Scott - Colubrid Care

HAVE THE SNAKE'S CAGE SET UP BEFORE THEY GET THE SNAKE.

GET A CAGE THAT WILL BE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE SNAKE SPECIES THEY ARE GOING TO GET. (LENGTH/WIDTH RULE AS AN ADULT)

PLACE CAGE IN A LOW TRAFFIC AREA.

DON'T PLACE CAGE IN A PLACE WHERE IT WILL GET DIRECT SUNLIGHT THROUGH A WINDOW OR BE IN A DRAFT FROM HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING.

HAVE A SECURE TOP THAT WILL KEEP THE SNAKE IN AND OTHER PETS AND CHILDREN OUT.

MAKE SURE THE CAGE IS ADEQUATELY VENTILATED.

IF THE YEAR ROUND, AMBIENT ROOM TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 80 DEGREES, PROVIDE A HEAT SOURCE WHICH WILL ALLOW THE SNAKE TO THERMOREGULATE.

PROVIDE A WATER DISH HEAVY ENOUGH THAT THE SNAKE CAN'T TIP IT OVER.

SUBSTRATE (MY PREFERENCES): PAPER TOWELS, BUTCHER'S PAPER, NEWSPAPER.

UV LIGHTING IS NOT NECESSARY, BUT IT CAN BE USED.

IF SNAKE IS AN ARBOREAL SPECIES, A LIMB FOR CLIMBING.

DO NOT FURNISH THE CAGE WITH ANYTHING THAT CAN SLIDE ONTO OR FALL AND INJURE THE SNAKE.

HAVE A SOURCE PICKED OUT TO GET FOOD FOR SNAKE BEFORE YOU GET THE SNAKE.

FIRST TIME SNAKE OWNER:
1ST. CHOICE - CORN SNAKE, BUT NOT A JUNGLE CORN OR A BLOOD RED CORN.
2ND. CHOICE - BALL PYTHON (NORMAL)


Scott,
There's a lot more and much of it applies to most herps (basic herpetoculture/husbandry 101 stuff), but I'm tired of typing.
I have it all in an outline I use in my programs and I'll get you a copy.