Setting Up Your Snake Cage
Getting your first snake is very exciting but it may be confusing setting up your new pets cage with all the products and options available.
Snake cage setups can vary from simple to extremely elaborate. On this page we will go over the basics of setting up your first cage as well as some ways to get creative with your cage design.
Snake cage setups can vary from simple to extremely elaborate. On this page we will go over the basics of setting up your first cage as well as some ways to get creative with your cage design.
Six Steps to Setting Up Your Snake Cage
- Items you'll need to get started...
- Step One: Get a Book on Keeping Snakes
- Step Two: Choose The Right Cage
- Step Three: Add Your Substrate
- Step Four: Add Your Heat Pad, Hide Box and Water Bowl
- Step Five: Add Decorations and Thermometers
- Step Six: Add Your Pet to it's New Home, Enjoying and Maintaining
- How to Set Up a Snake Cage Videos
- Comments? Questions?
Items you'll need to get started...
- Substrate - This is what you'll put on the bottom of the enclosure and it will depend on the kind of snake. Common choices are newspaper, aspen shavings or carefresh which is a soft substrate made out of recycled newspapers.
- Heating Pad - Heating pads are preferrable to heat rocks or overhead heat lamps. Rocks can overheat or localize the heat too intensly and burn your snake. Lamps require you to buy bulbs and having a hot bulb on the outstide of the cage can be cumbersome and potentially dangerous.
Heat pads come in many sizes and are used under the cage to provide a hot spot. The size of the hot spot should be about 1/4 of the cage surface area. - Hide Box - A hide box is a place to allow the snake to get away and have some privacy. It can be a good idea to have two hide boxes, one for the warm end of the cage and one for the cool end. A hide box can come in many forms from the cheap but unattractive carboard box to a molded plastic decorative hide. The plastic versions have an advantage because they are easy to clean.
- Water Bowl - Your water bowl should be one that won't easily be tipped. Other than that, choose one that will be easy to clean and you're all set. Dog or cat bowls work well but decorative ones are also available.
- Thermometer - This is important in order to measure the temperature of the hot area of the cage as well as the cool. You will need a thermometer that measures ambiant (air) temperature so the stick-on aquarium thermometers aren't recommended. Instead, there are digital and analog reptile specific thermometers available.
- Decorations and Branches - Some types of snakes enjoy spending most of their time perched in branches. Wood bird perches work well with any type of cage that you can screw one into. Other options are pieces of wood or rock that you can place in the bottom of the cage.
Other decorations will be mainly for your own pleasure. Your snake may not notice but with some plants, backgrounds and other natural pieces you can make your snake cage into living art.
Step One: Get a Book on Keeping Snakes
This step is often overlooked but before you set up a snake cage or go buy a snake, the best thing to do is research. Once you bring your snake home, the book will be a great reference. Make sure you are an informed and responsible snake owner so that your pet stays healthy and you can show everyone that snakes make awesome pets.
Some books to get you started...
Corn Snakes: The Comprehensive Owner's Guide (The Herpetocultural Library)
Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 07/06/2009) 
What's Wrong With My Snake (Advanced Vivarium Systems)
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 07/06/2009)
Pythons (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Snakes: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Step Two: Choose The Right Cage
You may need different sizes of cages during the life of your pet snake. Snakes do not like to feel too exposed so when your pet is small get a small cage to match with a little room to grow. A good rule of thumb is to have a cage with a diameter twice as long as your snake is. This may greatly vary as some species of snakes are more arboreal or terrestrial and need more surface area or vertical space.Another thing to consider is the material the cage is made out of. A wood cage may be easy to make but they can be hard to clean and considerably heavy. Aquariums can be used but are really designed for fish not reptiles. More and more terrariums designed specifically for snakes are becoming available. Plastic cages are a good choice because they are easy to clean and light weight.
You don't want to bring your new snake home just to discover it gone from it's cage the next day. Make sure you buy a tightly fitting lid and ensure that there are no holes or gaps. You would be surprised at the size of spaces your new pet can get through. Always keep the lid, sliding glass or doors to the cage properly closed.
Recommended Terrariums
Zoo Med NT-1 Naturalistic Terrarium 12in x 12in x 12in
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Zoo Med NT-3 Naturalistic Terrarium 18in x 18in x 18in
Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Step Three: Add Your Substrate
Newspaper is great because it's cheap, easy to change and keep clean. Unfortunately, it's not very attractive. If you're going to use newspaper, cover the entire floor surface with four or five layers. Watch out, baby snakes will love to hide on you in the folds of the paper.Aspen shavings and carefresh are also easy to maintain substrates and you're able to spot clean instead of changing all of it. They also have an advantage in their visual appeal but are more expensive than newspaper. Add a 1/2 inch to one inch thick layer to the bottom and change or fluff up as necessary.
Rare species may require alternative substrates such as sand but for the most part newspaper or aspen shavings work well.
Recommended Substrates
Carefresh Pet Bedding 60 L
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Kaytee Aspen Bedding 1200 Cu.In.
Amazon Price: $4.19 (as of 07/06/2009)
Step Four: Add Your Heat Pad, Hide Box and Water Bowl
Heating pads are designed to go under the cage and should be put under one of the ends of the cage and not in the middle. You want to provide a thermogradient in the cage so that your snake can move from the cool end to the warm end to regulate it's body temperature.
Your water bowl should be placed on the opposite side of your hot spot so that it does not evaporate quickly. Although if your snake likes a more humid environment and you don't mind changing the water bowl often this is a good way to up the humidity.
Two hide boxes that are large enough for the snake to curl up inside should be used. One for the warm end of the cage and one for the cool. Make sure they are easily accessible in case you need to get your snake out while it is in the hide box.
Your water bowl should be placed on the opposite side of your hot spot so that it does not evaporate quickly. Although if your snake likes a more humid environment and you don't mind changing the water bowl often this is a good way to up the humidity.
Two hide boxes that are large enough for the snake to curl up inside should be used. One for the warm end of the cage and one for the cool. Make sure they are easily accessible in case you need to get your snake out while it is in the hide box.
Snake Bowls, Hides and Heat Pads at Amazon
Zoo Med Small Repti-Therm UTH Under Tank Heater Small
Amazon Price: $13.20 (as of 07/06/2009)
Fluker's Critter Cavern-large
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Zoo Med Repti Ramp Bowl Large
Amazon Price: $13.54 (as of 07/06/2009)
Step Five: Add Decorations and Thermometers
It is a good idea to have two thermometers, one for the cool side and one for the hot side. Add these after you have your heat pad plugged in but before you add your snake to it's new home. Wait to add your snake until you determine that the warm side of the cage is at the correct temperature so that you don't overheat your pet or leave it in the cold with inadequate heat.
If the warm spot is too hot you can tone it down by adding a dimmer switch, the same type that you would use for a lamp. If it is too cold, you may want to consider getting a larger heat pad or moving the cage into a warmer part of the house.
Decorations are totally a personal preference but some considerations that you need to make for the snake include the safety of the decorations that you choose. Don't use anything harmful, if you are unsure keep it out. Also, make sure that you position all decorations so that there's no possiblity to crush your snake or allow a gap in the cage opening.
Plastic or silk plants look great and are easy to clean. Rocks, hollow logs and branches are also great choices but wood will be harder to keep clean.
If the warm spot is too hot you can tone it down by adding a dimmer switch, the same type that you would use for a lamp. If it is too cold, you may want to consider getting a larger heat pad or moving the cage into a warmer part of the house.
Decorations are totally a personal preference but some considerations that you need to make for the snake include the safety of the decorations that you choose. Don't use anything harmful, if you are unsure keep it out. Also, make sure that you position all decorations so that there's no possiblity to crush your snake or allow a gap in the cage opening.
Plastic or silk plants look great and are easy to clean. Rocks, hollow logs and branches are also great choices but wood will be harder to keep clean.
Thermometers and Decorations
Fluker's Digital Thermometer / Hygrometer
Amazon Price: $18.52 (as of 07/06/2009)
Zoo Med Dual Thermometer and Humidity Gauge for Reptiles
Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 07/06/2009)
Fluker's Iguana Branch ¿ Large
Amazon Price: $26.98 (as of 07/06/2009)
Fluker's Repta Vines-English Ivy
Amazon Price: $9.82 (as of 07/06/2009)
Zoo Med Forest Furniture Decorator Pack Small
Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 07/06/2009)
Step Six: Add Your Pet to it's New Home, Enjoying and Maintaining
It's time to let your snake explore it's new home. It can be a good idea to place the snake in it's hide box and let it come out and explore when it feels comfortable. Let them get used to their new surroundings for a couple days before disturbing your new pet too much.Snakes don't require as much maintenance as some other pets. They don't eat every day so they don't go to the bathroom every day either! Don't forget to keep fresh water available at all times and clean the water bowl frequently. Wash the decorations as needed and don't forget to change the substrate.
Enjoy your new pet! Snakes are a pleasure to keep and once you get your first and realize the beauty and ease of care for these animals it can be hard to stop at just one.
Recommended Cleaning Products
Jurassipet Jurassi - clean 250ml
Amazon Price: $7.41 (as of 07/06/2009)
PET ORGANICS NALA BARRY LABS REP-CLEAN SPRAY TERRARIUM CLEANER FOR REPTILES 16OZ
Amazon Price: $8.48 (as of 07/06/2009)
Fluker`s Extra Strength Hand Cleaner / Sanitizer (8 oz.)
Amazon Price: $4.35 (as of 07/06/2009)
How to Set Up a Snake Cage Videos
How to Set Up a Snake Cage : How to Choose the Right Size Snake Cage
Runtime: 2:31
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10 Comments:
Comments? Questions?
If you have any questions or comments about setting up a snake cage give us a shout!
Mortira wrote...
This is a great lens! Snakes really do need expertly crafted homes, because they will figure out how to escape if they can. Once they learn to open a door or hatch, they'll never forget it! Thanks for the great information - 5 stars!
Posted September 07, 2008
teddarling wrote...
Nice thorough explanation of setting up a snake cage. I think this lens would be a great addition to the only snakes group. You can join the group at http://www.squidoo.com/groups/onlysnakes.
Thanks for providing so much detail in your explanation.
Posted August 31, 2008
by RoundTrip
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