Maize snake.

Have you decided to get a snake? But do you have any experience in keeping such animals, and in principle reptiles? Then embodying your love for creeping is best to start with a maize snake. This is a medium-sized (up to 1,5 m), good-natured and fairly easy-to-keep snake. And from more than 100 colors (morphs), you will definitely find a pet “to your color and taste.”

The maize snake is originally from the United States and Mexico, but through simple breeding in captivity has spread throughout the world as a pet. This snake is well suited for home keeping, it is not shy, it is quite active and, due to its friendly disposition, almost does not bite.

In nature, the snake is nocturnal. He hunts on the ground in the forest zone, among the rocks and stones. But do not mind climbing trees and shrubs. Based on his natural preferences, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for him in the terrarium. With good maintenance, the maize snake can live up to 10 years.

To begin with, of course, you need a horizontal type terrarium. For one individual, a dwelling measuring 70 × 40×40 is quite suitable. It is better to keep them one by one, if you decide to keep them in groups, then the optimal neighborhood is one male and 1-2 females. But feeding at the same time should be separate for each snake. And accordingly, the more snakes, the more spacious the terrarium is needed. The lid must have a reliable lock, the snake is a good burglar and will definitely try it for strength and can go traveling around the apartment.

In the terrarium, you can place branches and snags, along which the snake will crawl with pleasure. And in order for her to have somewhere to retire and stay away from prying eyes, it’s also a good idea to install a shelter that is spacious enough so that the snake fits completely in it, and when folded, does not rest against the walls with its sides.

Snakes, like all reptiles, are cold-blooded animals, so they are dependent on external heat sources. For normal digestion, metabolism and health, it is necessary to create a temperature gradient in the terrarium so that the snake can (when it needs it) warm up or cool down. A thermal mat or thermal cord is best suited for these purposes. It is located in one half of the terrarium, under the substrate. At the point of maximum heating, the temperature should be 30–32 degrees, the background gradient is -26–28. Night temperature can be 21-25.

As a soil, you can use shavings, bark, paper. When using shavings or sawdust, it is better to feed the snake in a jig so that it does not swallow the soil along with the food. Injury to the oral cavity can lead to stomatitis.

Humidity must be maintained at 50–60%. This is achieved by spraying and installing a drinking bowl. The snake willingly takes baths, but it is necessary that the water be warm (about 32 degrees). Humidity provides snakes with normal molting. In the process of growth, the old skin becomes too small for the snake, and the snake throws it off. In good conditions, a healthy snake skin is removed with a whole “stocking”. For these purposes, it is good to install a wet chamber – a tray with sphagnum. Moss should not be wet, but damp. During the molt (which takes about 1-2 weeks) it is best to leave the snake alone.

Since the maize snake is a nocturnal predator, it does not need an ultraviolet lamp. But it is still advisable to turn on an ultraviolet lamp (a lamp with a UVB level of 5.0 or 8.0 is quite suitable). Light day should be about 12 hours.

It is better to feed the snake in the morning or evening hours. Mice of the appropriate size are suitable as food (small snakes can be fed with newborn mice, as the snake grows, the size of the prey can be increased), other small rodents, chickens. Prey in width should not be more than the width of the snake’s head. The food can be either live (it will be pleasant for the snake to realize itself as a hunter) or defrosted. They feed young snakes every 3-5 days, adults every 10-14. During the molting period, it is better to refrain from feeding.

It is important to ensure that live prey does not injure your pet with teeth and claws.

Although live food is a completely balanced diet, it is still necessary to give the snake vitamin and mineral supplements from time to time. You can not feed the snake with fish, meat, milk. Usually the maize snake has an excellent appetite, if your snake does not eat, regurgitates the eaten food, or there are molting disorders and other alarming problems, this is a reason to check the conditions in which the snake is kept and consult a herpetologist.

If you decide to breed snakes, arrange wintering for them, then you must first carefully read the nuances in the specialized literature.

So.

It is necessary:

1. Horizontal terrarium, approximately 70x40x40 for one individual, preferably with snags, branches and shelter.
2. Heating with a thermal mat or thermal cord with a temperature gradient (30–32 at the heating point, background 26–28)
3. Soil: shavings, bark, paper.
4. Humidity 50–60%. The presence of a drinking bowl-reservoir. Wet chamber.
5. Feeding with natural food (live or thawed).
6. Periodically give mineral and vitamin supplements for reptiles.

You can not:

1. Keep several individuals of different sizes. Feed several snakes together.
2. Keep snakes unheated. Use hot stones for heating.
3. Keep without a reservoir, a damp chamber in conditions of low humidity.
4. Use dusty soil as a substrate.
5. Feed snakes meat, fish, milk.
6. Disturb the snake during molting and after feeding.