Pythons & boas

IBD (inclusion body disease)

SignsHead arched back (stargazing), body twisting, unable to right itself from upside down, repeated regurgitation, chronic weight loss

PreventionNo treatment; fatal. Quarantine new snakes for six months, treat for mites, keep separate equipment per snake. Test if suspected

Respiratory infection

SignsOpen-mouth breathing, bubbles at the nostrils, strings of mucus from the mouth, head held up, wheezing sounds

PreventionAvoid night-time chills and condensation; keep the warm side at 30–32°C. Ensure ventilation in large enclosures. See a vet early if anything is abnormal

Regurgitation of large meals

SignsVomits half-digested prey 2–7 days after feeding, foul odor, lethargic after vomiting, ongoing loss of appetite

PreventionPrey no thicker than the widest part of the body. Do not handle for 48 hours after feeding; keep the warm side at 30°C or above. After a regurgitation, wait two weeks

Mouth rot (stomatitis)

SignsYellow-white cheesy pus on the gums, mouth will not close, swollen jaw, drooling, loss of interest in food

PreventionPrevent snout injuries from striking the enclosure. Thaw frozen prey completely and warm it. Avoid cold and unsanitary conditions

Snake mites

SignsBlack specks between the scales, raised eye rims, soaking in water constantly, restless rubbing of the body

PreventionQuarantine new snakes; heat-treat any driftwood brought in. In multi-snake households, treat all snakes at the same time. Mites also transmit IBD

Retained shed / scale ulcers

SignsShed comes off in pieces, layers of skin constricting the tail tip, blisters or red ulcers on the belly scales

PreventionRaise humidity to 60–70% before shedding and provide a water bowl the snake can soak in. Avoid overly damp substrate and leaving waste uncleaned

Thermal burns from heaters

PreventionAlways connect heat mats to a thermostat. Lay a thick layer of substrate between heater and body. Cover bulbs with a metal guard

First aidDo not cool the area; rinse with room-temperature water. Whitening or blisters on the belly mean a deep burn; see a vet the same day rather than waiting for a shed

Bite wounds from prey

PreventionDo not feed live rodents or rabbits. Offer thawed frozen prey with tongs and remove uneaten prey the next morning

First aidPress bleeding with clean gauze. Infection and swelling under the scales appear days later, so see a vet for antimicrobial treatment

Snout abrasions

PreventionPrevent striking at clear walls. Put a visual barrier on the front of the enclosure and use fine-mesh screening for escape prevention

First aidIf the snout scales are rubbed off and red, keep clean; if swelling or pus appears, it can progress to mouth rot, so see a vet

Spinal and rib injuries

PreventionSupport at least one-third of the body at once when lifting; never dangle by the tail. Prevent falls from high shelves

First aidIf part of the body will not move or there is swelling, do not move it; place in a large box and see a vet the same day. Do not force it straight

Salmonellosis

RouteOral infection from hands that touched feces, skin or enclosure water

PreventionAlways wash hands with soap after handling. Do not wash equipment in the kitchen. Young children and the elderly should avoid contact

Bacterial infection of bite wounds

RouteOral bacteria enter the bite wound

PreventionLarge-species teeth penetrate deeply. Rinse under running water; if teeth remain or swelling develops, see a doctor

Snake mite bites

RouteMites on the snake bite human skin

PreventionIf mites appear, handle with gloves and change clothes. Clean around the enclosure and complete the treatment

Parasites (wild-caught animals)

RouteOral ingestion of parasite eggs in feces

PreventionHave new snakes fecal-tested. Seal feces for disposal; wear gloves and a mask when cleaning

Food

• Thawed frozen rats, rabbits, chickens. Thaw completely and warm to about body temperature
• Adults: once every 2–4 weeks. Prey no thicker than the widest part of the body
• Feed at night with tongs or forceps. Never offer by hand

Water

• Fresh water daily in a heavy bowl large enough to soak in
• Replace immediately if fouled by waste. Watch for mites in the water bowl too

Toys & play

• Thick driftwood or resin branches (must be anchored to bear its weight)
• Provide a large floor area for night-time exploration
• No toys needed. Excessive handling is stressful

Nest, bed & hideout

• Sturdy hides that fit the whole body on both the warm and cool sides
• A wet hide with damp sphagnum moss for the shedding period

Bedding & litter

• Paper towels or newspaper (easy to clean, prevents burns)
• Aspen shavings or coconut husk (watch for excess dampness)
• Waste is large and about weekly. Replace all substrate the same day

Cage / housing material

Purpose-built wooden or resin enclosure. Front glass should be thick and lockable

Size & space

Width at least two-thirds of total length, depth at least one-third. For 3 m species, width 2 m or more

Layout

• Heater on the warm side, water bowl on the cool side to create a temperature gradient
• Side-opening, lockable doors. Mesh on top for ventilation
• Fix heaters and lights where the body cannot touch them

Placement notes

• For Specified Animals, the cage structure is set by permit standards and changes must be reported
• Double-close room doors and windows so an escapee cannot get outside

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• No walks needed. Moving around the enclosure is enough
• Handle with two or more people, 15 minutes or less per session, and not within 48 hours of feeding
• Do not take it outdoors. An escape means mandatory reporting and a public capture incident

Temperature & humidity

TemperatureWarm side 30–32°C, cool side 26–28°C. Do not let it drop below 24°C even at night

Humidity60–70%; 70–80% during shedding. Avoid condensation and stuffiness

Summer & winter

• Summer: heatstroke if the room exceeds 35°C. Control the whole room with air conditioning
• Winter: keep hand warmers and blankets ready for power outages. Prolonged temperatures below 20°C cause respiratory disease

Nail trimming

No claws. Instead, check the shed skin afterward and always confirm the eye caps and tail tip have come off

Brushing, skin & coat care

Not needed. Check monthly for mites between the scales and blisters on the belly, and record the weight

Other care

For a retained shed, soak in warm water (about 30°C, 10 minutes) then gently rub with a damp towel. Never peel off the eye caps yourself

Protection from predators

• If a cat or dog approaches, a bite-back injures both badly. Keep them in separate rooms
• Do not house with other snakes. Causes cannibalism and IBD transmission
• Manage strictly so it is not stepped on or caught in a door when out on the floor

Foreign-body ingestion

Easily swallows substrate with prey. Feed on paper or in a container outside the enclosure. If no stool passes after feeding and the body swells, suspect blockage and see a vet

Being stepped on

Family members have tripped and fallen onto large snakes let out on the floor. When it is out, inform everyone and keep it out of walkways

Getting pinched

Bodies get caught in enclosure sliding doors or room doors. Check the whole body is inside before closing. If pinched, see a vet even without swelling

Falls

Falls from a shelf-top enclosure or from being carried injure the spine. Place the enclosure near the floor and support at least one-third of the body when lifting

Escape

Double-check locks and that doors are closed. If a Specified Animal escapes, reporting to police and local government is mandatory and immediate. For non-designated species, still notify neighbors and police and search

Safe release procedure

1. Unwind the coils starting from the head end, not the tail
2. A few drops of strong alcohol or disinfectant at the mouth makes it release
3. If it is around the neck, free the neck first and secure the airway
4. Once released, return the snake to its enclosure and lock it before treating the wound

After the release

Rinse under running water and apply pressure. If teeth remain, bleeding will not stop or swelling develops, see a doctor. Always see a doctor for bites from large species

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, total length, weight, last feeding date and prey size, temperature and humidity, last shed date, whether housed with others. For large snakes, phone ahead to confirm they can be seen

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Watch for tongue flicking and response to touch
• Breathing is slow, only a few times per minute; check for slight movement of the flanks
• The heart is on the belly side about one-third of the way back; feel for a beat with a finger

Stopping bleeding

• Press with clean gauze for at least 5 minutes. Blood pools easily under the scales
• Do not use styptics or human medicines
• Bleeding from the mouth or cloaca suggests internal injury; see a vet immediately

Transport

• Place in a cloth bag, tie the opening, and carry in a rigid box
• Attach hand warmers to the outside of the box to keep 25–28°C; never in direct contact