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. Captive-born snakes are also more docile than wild ones. Plus, they tend to be healthier, as they haven’t been exposed to the hazards, diseases, and parasites that wild snakes face. However, baby snakes are quite fragile. You’ll need to do lots of research to learn how to help your serpentine buddy thrive. A local vet offers a few tips on this below.

Temperature

Keeping your reptilian pal warm is very important. While exact temperature parameters may vary a little, depending on the type of snake you have, most tropical snakes need a temperature range that is between 75 and 90°F. Snakes that can survive in cooler climates need a range of 75 to 85°F. Keep the heat source outside the cage, so your snake doesn’t get scalded. We don’t recommend using heating rocks, as they could burn your pet.

Tank

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

Eating

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