | | To provide the right levels of humidity, when you |
| in the cage to which the snake can move when | | | | have the temperature at the right level, you can mist |
| necessary. | | | | the cage on a regular basis. You can also do this by |
| Heating pads over or under the cage can provide this | | | | placing a plastic container in the cage with a hole |
| source of heat and incandescent bulbs will also serve | | | | through which the snake can enter and exit. This is |
| the same purpose. Ceramic heating elements are | | | | necessary during the shedding period when the |
| quite effective as well. You need to provide a shade | | | | humidity helps the snake shed all of its skin. |