SNAKE MANAGEMENT

SNAKE MANAGEMENT

March 27, 2012Michelle Rutz-Mendicino

SNAKES Habitats - desert to marshes Diets - ovivorous, carnivorous,

insectivorous Temperature requirements -

widely varied and species dependent

Bottom line - do your homework

SNAKE CARE Research - Different snakes have

different needs Vet - Find one experienced with

snakes Housing

Secure cage At least as long as the snake

Reduces lung infections

SNAKE CARE Substrate

Sand (+/-) Wood shavings - NOT cedar or pine Newspaper

Water Bowl available at all times Must keep clean and change often Needed for shedding and humidity Much of requirement comes from prey

SNAKE CARE Heat

Lamp or ceramic heater Gradient 70-95° F (highly species dependent)

Vertical and horizontal gradients

Under-tank heaters, don’t use hot rocks Light

All snakes require UV-B 12-16 hours depending on time of year

SNAKE CARE Activity

Diurnal or Nocturnal Require “hides” and things to climb

Other Quarantine of new additions Food –

Frozen mice/rats/rabbits/etc.. Weekly (good starting point) Diameter of snake

SNAKE CARE Handling

Hook - best Tong - harmful

to snake Sack/Bag Exit can - for

dumping snake from sack

Snake Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes

Distinguished from legless lizards No eyelids No external ears

Geography and Size Snakes found on all continents but

Antartica Found on most islands

Ireland’s snakes The last Ice Age, and not St. Patrick

Vary widely in size 4 inches to 25 feet Fossil record up to ~50 feet

World Record Snake

Common Classes Boidae

Family of primitive non-venomous snakes comprising Boas and related constrictors

Pythonidae Family of large non-venomous snakes

comprising many species of ambush predators/constrictors

Colubridae Garbage bin family of (usually) non-venomous

snakes. Two thirds of all snakes

Common Classes

Elapidae Family of venomous snakes of the tropics

and subtropics; ex Cobra, with hollow fixed fangs United States species

Viperidae Family of venomous snakes found world

wide (except Antartica). Rattlesnakes and vipers.

Boidae - Sand Boa

Many species Habitat - sandy, semi-arid (for

many) Diet - small rodents Non-venomous Brown patterns

some have orange

Females - 18 inches, 200 gm

Males - 15 inches, 70 gm Desert Sand Boa Eryx miliaris

Literally – Boa Constrictor Habitat – South America, tropical Diet – Rodents Non-venomous Characteristic red

markings on tail Females – 7-10 ft Males – 6-8 ft

Boidae - Red Tailed Boa

Boa constrictor

Pythonidae – Ball Python

Many color varieties Habitat – Africa, arid, dry Diet – Rodents Non-venomous Very placid and docile Females – 4 – 4.5 ft Males – 3- 3.5 ft

Also known as Royal python

Python regius

Pythonidae – Burmese Python

Many color varieties Habitat – Asia, tropic

and subtropic, semi-aquatic

Diet – Large rodents Non-venomous Can reach up to 19 ft! Generally 12 ft

Everglades Invader!

Python molurus bivittatus

Pythonidae – Reticulated Python

Many color varieties Habitat – Southeast

Asia, tropical, semi-aquatic

Diet – Large rodents Non-venomous Size – 10-20 ft Largest snake on

record! Python reticulatus

Colubridae – Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake

Many color varieties and patterns

Habitat – SE and central U.S. Grasslands, forests

Diet – small rodents Non-venomous Size – 3.9 – 6 ft Can live up to 23 yoa

Pantherophis guttatus guttatus

Colubridae – King Snakes

Many color varieties Milk snake is a

common species Habitat – Canada to

South America Forested regions

Diet – small rodents Non-venomous Size – 20 – 60 inches

Lampropeltis triangulum

SNAKE CARE Temperament

Species dependent Ball pythons to reticulated pythons

More anxious when shedding and feeding

Other characteristics Musking Constricting

SNAKE CARE Breeding

Live bearers - boa constrictors, water and garter snakes, and rattlesnakes

Egg layers – colubrids, pythons

Brumation “Cool down” period May require several months

Incubation (Highly species dependent!) 78-84 ° F ~ 2 months

Cooling Snakes for Breeding Full feed when not cooling (weekly) Separate sexes (optional) Stop feeding for several wks prior to

cooling Cool 20 degrees F for ~3 months

Light 10-12 hrs Put sexes together; incr. temp to

normal; light 13 hrs + 20 min/week to 16 hrs

SNAKE CARE Sexing - copperhead

hemipenes

SNAKE CARE Sexing

Size of snake Length of tail from cloaca Hemipenis “cloacal pop”

Sexing: Appearance of Snake Unreliable in most species:

Leaf-nosed snake of Madagascar

Visually sexing Snakes

Female tailshorter, stubbier

Male taillonger, slimmer

SNAKE CARE Sexing

“cloacal pop” Only used in

young snakes No defined age

Harder on older snakes

Depends on size of snake

Cloacal Eversion“Popping” Snakes have paired hemipenes Long slender hollow tubes Apply gentle pressure with the thumb in a rolling motion from tail tip to the vent Females have similar, but smaller structures

Will not “pop” out of the cloaca

snake hemipenes

Ball Python Burmese Python

SNAKE CARE Sexing by probing

Female Mexican Hognose snake

- Note the lack of hemipenes

Probes for sexing snakes

Vary in length Vary in diameter

Probes for sexing Snakes

Gently insert into cloaca Probe in a posterior direction

Probing Snakes

Lubricate probes Use appropriate size Take care to avoid injury to animal Males: Probe will not insert very

far Due to presence of hemipenes

Incubation of Snake Eggs 29 to 30˚C or 82 to 85˚F

Very species dependent 75 to 85% relative humidity Hatching time – most 55 to 60

days

Restraint of Snakes

Graduated clear plastic tubes Varying size, length and diameter Safely hold snakes without

damaging or traumatizing spine

SNAKE CARE Public health

Venomous snakes Introduction of invasive species Cage must be locked Responsible for bites

Salmonella

Venomous (“Hot”) Snakes AVOID Cage must be locked Owner is responsible for ANY

accidents Generally, a permit is required

State laws

Salmonella High proportion of reptiles

contaminated with Salmonella Reptiles are NOT appropriate for

small children or the elderly Lizards Turtles Snakes All others