SNAKE MANAGEMENT
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Transcript of SNAKE MANAGEMENT
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SNAKE MANAGEMENT
March 27, 2012Michelle Rutz-Mendicino
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SNAKES Habitats - desert to marshes Diets - ovivorous, carnivorous,
insectivorous Temperature requirements -
widely varied and species dependent
Bottom line - do your homework
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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
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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
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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
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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
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SNAKE CARE Handling
Hook - best Tong - harmful
to snake Sack/Bag Exit can - for
dumping snake from sack
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Snake Taxonomy
Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes
Distinguished from legless lizards No eyelids No external ears
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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
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World Record Snake
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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SNAKE CARE Temperament
Species dependent Ball pythons to reticulated pythons
More anxious when shedding and feeding
Other characteristics Musking Constricting
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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
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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
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SNAKE CARE Sexing - copperhead
hemipenes
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SNAKE CARE Sexing
Size of snake Length of tail from cloaca Hemipenis “cloacal pop”
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Sexing: Appearance of Snake Unreliable in most species:
Leaf-nosed snake of Madagascar
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Visually sexing Snakes
Female tailshorter, stubbier
Male taillonger, slimmer
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SNAKE CARE Sexing
“cloacal pop” Only used in
young snakes No defined age
Harder on older snakes
Depends on size of snake
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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
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snake hemipenes
Ball Python Burmese Python
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SNAKE CARE Sexing by probing
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Female Mexican Hognose snake
- Note the lack of hemipenes
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Probes for sexing snakes
Vary in length Vary in diameter
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Probes for sexing Snakes
Gently insert into cloaca Probe in a posterior direction
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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
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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
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Restraint of Snakes
Graduated clear plastic tubes Varying size, length and diameter Safely hold snakes without
damaging or traumatizing spine
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SNAKE CARE Public health
Venomous snakes Introduction of invasive species Cage must be locked Responsible for bites
Salmonella
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Venomous (“Hot”) Snakes AVOID Cage must be locked Owner is responsible for ANY
accidents Generally, a permit is required
State laws
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Salmonella High proportion of reptiles
contaminated with Salmonella Reptiles are NOT appropriate for
small children or the elderly Lizards Turtles Snakes All others
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