Frequently Asked Questionsss 

This is a page with some basic answers for common questions, in hopes that people might learn a few things about snakes, both wild and captive. If you have any suggestions for this FAQ page, or notice that I have given incorrect/incomplete information, please let me know here.

Help! I found a snake. What kind is it, how do I tell if it’s venomous, and how do I get rid of it?!

It’s a good idea to know what kind of snakes inhabit your local area, and how to identify venomous snakes. If you are in an emergency situation where you encounter an unidentified snake, the safest thing you can do is stay out of its way.

Don’t go trying to pick it up or get a closer look, especially if it is already displaying defensive behavior and you are inexperienced with wild snakes. Do NOT try to kill the snake or provoke it in any way. Simply avoid confrontation with the snake. Back away, go around, and just don’t mess with it.

If you can identify the snake as venomous and posing an immediate threat to you or someone you love, and it is frequenting the inside of your home or your yard, you can have it taken off your property, or, if need be, humanely destroyed.

If you are sure the snake isn’t venomous, just let it be or move it outside. After all: where there’s snakes, there’s rodents, but where there aren’t any snakes, there are even more rodents.

I’m scared of snakes, and I don’t know why. Is there a way I can work on overcoming my fear?

Fear of snakes (ophidiophobia) is a fairly common phobia in the western world, and nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a brave thing to stand up to something that utterly horrifies you, so I applaud anyone who attempts to face such a fear. You may never completely get over your fear, but being informed will certainly help you handle it.

A good way to start if you want to overcome irrational fear is to simply learn about the feared subject. Being aware of and able to identify local snake species will provide reassurance in case of an encounter. You may benefit from talking to people who are knowledgeable about snakes. You could also spend some time thinking about why snakes scare you, and why it is that you want to conquer the fear.

If you’re really brave, you may even want to try looking at snakes in cages, or perhaps even touching one. A lot of people who are afraid of snakes are under the impression that snakes either feel slimy or rough, while in reality, a snake’s scales are quite smooth and fascinating.

*Note to snake lovers: If you meet someone who is afraid of snakes, please don’t ever make them feel like you think they are weak or ignorant because of it. Instead, respect their opinion, and if you really feel the need, you may ask them why they are afraid and then respectfully explain why snakes are not necessarily to be feared.

Why would anyone want a snake as a pet?

It’s really just a matter of preference, when it comes to what pets someone keeps. People keep snakes for different reasons, just as someone might keep a dog or cat. Snakes are actually more common pets than you might think.

Some people are allergic to cats and/or dogs or have an aversion to fur, and just pick reptilians as a substitute. Others are truly passionate about reptiles, and sometimes turn reptile keeping and breeding into their primary profession.

For me, there is a certain allure and fascination to snakes and I take great joy in learning about, caring for, and handling them. Of course, as with all pets, there are many people who buy them on impulse without researching and treat them like crap and give a bad name to the reptile hobby.

Do snakes show affection, feel love, or bond to their owners in any way?

Not that we know of. Some snake owners will claim that their snake knows, responds to, or loves them; but, scientifically speaking, it has never been observed or proven that snakes even have the brain capacity for human emotions like love (or hate, for that matter).

Snakes have tiny, rudimentary brains, which run mainly on instinct and are missing pretty much all of the cognitive components contained in a human brain. A snake doesn’t feel complex human emotions like happiness, loneliness, loyalty, or enjoyment. It feels any combination of three things: Hunger, Security, Insecurity. Anything beyond that is human assumption.

That said, it doesn’t mean you can’t love your snake! ;) I would, however, discourage you from attempting to purposefully kiss or otherwise romance your reptile. They do carry salmonella, ya’know!

What the hell do you feed a pet snake, anyway?

Generally, rodents. Mice, rats, and rabbits are the most popular and efficient prey items. They can either be frozen thawed (f/t), pre-killed (p/k), or live. Frozen and live rodents are provided by most pet stores, but can be bought for much cheaper from rodent farms or reptile breeders who produce their own rodents.

I think I want a snake. What species should I get?

I get this question a lot, and my main impulse is always to say “corn snake or ball python.” These are both very good choices. However, you should do plenty of independent research from multiple sources before you decide what kind of snake you want.

It is a matter of personal preference, but it also depends on how much experience you have. Obviously, if you’ve never held or taken care of a snake before, you wouldn’t obtain a Burmese python. You also want to make sure you can fit the snake in your budget, and in your house!

Like I said, your best bet is to do some research on corn snakes and/or ball pythons. Other common beginner snakes are milk snakes, king snakes, and kenyan sand boas.

Where can I purchase/adopt a snake?

If at all possible, Do NOT purchase any reptiles from big chain stores like Petco/Petsmart. These animals are often sick, malnourished, wild-caught, severely overpriced, and come with little to no guarantee of health. Also, employees there often lack basic knowledge of the animal they’re selling you.

A great thing to do if you’re looking for the perfect snake pet is to check for local rescues that adopt out reptiles. You can also visit a local reptile expo or show and buy a healthy snake from a local breeder for an appropriate price. You can also check online for a reputable and respectable breeder, many of which can be found on sites like kingsnake.com and faunaclassifieds.com

What kind of cage should a snake live in?

 The three basic types of appropriate cages used by reptile owners are fish tanks/glass terrariums, custom-built cages, or tubs.

Fish tanks and glass terrariums are perhaps the most widely accepted housing method among the general reptile-owning population. They can make efficient and attractive setups, if done correctly. If done incorrectly (which they often are), it can result in improper heat/humidity gradients, difficult cleaning, unnecessary expense, and/or an escaping snake.

Custom cages are perhaps the most appealing but expensive option. They are great in that they are usually beautiful, spacious, secure, well-built, long-term cages, and are specialized perfectly to the needs of a reptile. You can also build your own cage if you are thrifty, creative, and have some time on your hands.

Durable plastic bins made by Sterilite or Rubbermaid, commonly known as “tubs,” are a popular caging option among breeders and those with multiple snakes. Tubs are inexpensive, minimize space usage and cleaning time, and maintain heat and humidity well. They come in many sizes, from tiny shoeboxes to monster storage bins. They need holes to allow air circulation and humidity control.

This is a very common and yet heavily debated issue with snakes. One method is not inherently better than the other. As long as you are diligent in maintaining a proper habitat, whichever choice suits your budget and lifestyle is fine. It is important to do your own research and form your own opinions on how you prefer to cage your snake.

How do I heat the cage?

Snakes of all species absolutely require a certain amount of heat to digest. There are many different methods of heating, most of which are appropriate to use for reptiles, but safety and reliability is always a concern. Some possibilities are under-tank heaters, heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, heat tape, or radiant heat panels. Burns are a serious and dangerous risk to reptiles who come in contact with failed heat pads or heat lamps that are exposed and/or unregulated.

If you use a heat lamp, make sure the snake is not able to reach it or curl around it in any way. Under-tank heaters should be regulated with a dimmer or thermostat to avoid reaching dangerous temperatures. Never use “heat rocks,” as they are unpredictable and could easily burn a reptile if the device failed and overheated.

Can I keep two or more snakes in the same cage?

Short answer: No!

It is widely considered dangerous, irresponsible, and unnecessary to keep multiple snakes together.  Snakes are solitary animals and do not enjoy the company of other snakes. They can easily spread diseases to one another, or mate before maturity and cause health issues for both snakes. Having a cagemate does nothing but stress out a snake, and many species of snakes are even documented to be cannibalistic.

Even breeders who keep thousands of snakes only house one snake to an enclosure except for brief periods during breeding season. Please do not put your snakes at risk because you think they are friends and see them “snuggling.” Just buy another cage, or only have one snake.

How much/often do I feed my snake?

The rule of thumb for prey size is that it should be about the size of the largest part of the snake’s width. A full meal should leave a slight bulge for a day or so after being consumed. Don’t handle your snake for 24-48 hours after it has fed, so as to let it digest and prevent issues like regurgitation, impaction, and extra stress.

Younger snakes will eat somewhere between every 5-10 days, usually 7 days is the standard interim for feeding a growing snake. As the snake ages and reaches adult size, frequency of feeding dies down to every 10-14 days, depending on age, weight, and size of prey.

Don’t worry at all if your snake misses a meal or two. Missing a meal for a snake is like forgetting a few bites at breakfast for a human. Snakes can go months and months without eating and be just fine, so don’t panic if you either forget to feed them or they refuse food.

My snake won’t eat. What’s wrong???

Snakes can refuse to eat for dozens of reasons, and sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. Oftentimes, it’s a simple issue of improper husbandry. If the snake feels that they don’t have enough heat to digest food, they will just not eat any.

A stressed or threatened snake might resist feeding because it feels vulnerable. A snake that mysteriously doesn’t eat for along period of time might be suffering from illness such as mouth rot or respiratory infection. Snakes can also refuse to eat during breeding season.

Perhaps you’re having difficulty convincing your snake to eat frozen/thawed prey instead of live. One possible solution for this is to give the snake the illusion that the prey is alive by warming it up (DO NOT USE MICROWAVE EVER) in a bowl of warm water or by placing it under a heat lamp for several minutes. This way, the dead prey gives off an aroma that stimulates the snake’s instinct to feed.

Should I feed my snake inside its cage, or outside?

Do what you want and feel comfortable doing, and what you feel puts less stress on the snake. The widely distributed theory that snakes will become “cage aggressive” if fed in their cage has been disputed time and time again by reptile keepers, and no general consensus has ever been and probably will ever be made.

It’s not wrong to feed a snake in its cage, nor is it wrong to feed it in a separate container. You are not a bad owner or a good owner for doing either one, or a combination of both. As long as your snake is eating, healthy, and you’re satisfied with the feeding method, then there is no argument to be had.

Can a snake be trained?

Not in the sense that a dog could. You can never “train” a snake to do a trick or follow a command. “Tame” is a much more adequate word for the matter, as many snakes do indeed calm down and become less defensive if handled regularly and gently.

Will my pet snake bite me?

It’s a possibility. Depending on how many snakes you have and for how long, it’s more of a probability. Puppies bite, cats bite and scratch, bunnies gnaw. Likewise, snakes bite. It happens, and it’s nothing to get worked up over, and it’s not going to affect the overall demeanor of your snake towards you, and hopefully, you won’t blame or hate your pet for it.

My snake bit me! Why?! What did I do wrong?

Oops! Most likely, the snake either mistook you for food or felt threatened by a sudden movement. It’s nothing to worry about. It’s not like the snake will hate you from then on, and at least now you know what to expect from a snake bite. :)

Wash out the cut in the sink, slap on a band-aid if needed, and move on. Don’t let it discourage you, and try not to be loud, jerky, nervous, or jumpy next time you feed or handle your snake.

When my snake sheds, some pieces are always stuck. Why is this happening? How do I get the stuck pieces off?

Snake shed should come off in one whole piece. “Bad sheds” like the one described here are caused by a humidity deficiency and/or stress. In the future, if you see that your snake is approaching a shed, give the cage a good spray and fill the water bowl. Snakes require a certain amount of moisture in order to properly shed their skin.

To get the stuck pieces off, you can place your snake in a shallow container of room temperature or lukewarm water for 5-30 minutes depending on the severity of the stuck shed. Then, let the snake slither right on through a damp washcloth. The stuck pieces should slide right off! Don’t every try to pull the pieces off with your hands, as this can result in damaged scales and discomfort for the snake.

My snake spends a lot of time sleeping in its hide. Why?

Most of the time, that’s a good sign, especially if your snake is a ball python. It generally means your snake is warm, secure, and satisfied.

Snakes that wander around their cages constantly may be showing signs of stress, hunger, or insecurity. Some species are more active than others. Many snakes are also nocturnal or diurnal, and don’t move around much during your waking hours. Others are active, inquisitive, and may even watch you as you walk past the enclosure.

HELP! My snake got loose and is missing!!

Don’t panic! It happens to most people. Thankfully, snakes usually turn up within a few hours or days, and generally are found pretty close to their cage, if not on top of or under it. Make sure you check the whole room thoroughly before you move on to the rest of the house, so as not to waste time. Snakes are good survivors, so don’t start worrying about your snake dying of starvation or poisoning just yet.

Check the internet and snake forums. There are many creative tips out there for finding and catching escaped snakes, such as setting out a rodent in the middle of a room, or putting flour and/or plastic shopping bags along the walls so that you can see or hear where the snake is moving.  

How long do snakes live?

Snakes as a whole are fairly long-lived reptiles, with lifespans ranging from 10 years to 40+ years. The average lifespan for most snakes, in the wild and captivity, is about 20 years. This is one of the reasons snakes are to be considered as long-term pets and if you obtain one, plans should be made for its entire life, not just the first few months or years.

More FAQ to be added in the future.

*Disclaimer: I am neither a herpetologist nor a veterinarian, nor do I claim to be an expert on snakes and their keeping. These answers are formed and the information I have gathered over time through research, discussion, and personal experience. There are many ways to keep snakes, and you will find that every keeper has their own way of doing certain things. Therefore, I plan to avoid using heavy personal bias when answering questions about reptiles. I will accept all criticism and correction, so please let me know if I have provided misinformation.