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SNAKE MANAGEMENT March 27, 2012 Michelle Rutz-Mendicino

SNAKE MANAGEMENT

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SNAKE MANAGEMENT. March 27, 2012 Michelle 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

SNAKE MANAGEMENT

March 27, 2012Michelle Rutz-Mendicino

Page 2: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

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

insectivorous Temperature requirements -

widely varied and species dependent

Bottom line - do your homework

Page 3: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

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

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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

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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

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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

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SNAKE CARE Handling

Hook - best Tong - harmful

to snake Sack/Bag Exit can - for

dumping snake from sack

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Snake Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes

Distinguished from legless lizards No eyelids No external ears

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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

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World Record Snake

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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SNAKE CARE Temperament

Species dependent Ball pythons to reticulated pythons

More anxious when shedding and feeding

Other characteristics Musking Constricting

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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

Page 22: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

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

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SNAKE CARE Sexing - copperhead

hemipenes

Page 24: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

SNAKE CARE Sexing

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

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Sexing: Appearance of Snake Unreliable in most species:

Leaf-nosed snake of Madagascar

Page 26: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

Visually sexing Snakes

Female tailshorter, stubbier

Male taillonger, slimmer

Page 27: SNAKE MANAGEMENT

SNAKE CARE Sexing

“cloacal pop” Only used in

young snakes No defined age

Harder on older snakes

Depends on size of snake

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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

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snake hemipenes

Ball Python Burmese Python

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SNAKE CARE Sexing by probing

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Female Mexican Hognose snake

- Note the lack of hemipenes

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Probes for sexing snakes

Vary in length Vary in diameter

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Probes for sexing Snakes

Gently insert into cloaca Probe in a posterior direction

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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

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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

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Restraint of Snakes

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

damaging or traumatizing spine

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SNAKE CARE Public health

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

Salmonella

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

accidents Generally, a permit is required

State laws

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Salmonella High proportion of reptiles

contaminated with Salmonella Reptiles are NOT appropriate for

small children or the elderly Lizards Turtles Snakes All others

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