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Snake enrichment

3.9K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Swindinian  
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask what others do for snake enrichment. I've seen puppy pens with all sorts to roam in. I am looking for ideas when we have our corn and BP out while chilling on our laps on the couch. We don't let them neat each other. We don't want to place them in a pen but would love to keep them stimulated while out with us.
 
#2 ·
OMG... if you wanted something to sit on your and interact then you should have gotten a cat or dog...

Adding branches, more hides, large water bowl to their normal enclosures will provide more enrichment. Snakes, baring a few species are by nature solitary animals that prefer not to be bothered by humans. They don't get anything out of being stoked or played with whilst you sit in front of the TV and watch Corry....
 
#3 ·
As long as you have plenty for the snake to climb on and explore in the vivarium, enrichment outside the vivarium is unnecessary. Tubes, branches, plants (fake or real), hides, etc are good for this. I'm not against handling snakes, but I do believe it's important to keep handling sessions short and watch very carefully for signs of stress. A couple of mine are very chill so I do like to sit with them for maybe 15 minutes at a time every now and then, all they get from it is a warm lap to sit on though, it isn't really enriching or something they would miss if I stopped. Also bear in mind it is quite cold now, unless your house is very warm it isn't a good idea to have reptiles out for extended periods of time.
 
#4 ·
Interesting subject!

As their primary sense is likely to be their sense of smell, identifying novel things for them to investigate is possibly a good form of enrichment.

Leaf litter, live plants, changing round decor, leaving meal scent trails, shed skins, switching on a fan, spraying down the enclosure, setting up additional enclosures, linked or separated, could all introduce novelty and stimulate them.

Both corns and royals can and will climb, so sky hides and branches, canopies to navigate over is good. My royals were a bit clumsy when I kept them decades ago, so I would consider this in how climbing items are provided.

I have seen enough experienced keepers to demonstrate that some free roaming or enclosed roaming can be successful to counter previous assertions, but agreed this needs to be considered to avoid unintended consequences; escapees, trapped, harmed, chilled etc.

I agree that I would not introduce a corn to a royal or vice versa, but I have found snakes take great interest if allowed to explore another occupant’s enclosures (same species).

Royal pythons tend to be active nocturnally, so you might be disrupting their sleeping cycle by taking out and having lap time. Unless you adopt a ‘fear free approach’ to handling and train them to come out onto you, the probability is they will passively tolerate, freeze, or try to flee your lap.
It would be an unlikely scenario for them to be content in your lap whilst seeking enrichment.

I enjoy watching Lori Torrini on YouTube, who currently focuses on snake behaviour (mostly pythons). Green Room pythons endorses some positive interactions with enrichment and free roaming. I don’t agree with all of his opinions but he is engaging and thought provoking.

If on Facebook, you could join advancing herpetological husbandry which have some great members and experiences to learn from.

Hope you find some useful ideas to progress with.