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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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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