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Snakes

Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Wikipedia

Eats: Birds, Lizards, Frogs, Insects, Squirrel, Rat, Snake

Speed: Sidewinder: 29 km/h

Collective noun: ball, nest, slither Wikimedia Foundation

Term for young: snakelet Wikimedia Foundation

Scientific name: Serpentes

Class: Reptilia

About

Snakes are legless, carnivorous reptiles found on every continent except Antarctica, characterized by their long, scaly bodies. They have flexible skulls that allow them to swallow prey larger than their heads and use their forked tongues to "smell" their surroundings. While many snakes are harmless, a small percentage are venomous, though most species prefer to avoid confrontation.

Meet The Snakes

Ball Python

Ball pythons are a very commonly kept pet snake originally from Africa. In the UK they are usually called royal pythons following the species name Python regius. In America they are more commonly referred to a ball pythons as they tend to curl up into a ball when threatened.

The natural colour and pattern for this species are shades of brown in blotches running the full length of the snake. The head is typically quite small compared to the girth of body of the snake at its thickest point. Ball pythons have a relatively thin neck which gradually widens out to a bulky body. As they have been bred in captivity for decades now, many colour and pattern changes have been selectively bred out of the species. The royal python probably has the most colour and pattern 'morphs' of any snake in captivity ranging from pure white to almost black with anything from straight patterns, stripes, curved blotches or no pattern at all.

Ball pythons are widely distributed across many countries along the central band of the African continent but in each country they can typically be found in grasslands, savannas and wooded areas.

The Rat Snake

Rat snakes are a diverse group of non-venomous, medium to large constrictor snakes from the family Colubridae, found worldwide in places like North America, Europe, and Asia. They are beneficial to ecosystems because they primarily eat rodents, and some species are also called "chicken snakes" for raiding poultry yards for eggs and chicks. Though harmless to humans, they can bite if threatened, and in defense, they may vibrate their tail, secrete a foul-smelling liquid, or strike. They are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend time both on the ground and in trees, and are adept at climbing to hunt and hide.

Characteristics

Appearance: Rat snakes vary in color and pattern depending on the species, including black, yellow, gray, red, brown, and orange. They have smooth scales and round pupils, which are distinct features of nonvenomous snakes.
Size: Adults typically range from 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters), though some can grow much larger, up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) or more.

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Western Hognose Snake

Our Hognose Snake care sheet has all the expert guidance you need to ensure you can effectively look after your Hognose Snake.

The hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)is one the most popular reptiles kept in captivity, they are relatively easy to care for, but are classed as an intermediate species due to being rear fanged snake which can cause a reaction (similar to a bee sting) if bitten. Females can reach 4ft in length, males are often a little smaller.

They can live for as long as 20 years in captivity so a commitment to their long-term care is important when deciding to own this reptile.

Kenyan Sand Boa

A Kenyan sand boa is a small, burrowing snake native to Northern and Eastern Africa that spends most of its life hidden underground. These snakes are known for their manageable size, docile temperament, and adaptations for a life in sandy soil, such as eyes and nostrils positioned on top of the head to allow them to see and breathe while buried.

Physical characteristics

Size: They are one of the smallest boa species, with females typically growing larger than males. Average size is about 1-2 feet, but some exceptional females can reach up to 3 feet.
Body: They have a thick, "worm-like" body and a small, wedge-shaped head that helps them burrow through sand.
Color: Their coloration is typically orange or yellow with darker blotches, though other patterns exist.
Scales: They have smooth scales to protect their skin from fine sand, and larger, rougher scales on their tail to provide traction for burrowing.

Behavior and habitat

Habitat: They live in arid and semi-arid environments in Eastern Africa, such as semi-deserts and scrublands with loose, sandy soil.
Behavior: They are fossorial, meaning they spend most of their time burrowed under the sand, with only their eyes and nostrils showing. They are ambush predators that hunt small rodents, lizards, and birds.
Activity: They are primarily nocturnal but may also be active during the day for basking or hunting.

As pets

Temperament: They are known for being docile and calm, making them a popular choice for a pet snake.
Care: They are considered easy to care for and hardy snakes, with a long lifespan of up to 30 years in captivity.

The Milk Snake

The milk snake or milksnake, is a species of kingsnake; there were once up to 24 subspecies recognized, however less are officially recognized today. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as a 25th subspecies, but is now recognized as a distinct species.

The King Snake

Kingsnakes are colubrid New World members of the genus Lampropeltis, which includes 26 species. Among these, about 45 subspecies are recognized. They are nonvenomous and ophiophagous in diet.

Corn Snake

Corn snakes originate from North America and live in a variety of habitats from forests to rocky regions. They are commonly found in human-inhabited areas near homes or in barns, and it was their presence in cornfields in America that gave them their name.

Corn snakes live terrestrially (on the ground,) although they are able to climb through lower vegetation and branches. In nature they spend their days travelling through leaf litter and undergrowth, seeking basking opportunity, mates or prey items. Corns are diurnal in their activity so will mainly travel during the day, especially when the sun is at its warmest.

An inquisitive, active species, it’s recommended that a variety of vivarium decoration is used like branches, plants and ornaments. It’s also beneficial to change the position of the décor occasionally to re-stimulate your snake’s curiosity.

Hides should be provided to allow cover for your snake both in the hot and cool areas in the vivarium. Substrate can also encourage the natural behaviours of burrowing so it is recommended that a loose substrate such as orchid bark is used as well as additional leaf litter. Ensure that your substrate isn't too dusty as some feel this could contribute towards respiratory infection.

Boa Constrictor

The Common Boa is a large species of snake originating from Central and South America. They inhabit forest habitats and take on a semi-arboreal lifestyle - more so when they are young and diminishing with age and size. They can often be found amongst trees and vegetation as well as taking refuge in tree hollows or abandoned mammal burrows.

Though normally nocturnal/crepuscular, they can additionally be found taking advantage of daytime basking and feeding opportunities. They are typically a grey-tan in the majority of body colour with brown - burgundy patterns. Their tails are more prominent in colour and display more vivid yellow shades with red patterns outlined in black. In 'red-tail' boas, this feature is even more vivid, though commons are still an attractive species.

Did You Know Hognose Snakes Are Venomous?

Western hognose snakes are considered mildly venomous to humans, possessing toxic saliva delivered through rear fangs, which causes symptoms like swelling, blistering, and discoloration. The venom is not considered medically significant and is not a threat to human life, but the effects can be unpleasant and long-lasting, ranging from a few days to several months in some cases. Bites are uncommon and typically occur when a person has prey odor on their hands, leading the snake to mistake their finger for food.

Venom and delivery

Toxic saliva: Hognose snakes have mildly toxic saliva, which is more effective against their primary prey, such as amphibians, than against humans.
Rear fangs: They are rear-fanged snakes, meaning their teeth are in the back of the mouth. They have a groove on these teeth to help channel the saliva.
Chewing: Unlike front-fanged snakes, they must chew their prey to effectively inject their saliva.

Symptoms of a bite

Edema (swelling)
Erythema (redness)
Blister formation
Ecchymoses (discoloration)
Pain and stiffness
In rare cases, long-lasting symptoms have been reported.

What to do after a bite

Wash the area with soap and water.
Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe or unusual.
Keep the wound clean and dry.
Monitor for signs of secondary infection.

Important considerations

Food odor: A bite is more likely to happen if the snake's mouth smells prey, so it is important to wash your hands before handling them.
Not aggressive: Western hognose snakes are generally mild-mannered and defensive rather than aggressive, so they are unlikely to bite unless provoked.
Not deadly: There are no reported deaths from western hognose snake bites in humans

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