| The beauty of keeping reptiles is that once you've | | | | In particularly cold situations such as bad weather, |
| set up their caging requirements and learned a few | | | | during night-time or in a room which doesn't warm up |
| basic skills, there are many species that can be safely | | | | appreciably during the day an additional form of heat |
| and efficiently kept within the home and should live | | | | is recommended, such as a gauze-encased lightbulb, |
| out a full, healthy life. | | | | to warm the warmer end of the cage (the "hot |
| Fortunately the vast majority of the suitable snakes | | | | spot") to around 24-26'C. |
| one might choose to keep, such as corn snakes, king | | | | This temperature should be maintained at one end of |
| snakes or milk snakes, require very little special | | | | the cage throughout the day though this may drop |
| treatment and soon become very low maintenace | | | | by a few degrees at night without worry of danger |
| captives. | | | | to your pet. If using a bulb a thermostat is |
| Quiet, well-behaved, not requiring regular walks and | | | | recommended to enable you to accurately control |
| virtually scent-free whilst being unusual and | | | | the temperature and prevent the cage overheating. |
| fascinating, snakes can be an ideal pet for today's | | | | A hide should be included as snakes are often quite |
| ever-busy lifestyle. | | | | reclusive and like to hide away for much of the day, |
| At it's simplest, a glass fish tank with a specially-sold | | | | showing themselves early in the morning and later in |
| reptile hood or one of the specially made reptile | | | | the evening. |
| cages (such as those available from may be used, | | | | This could be a specially-sold reptile hide but I often |
| and these are often available for sale second hand in | | | | simply use a box - like an old cereal box - as they're |
| local papers. | | | | free and easily replaced when they get dirty. |
| Wooden cages should be avoided unless they are | | | | A solid waterbowl - ideally a terracotta dog bowl - |
| treated so as to avoid any spillage from the water | | | | large enough for the snake to submerge itself in |
| bowl (many snakes like to bathe) and ventilation | | | | (bathing is good for the skin) but difficult to tip over |
| should be good as moist cages often lead to skin | | | | should be filled with fresh water and changed daily as |
| complaints or respiratory problems. | | | | in a warm environment plenty of water is likely to |
| A length of around 30-45 cm is suitable for a | | | | evaporate, and in addition many snakes like to |
| hatchling snake whilst an adult will require a length of | | | | deficate in their water bowl. |
| 60-90 cm so it can stretch out. | | | | And apart from some food you're now all set up! |
| The cage should be furnished with one of the | | | | As you can see keeping the smaller, more docile |
| reptile-safe substrates such as beech chippings or | | | | snakes *doesn't* have the break the bank, nor do |
| corn cob granules and should be placed 1/3 - 1/2 over | | | | you these days need to "make do" with substandard |
| a safe, specially-sold, low-wattage heat mat to gently | | | | products. Companies like ZooMed make high quality, |
| warm the substrate for the snake. | | | | specialist hardware for just this purpose, and make it |
| These cost just pennies to run each day and | | | | available for a very reasonable cost. |
| generate a gentle background warmth for your pet. | | | | |