How to care for your pet snake

We recommend bringing your newly acquired snake in for a health check before taking it home, followed by annual check-ups thereafter.

These visits help ensure proper feeding, husbandry, and early detection of health issues. During the consultation, your vet will perform a full physical examination looking for any outward signs of disease.

Additional diagnostic tests may be offered, including:

• Faecal Examination – Helps detect internal parasites. If possible, bring a fresh sample to your appointment.
• Blood Tests – Used to assess overall health and identify any abnormalities.
• Imaging – X-rays or ultrasound may be recommended for deeper insights.

You’ll also be asked questions about your snake’s background and care, such as:

• Origin (breeder, pet shop)
• Housing setup (aquarium, desert, arboreal, etc.)
• Cohabitation with other snakes and any recent additions
• Quarantine procedures
• Substrate type (e.g. sand, wood chips)
• Environmental conditions (temperature gradients, lighting type and brand)
• Water sources (drinking and soaking)
• Diet (type, frequency, live or frozen prey)
• Shedding history

Preparing this information in advance will help your vet provide the best possible care.

Snake nutrition varies significantly by species, so it’s important to understand your snake’s specific dietary needs.

Feeding frequency is crucial:

• Juveniles may need feeding every 2–3 days.
• Small to medium adults typically eat once a week.
• Large species may only require feeding 4–5 times per year.
• Overfeeding is a common issue in captivity, so always consult your vet about appropriate feeding schedules.

Some snakes may require dietary supplements (e.g. calcium, vitamin D3), but these should only be used under veterinary guidance to avoid harmful overdoses.

Food items must be:

• Species-appropriate
• High-quality
• Free from disease

We generally advise against feeding live prey due to the risk of injury to your snake and ethical concerns regarding prey welfare.

Husbandry refers to the overall care and environment you provide for your snake. This includes housing, substrate, hides, heating, lighting, and humidity.

With over 3,000 snake species, each has unique requirements. If you’re unsure of your snake’s species, our Surrey snake vet can help identify it during your consultation.

Common husbandry concerns include:

• Housing – Understand your snake’s natural habitat (arboreal, desert, aquatic, etc.) and replicate it as closely as possible.
• Substrate – Choose bedding that is safe and non-toxic. Avoid materials that may be ingested and cause blockages.
• Hides – Snakes need multiple hiding spots in areas with appropriate temperature and humidity. Lack of hiding options can lead to stress and illness.
• Heating – As ectotherms, snakes rely on external heat sources. Provide a temperature gradient (POTZ – Preferred Optimum Temperature Zone) so your snake can regulate its body temperature.
• Lighting – Diurnal species require full-spectrum UV lighting (UVA and UVB) for vision and calcium metabolism. Replace bulbs every 6 months and monitor UV output with a UV meter. We can test your bulb during your visit.
• Humidity – Match humidity levels to your snake’s natural environment. Incorrect humidity can affect hydration, shedding, and skin health.

Read our article about reptile enrichment.

The husbandry your snake receives is affected by their sex, so it’s important to know your snake’s gender. It can also determine what certain disease processes he/she is susceptible to (for example female snakes developing follicular stasis or egg binding).

At our vet practice in Molesey, we can usually determine the sex of your pet snake fairly easily.

Our specially trained snake vets can safely, cleanly and effectively determine sex using a technique called probing. A metal probe is inserted in the vent (the hole through which poop is passed) and by doing this your vet will be able to determine whether you have a boy or a girl. This process doesn’t need to take place under anaesthetics, and can be completed whilst you wait.

If your snake becomes ill, hospitalisation may be necessary for diagnostics or treatment.

Our dedicated exotics ward – known as the “hot ward” – is designed to replicate optimal environmental conditions for snakes, supporting recovery and comfort.

During their stay, your snake will be closely monitored, and treatments will be administered by our experienced veterinary nursing team.

We stock a wide range of food items, but if your snake has specific dietary preferences, you may be asked to bring food from home.

Yes – snakes can become overweight!

Obesity is common in captive snakes due to overfeeding or inappropriate diets. Our snake vets in Molesey, Surrey, can help assess your snake’s Body Condition Score (BCS), which evaluates weight, fat distribution, and muscle tone.

Regular weighing and measuring are recommended to track your snake’s health and prevent obesity-related issues.