Housing/Vivarium

In today’s post I will be looking at reptile housing and how important this is when keeping a reptile. There are many different types of housing available for reptiles and they can vary a lot in price depending on the type and size. I myself have opted to keep my snakes in a wooden vivarium with glass panels, as this looks pretty and can be a great way to showcase an animal in a main room.

Vivariums are mostly made of wood with glass panels or can be made entirely of glass or plastic. They are available with the options of sliding doors or an opening lid. They can also house pretty greenery, hides, water dish and even coloured lights, although these should be special LED bulbs so they do not admit extra heat. Vivariums come in many sizes and cost will vary like all reptile housing. When housing in a viv don’t forget about having locks fitted too as security is a must due to reptiles being great escape artists!

Vivarium starter kit

Although I keep my animals in vivs, sometime in the future I may consider expanding my collection of snakes. Therefore instead of keeping lots of vivariums, I may opt for a rack system. Rack systems are very popular with breeders that are housing many snakes as they take up less space. Racks normally consist of wooden shelves that can be filled with different sized plastic boxes. They can house a large number of snakes depending on the litre compactly of the boxes and these can go from small to large. A good rack system may also help an owner to save money as the entire box acts like a hide so therefore all they need is a water dish and the animals bedding. This looks to be the most expensive type of housing for reptiles.

Rack system

Really useful boxes are also common housing for snakes as well as adapted fish tanks (but generally not recommended). This is probably the cheapest housing for a reptile, although like a vivarium will need to be kitted out with hides, greenery and water dish. I myself would not opt for this form of housing as security and accurate heating may be problematic.

Glass enclosure

Cool YouTube Channels

If you are like me and think reptiles are awesome, there are loads of places on the Internet where you can see the animals and learn all kinds of new information about reptile keeping. Here are three of the best YouTube channels that I have found and subscribed too.

Snake Bytes

Reptile Room

NERD Reptiles  

As I only have three pet snakes and don't plan on becoming a breeder, I find it interesting to watch these channels to learn about the different genetics and how to care for eggs. I also love seeing other cool reptiles such as gators, geckos, bearded dragons and large snakes. I actually hope one day to get a lepoard gecko but have to talk my family into letting me have one as they are adorable and would make an awesome pet.

Leopard gecko

If anyone wants to add their own reptile YouTube channel, add a comment below and I will take a look and subscribe.

Shedding

The shedding process is vital for a snake's growth. A snake's skin is not like a human's skin although it is made from the same fibers as hair and nails. Reptile skin can only grow so far before it restricts a the growth. In order to grow, the snake must shed it's skin. This can be as often as once every few weeks to once per year. A juvenile's growth rate is more rapid in comparison to that of an adult. 

Crimson currently in shed

When a snake is shedding, their appearance changes. They appear more duller and at a certain stage their eyes cloud over. This is known as the blue phase. The entire shedding process normally lasts for up to fourteen days depending on the breed. To aid shedding, a snake secretes a fluid that lubricates the dead skin which helps it to slide off and they may seem to feel a little sticky at this time. Some breeds of snakes may refuse feeding during this cycle and may also dislike being handled. They may also be very defensive due to their vision being impaired. 

To help a snake shed, there are a few tricks that an owner may like to do.

1. Raising the humidity by spraying the snake with water, or by using moss. Alternatively insert a bigger water dish.
2. Giving the snake a bath in luke-warm water.
3. Inserting more rough surfaced items in their tank.

I myself have witnessed Crimson shedding and this was a magical experience as this process is normally done in private. It sounds like popping the bubbles of a bubble wrap sheet and is exciting to watch, even astounding.

The first sign of a snake actually shedding is hitting their heads on rough surfaces. This is to start the final stage of the shed as it begins at the head. Once they have started, they pull themselves out of the dead skin so therefore when you lift it, it will be inside out. Measuring a snake's shed skin is not an accurate measurement for the length of a snake as they are normally up to 40% bigger than the animal itself.

Rattlesnake

When a rattlesnake sheds it grows another segment on it's rattle, although the rattle can fall off but regrows if this happens.

Problem Sheds

Reptiles can have problem sheds due to many reasons (stress, not enough humidity, illness, past stuck shed, mites, etc). In snakes, pythons find it especially hard as they have heat pits on the front of their head. These make it difficult to rub against the rough surfaces to start the shed. It is vital to ensure that the snake has shed completely. Look at the shed and examine the snake thoroughly in order to spot any skin that had been left behind. This MUST be removed as it can cut off blood circulation and can blind the snake if they have retained their eyecaps. 

If you have a snake with a stuck shed, don't panic, there are things you can do to help remove it. Try the steps mentioned above, otherwise you can try the following;

1. Use mineral oil and a cotton bud to rub gently over the snakes eyes. Rub from front to back and be very gentle.
2. You can also try the tape method for the eyecaps. This involves using tape and rolling from front to back to remove the stuck shed. This does not hurt the snake but don't be surprised if it does not like it. This is for EYECAPS ONLY.
3. Take the snake to a reptile specialist and they may use tweezers to remove the shed. Do NOT attempt this yourself unless you are highly experienced in reptile keeping and know a lot about problem sheds. I would personally recommend seeking specialist advice and help as I know all too well how daunting a stuck shed can be as I have had them with Blaze and Crimson. 

Example of a problem shed

Choosing your snake

Royal Python

                   

When considering buying a snake as a pet, choosing one can be the hardest part. There are so many morphs around and different breeds to choose from. I cannot stress enough how important it is to conduct research into the type of snake you are considering and learn everything you can about the animal. Most important things to think about is first of all, can you feed a rodent to an animal? Do you have enough space for the vivarium they need when they are fully grown? Do you know what size your new pet will be? Can you afford it? Will your family still talk to you if you own a snake? How long they live for? Can you care for the animal and have time for it? Can you cope with rodents being stored in your freezer?

Boa Constrictor

After research you are now ready to visit your pet store! I would say this is probably the best way to pick out a snake that you like and are comfortable with. Each individual has different likes and needs. I have known keepers that have started with a large python and others a corn snake. It really depends on the owner and what they are comfortable holding and housing. I myself do not feel really comfortable with monster sized snakes! My first snake was a corn snake as they are manageable and stay relatively small. They are also docile in nature and easy to handle although some find them a little quick compared to fat bodied snakes. Ensure that the snake you pick is in healthy condition. Check for pests such as mites on the snake and observe how the snake reacts to being lifted and handled. If the snake's tongue is flickering a lot, this is a good sign of a healthy snake. Just handle a few and see what you are most comfortable with.

Burmese python

Corn snake

After research and handling a few snakes, you then need to get the right size vivarium and equipment for ideal hosing. This includes a heat source, plantation, hides, water dish, thermostat, bedding and food. Alternatively some keepers would opt to keep their animals in a rack system as they can contain more animals and for this system all you need is a water dish and bedding. Once you have housing and equipment you are now ready for your forked tongue friend!

Rack system

When a python does not feed

Sometimes snakes, like all pets, can make an owner frustrated. This week, Blaze did not eat when offered food, although this can be worrying, it is normal behavior for royal pythons as they can be very fussy eaters. There are many reasons as to why a python refuses to eat such as: the food not being thawed correctly, food not being offered warm, stress, illness and when in shed. Females also will refuse food when egg laying and for this reason it's important to ensure that they are at a good weight before breeding.

Sadly the reasons I assume for Blaze not feeding this week are: He struck the rat in the arm and then tried to eat it from the arm. He then gave this up and tried to find the head but by time he found it the rat had cooled down and was to cold for him to eat. Next, I tried the light bulb method (holding the rats head to the light bulb to heat it up) but this did not seem to work. Offering a python food too much can induce stress and will put them off further, therefore I will not try the feeding process again for a week. This might seem drastic but in the wild, snakes would feed sporadically and only take what they can get. Sometimes royal pythons will not feed for up to seven or nine months although this depends on their weight and is not healthy for the snake. Rule of thumb is after two to three weeks start to worry and you may need to assist feed (not recommended).

If the python is a fussy eater, there are a few tricks to try. Some may seem a bit crazy at first but trust me they work.

• Light bulb method (as above) or alternatively a hair dryer on a hot setting would work.
• Braining, which involves cutting into the rats skull.
• Dipping the rat in to heated chicken broth! Trust me it works! For some reason pythons love the scent of chicken.
• Feeding when dark.
• Thawing the rat close to the tank as the scent makes the snake interested.
• Rub the rat in rodent feces.

I strongly recommend NOT to badger the snake with food and do NOT slap feed the snake as this will add stress. But remember that it is normal for pythons not to eat their food sometimes so don't worry too much unless your snakes refuses to eat for a prolonged amount of time. 

What snakes are really like!

When you think of snakes, what comes to mind?

This?

Most captive bred that are well looked after and handled regularly with care are very unlikely to strike out for no reason. Snakes that are often kept as pets such as: Royals, Corns, Hognose, etc do not have huge penetrating fangs. Yes they do have teeth but they face backwards to grip on to their prey and they are certainly nothing like the fangs of a cobra or viper. Humans can have allergic reaction to a bite from a hognose but this is extremely rare and will be similar to a bee sting. Most pet snakes are constrictors and lack venom therefore smaller breeds are not capable of killing a person!

If you have never held a snake and think that they are slimy you would be very wrong! Snakes skin is rather soft and is actually made from keratin which is the same as a human's hair and nails. Snakes are naturally shy creatures and will often try to squirm away from you although when handling occurs regularly snakes can become used to human contact and rather seem to enjoy it. I personally enjoy handling snakes and find that they feel quite nice and are a joy to hold. Nothing to be scared off!

The first sign that a snake is distressed or angry is hissing or tail rattling. Normally this does not occur for no reason. Like humans, cats and dogs, sometimes a snake can get moody and wants to be left alone. Stress can also occur when the environment is not adequate for the snake as they all have different needs. It's valuable to read your snake and gauge it's mood. I can not stress enough that a snake will not hiss, bite or tail rattle for no reason and therefore again it is nothing to be afraid of.

The best way to eradicate a fear is to face it. Go to your local pet shop and first observe the snakes and then when you feel comfortable enough, hold one! Believe it or not that is how I got into snakes and learned that they are not what I thought they were. I used to believe they felt like holding an eel! Now I have three!

Welcome

Hi everyone, welcome to my brand new and first ever blog. As I have never done this before I have no idea where to start so forgive me if my blog is not the best and if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to tell me.

My idea for this blog is to enlighten people to what it is like keeping reptiles as pets. I currently have three pet snakes, two corn snakes and one royal python. Obviously as a reptile lover I would love to have more but I guess I need to get a bigger house first and convince my family that reptiles make good pets.

Crimson

Like a conventional pets such as dogs and cats. I have grown attached to my snakes and have even give them names. Crimson is an amel corn snake and she is orange and white. Snowy, I assume is a bubblegum snow corn, although she is beginning to turn yellow so could be a butter corn snake (it is hard to tell when snakes are not fully matured). Finally my only little boy Blaze who is a beautiful bumblebee royal python.

Blaze

Snowy

Why do I think reptiles make good pets? As a person who has a busy lifestyle I would not have the time to look after a dog or cat properly. I myself find that reptiles often suit people with a hectic lifestyle as they do not require a lot of attention. For one, they do not require walks or need to be let outside multiple times a day. I myself lift my snakes out of their vivariums daily for maximum of thirty minutes as this allows the reptile to get used to human contact. I also find that after initial set up, snakes are cheap to keep as they only need fed once a week or sometimes once every ten days depending on their size and breed. Furthermore, snakes make no noise and are very unlikely to upset your neighbors with constant barking.

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