Snake Cage Setup

So you want to bring home a new family member but have not ever set up a snake enclosure before? No worries! it is much easier to do than it might seem, collect the supplies before hand and you will be set up within the hour!

Glass enclosure: Fish tank or reptitank

Substrate: Coconut bark and fiber

Hides: Places to the snake to hide under in the dark

Water dish

Decor: Add enrichment items! Fake plants or wood pieces

Heat mat: Goes under or on the side of tank

Temp Gauge/control: Dont want to over heat the baby!

To get started, add about 3 inches of substrate to the bottom of your glass enclosure. You are going to want to mix a one to one ratio of the bark and coconut fiber together for a good consistency and humidity control.

You are going to now want to add in your hides, hide placement is very important for the little animal. There is a wide variety out there for what you could use for the animal, get creative! It is recommended at least two hides for a snake, one on the hot side (where your heat mat will sit) and one on the cool side (opposite the heat mat). Feel free to place these anyway you would like from there.

Now before the really fun part begins, find a location for the water dish. Water is important to your reptile, always make sure it is available and cleaned daily. Any location shall work for the pet, just try to avoid placing it on the hot side (near heat mat).

Time for the fun part...Add some appealing pieces to the cage! It is thought that adding enrichment pieces such as fake wood or rocks or really anything safe for the animal into the enclosure adds enrichment for the animal stimulating their brains more so than if the cage was left empty. Make it your own, live plants are an option or you can use all man made items the possibilities are endless.

The final step before bringing home the new family member is to set up the heating and temperature control. The best recommended option is to use a heat mat with snakes, avoid heat bulbs.

You are going to want to stick the heat pad to the bottom of the glass enclosure or to the outside of the wall, once stuck down you cannot remove and reuse it so make sure you like your decision!

Finally use whatever form of temperature control you would like, be it a temperature probe or a thermastat. Just be sure to have a way to monitor and control temperature, you do not want your reptile to be too warm or too cold.

You have now fully set up your new pets home! Bring him or her home the next day once temperatures are up and high enough and let them acclimate to their new home!

Reptile care for snakes is fairly simple so you should only expect to clean the cage by spot cleaning once a week and do a full substrate change once a month. Welcome home little baby!