Cornsnakes
Basic Statistics:
- Average age: 8-15 years.
- Age at maturity: 1.5-2 years.
- Average gestation: 2 months.
- Adult size/ weight: 900 g
General Facts
- Dietary Requirements
– Frozen mice- these should be fully thawed, either left on paper overnight or placed in a container of warm water.
– In general mice should not be greater in size than the snake’s widest diameter (girth).
– Young snakes should be fed neonatal/ immature mice.
– Most snakes should be fed every 5-7 days- this can vary with individuals.
– Clean fresh water should be available at all times- best offered in a wide bottomed sturdy dish that’s difficult to tip over. - Environmental Requirements
– A good sized vivarium min 90 x 45 x45 cm for adults. This should contain cage furniture ie. Rocks and logs, aswell as a hideaway. A secure lid is essential to prevent escapes.
– A primary heat source- usually an infrared lamp or a heat mat ( always use protective covering to prevent thermal burns.
– Secondary heat source- usually a light placed at one end of the vivarium over a basking area and turned off at night.
– Thermometer- 24-30 degrees Celcius optimal- best to place one at either end of the vivarium.
– Lighting- Specialised full spectrum fluorescent UV light sited at least 30 cm above snake and changed every 6 months. Needs 12-14 hours light daily.
– Humidity- Mist or spray regularly. A water bath can be provided. Hygrometer can be used to monitor (30-50%).
– Substrate/ Bedding- Recycled paper.
Preventative Medicine
- Most diseases in snakes are caused by poor management and inadequate environmental requirements, so correct husbandry is essential.
- Have your snake checked by your vet soon after you bring it home. Bring a faecal sample if possible.
Common Ailments
- Skin Diseases
- Poor shedding (dysecdysis) often due to low humidity, inadequate water or occasionally skin mites.
- Abcesses
- Thermal burns
- Scale rot or blisters due to poor hygiene.
- Gastrointestinal Disease
- Anorexia
- Stomatitis
- Diarrhoea- bacterial, protozoal, parasitic.
- Snakes may excrete salmonella which is zoonotic. Always exercise careful hygiene following any contact with snakes or bedding.
- Respiratory Disease
Upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Bacterial, viral and parasitic causes.
Pythons
Basic Statistics:
- Average lifespan 20-30 years
- Age at maturity 3-5 years.
- Average gestation 2-3 months.
- Adult size 55-90 kg. Breed dependant- ball pythons much smaller
General Facts
- Dietary Requirements
– Frozen mice- these should be fully thawed, either left on paper overnight or placed in a container of warm water.
– In general mice should not be greater in size than the snake’s widest diameter (girth).
– Young snakes should be fed neonatal/ immature mice.
– Most snakes should be fed every 5-7 days- this can vary with individuals.
– Clean fresh water should be available at all times- best offered in a wide bottomed sturdy dish that’s difficult to tip over. - Environmental Requirements
– A good sized vivarium for adults. This varies depending on species. It should contain cage furniture ie. Rocks and logs, aswell as a hideaway. A secure lid is essential to prevent escapes.
– A primary heat source- usually an infrared lamp or a heat mat ( always use protective covering to prevent thermal burns.
– Secondary heat source- usually a light placed at one end of the vivarium over a basking area and turned off at night.
– Thermometer- 24-30 degrees Celcius optimal- best to place one at either end of the vivarium.
– Lighting- Specialised full spectrum fluorescent UV light sited at least 30 cm above snake and changed every 6 months. Needs 12-14 hours light daily.
– Humidity- Mist or spray regularly. A water bath can be provided. Hygrometer can be used to monitor (30-50%).
– Substrate/ Bedding- Recycled paper.
Preventative Medicine
- Most diseases in snakes are caused by poor management and inadequate environmental requirements, so correct husbandry is essential.
- Have your snake checked by your vet soon after you bring it home. Bring a faecal sample if possible.
Common Ailments
- Skin Diseases
- Poor shedding (dysecdysis) often due to low humidity, inadequate water or occasionally skin mites.
- Abcesses
- Thermal burns
- Scale rot or blisters due to poor hygiene.
- Gastrointestinal Disease
- Anorexia
- Stomatitis
- Diarrhoea- bacterial, protozoal, parasitic.
- Snakes may excrete salmonella which is zoonotic. Always exercise careful hygiene following any contact with snakes or bedding.
- Respiratory Disease
Upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Bacterial, viral and parasitic causes.
Hypovitaminosis C may cause gingival bleeding and skin rupture.
Garter Snakes
Basic Statistics:
- Average Lifespan 6-10 years.
- Age at Maturity 1.5- 2 years.
- Average gestation 2-3 months.
- Adult size 150-220 g
General Facts
- Dietary Requirements
– Frozen mice- these should be fully thawed. In general mice should not be greater in size than the snake’s widest diameter.
– Young snakes should be fed immature mice.
– This diet can be supplemented with fish fillets and earthworms.
– Garter snakes on an earthworm only diet need to be fed more frequently than those fed mice and will also need calcium supplementation.
– In the wild, garters eat frogs and toads but these tend to be difficult to source.
– Avoid fish only diets as many fish types contain thiamine which can lead to hypovitaminosis B1 causing neurological signs.
– Clean, fresh water should be available at all times- best offered in a wide bottomed sturdy dish that is difficult to tip over. - Environmental Requirements
– Vivarium 5-25 gallon sized depending on age/ size of snake.
– A good sized vivarium for adults. This varies depending on species. It should contain cage furniture ie. – Rocks and logs, aswell as a hideaway. A secure lid is essential to prevent escapes.
– A primary heat source- usually an infrared lamp or a heat mat ( always use protective covering to prevent thermal burns.
– Secondary heat source- usually a light placed at one end of the vivarium over a basking area and turned off at night.
– Thermometer- 24-30 degrees Celcius optimal- best to place one at either end of the vivarium.
– Lighting- Specialised full spectrum fluorescent UV light sited at least 30 cm above snake and changed every 6 months. Needs 12-14 hours light daily.
– Humidity- Mist or spray regularly. A water bath can be provided. Hygrometer can be used to monitor (30-50%).
– Substrate/ Bedding- Recycled paper.
– Water bath should be provided.
Preventative Medicine
- Most diseases in snakes are caused by poor management and inadequate environmental requirements, so correct husbandry is essential.
- Have your snake checked by your vet soon after you bring it home. Bring a faecal sample if possible.
Common Ailments
- Skin Diseases
- Poor shedding (dysecdysis) often due to low humidity, inadequate water or occasionally skin mites.
- Abcesses
- Thermal burns
- Scale rot or blisters due to poor hygiene.
- Gastrointestinal Disease
- Anorexia
- Stomatitis
- Diarrhoea- bacterial, protozoal, parasitic.
- Snakes may excrete salmonella which is zoonotic. Always exercise careful hygiene following any contact with snakes or bedding.
- Respiratory Disease
Upper and lower respiratory tract disease. Bacterial, viral and parasitic causes. - Parasitism more common in garters fed earthworm, fish and amphibians.
Vitamin B1 deficiency (caused by thiamiase in certain fish)- causes neurological signs.
Scale rot/ blister disease more common- avoid too high humidity.