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This species can be housed with other snakes of the same species, but this is not recommended. These snakes have an aggressive feeding response and in some instances may eat or harm each other during feeding times. Male and female snakes should be housed separately because when housed together the snakes will breed all year round, without getting enough rest.
What humidity levels do African house snakes need?
African house snakes are often kept as pets and can live for 10 to 15 years in captivity. In the wild, their lifespan is shorter, and they typically only live for 5 to 7 years. Heat pads should be placed underneath the enclosure and can be controlled to maintain a specific temperature. African house snakes are a species of nonvenomous snake that is native to Africa. They are commonly kept as pets, and are one of the most popular snake species among snake enthusiasts. The article will cover the topics of food, water, habitat, and handling for African house snakes.
Enclosure maintenance
However, juveniles can be a bit skittish and nippy so you will need to work with them. This calm temperament makes them a great species to handle as they are typically very relaxed and enjoy time out of their enclosure. As the African House Snake has a large distribution, they can tolerate a larger temperature range than some other species. A hatchling African House Snake can be fed a pinkie mouse every 5-7 days. Occasionally, a shed may not come off completely, resulting in a condition known as stuck shed. If you notice any stuck shed on your African house snake, it is important to address it promptly to prevent any complications.
Addressing common health issues
With that being said, it’s always important to do your homework and get familiar with the core requirements of these snakes. This snake has a pretty nice disposition and is fairly easy to care for. This is why the African house snake makes a nice starter snake for people with little to no previous pet snake experience. Wild-caught snakes might carry disease and illness and are more nervous in captivity.
Feeding
UVB is blocked by glass and plastic, so you can’t give your snake UVB by placing its terrarium in front of an open window. Also make sure that the fixture your UVB bulb is in does not have a clear plastic bulb cover. They can survive without it, but it’s still best practice to provide UVB lighting for optimal health and wellbeing. UVB gives snakes all of the vitamin D that their bodies need, stimulates better appetite and activity, and generally allows them to be healthier than they would be without. However, snakes that bask during the day may still benefit from UV radiation so you can certainly use it in your enclosure if you wish.
African House Snake Setup and Care
The enclosure should also contain suitable hides and nesting spots for the female snake to deposit her eggs. This can be achieved by misting the enclosure with water or using a reptile fogger or humidifier. It is important to monitor the humidity levels regularly to prevent any issues such as respiratory problems or difficulties with shedding. There are numerous ways to enhance the environment of your African house snake’s enclosure.
African House Snake as Pets
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Always check your snake to see if it has already peeled off all of its skin. As soon as you have seen that it has shed all of its old skin, remove the skin to prevent any infections. Most of these snakes may shed maybe once every 2 to 4 months depending on the rate of their growth. African House Snakes are like any other snake in the sense that they will continue to grow as they age. Due to that, they would need to shed their old skin to grow a new one that fits their growing bodies. Give it a fuzzy mouse every 5 to 6 days but you can increase the portion size if you have a bigger and older African House Snake.
Cleaning
It would be perfectly normal for temperatures to drop maybe about 5 degrees during winter. This will lead to a bit of inactivity on the part of your African House Snake due to the reduced light cycle and the changes in the temperature. But, as long as the temperatures don’t drop too low, it won’t end up hibernating. It is not common for Brown House Snakes to hibernate in the wild because they don’t live in areas that experience winters frequently.
Maintaining overall cleanliness in your snake’s enclosure is crucial for its health and well-being. Regularly check and clean the water dish, remove shed skin, and ensure that all surfaces and items in the enclosure are free from dirt or debris. A clean environment promotes good hygiene and minimizes the risk of infections or health issues. Males are smaller than females and seldom grow longer than 2.5 ft (76 cm).
Spot clean as frequently as you can, ideally every day, by taking out the snake’s shed of feces, food scraps, and skin. To induce a decline in heat to simulate the overnight temperatures in the wild, turn off the basking lamp for 12 hours at night. To stop the snake from accessing the bulbs and injuring itself, place them outside the enclosure. The African house snake is a medium-sized, non-venomous snake with light stripes or spots all over its body. The snake is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa and typically lives close to settlements. African house snakes need a daytime temperature between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a nighttime temperature drop of degrees.
Always choose a reptile-safe disinfectant and follow the instructions provided. Avoid using products with strong chemical odors as they can be harmful to your snake. It is important to rinse the enclosure thoroughly after disinfection to remove any trace of the disinfectant. Snakes shed their skin periodically to accommodate their increasing size.
African House Snakes need an environment that is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit on the cooler end of the enclosure. We’ve enjoyed these snakes for quite some time, and are glad to see more people showing interest. If you notice redness around the mouth, pus near the mouth or lots of mucus, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s mouth rot. This condition is treatable, so make sure to take your snake to the vet if you’re concerned.
Coloring is typically light brown to black with a pale stripe extending from the snout to the ear. If breeding is successful, the female African house snake will lay eggs that require proper incubation for successful hatching. The eggs should be carefully collected and transferred to a separate incubation container filled with a suitable incubation medium, such as vermiculite or perlite. Maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity levels during the incubation period is crucial for successful hatching.
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