Exo Terra Snake Starter Kit” Starter Kit: Snakes Included: Exo Terra Natural Terrarium Medium/Low (#PT2604) 60 x 45 x 30 cm/ 24" x 18" x 12" (wxDxH) Exo Terra Heat Mat 16W (#PT2017) Exo Terra Reptile Dome - 15 cm/6" (up to 75W) 48) Exo Terra Light Bracket (#PT2223) Exo Terra Reptile UVB100 - 13 W (# - PT2186) Exo Terra Moss Mat Medium - 60 x 45cm/24" x 18" (#PT2484) Exo Terra Water Dish Medium (#PT2802) Exo Terra Reptile Cave Large (#PT2853) Keepkeeping recommendations of grain snakes, milk snakes, kingsnakes and royal pythons are among the most popular snakes kept and bred in captivity. The many different colors and patterns, the moderate size of adult animals, the calm nature and the restrained biting behavior make these snakes attractive species for both beginners and advanced hobby herpetologists. Dwelling: The natural MEDIUM/LOW Exo Terra terrarium is ideal for grain snakes, milk snakes, kingsnakes and young royal pythons. Corn snakes can be kept together in pairs or small groups, but they need to be fed individually and separately. King snakes and milk snakes should be placed individually, as they have already eaten each other! To avoid stress or even a hunger strike, royal pythons are best kept individually. It is recommended to accommodate just hatched and young snakes of all types individually, as they grow at different rates and can develop stress from a “crowded” terrarium. Decoration: The Exo Terra Reptile Cave mimics the hiding places of Colubridae and royal python in the wild. It not only provides protection, but also provides a cooler and moist microclimate. Additional décor provides additional retreats and decorates the terrarium. Lighting: Colubridae and royal pythons are mostly dusk active, i.e. they are most active during dawn and dusk, but some are also active during the day. The Exo Terra Reptile UVB100 provides the best light spectrum for your snakes to experience and perceive the colors in their surroundings more naturally. Snakes need a 12-hour day-night cycle. Heat: In order for your colubridae and king pythons to thermoregulate their body temperature, you should create a temperature gradient during the day by heating approximately 1/3 of the floor on one side of the terrarium with the Exo Terra substrate heater (29 - 32°C*) and keeping 2/3 of the terrarium cooler (24 - 27°C). At night, the temperature should be between 21 - 24°C. * King python can be exposed to temperatures up to 35°C. Additional heating (such as the Exo Terra infrared spotlight, the night heat lamp, or the ceramic heater) may be necessary if the temperatures drop below the recommended range. Food: Colubridae and royal pythons are carnivores and eat mainly small rodents. In captivity, snakes are most often fed mice. Snakes should be fed with one mouse per week. Baby snakes should be fed with baby mice (pinkies). If your snake then grows, the size of the mice should also “grow” from pinkie to bacon, then jumpers and then to adult mice. As a rule of thumb for sizing, the diameter of the mouse should not be larger than one and a half times the diameter of the snake body at its thickest point. Adults or larger snakes may also need 2 adult mice or a rat of an appropriate size per feeding. To prevent injury to the snake, it is best to feed already dead, frozen or thawed mice. Make sure that the mice are completely thawed before feeding them. Leave your snake alone at least 24 - 48 hours after feeding, otherwise the digestive system may be disturbed and this could cause your snake to strangle the eating again. Water: Always provide your snake with fresh, clean drinking water in a medium size Exo Terra water bowl. Use Exo Terra Aquatize terrarium water conditioner to remove chlorine & chloramine from water and neutralize heavy metals in tap water.
