Caring For A Baby Snake

Are you considering getting a baby snake? There are some advantages to raising your pet from the start. People often find it easier to bond with animals that they have raised themselves. A captive-born snake will also be more docile than a wild one. Plus, they are usually healthier, as they haven’t been exposed to the hazards, diseases, and parasites that wild snakes face. However, baby snakes are quite fragile. If you’ve never had snakes before–or even if you have–you’ll need to do lots of research to learn how to help your tiny buddy thrive. A vet offers a few tips on this below.

Tank

Make sure you have everything ready for your snake before you bring the little guy home. When your snake is all grown up, he may need a fairly large habitat. For now, you can keep him in something smaller. Otherwise, it could be hard for him to locate his dinner. Glass aquariums with screen tops are fine. You can also get tanks made of fiberglass or plastic. Just make sure it offers proper ventilation. For substrate, you can use newspaper, sand and gravel, or aspen or pine shavings. If you use sand, you’ll have to monitor your tiny reptile carefully, and make sure he doesn’t get any caught in his mouth. If he does, switch over to another substrate. Your little buddy will also require a hide box and fresh water. Don’t forget to add some decorations, such as branches, bark, logs, or basking stones.

Temperature

As with any reptile, keeping your little buddy warm is very important. While exact temperature parameters may vary a little from snake to snake, most tropical snakes require a temperature range that is between 75 and 90°F. Snakes that can survive in cooler climates need a range that stays between 75 to 85°F. Keep the heat source outside the cage, so your little scaled pal doesn’t get burned. We don’t recommend heating rocks, as they could scald your tiny pet.

Eating

You might find that getting your new reptilian buddy to eat is your biggest challenge. This isn’t unusual. Do not force feed your snake, unless your vet specifically advises you to. This should only happen as a last resort. There are a few other things you can try. Just be warned: these options are definitely not for the squeamish. Ask your vet for more information.

Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns about raising a baby snake. We are always here to help!