According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, enrichment gives animals a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise, as well as choice and control over how they spend their time.
Some small things we can do to provide enrichment to our pets include puzzle feeders that encourage animals to forage for food, climbing structures that enhance habitats, and training sessions where animals can interact with their owners.
7 Fun Snake Enrichment Ideas to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy
Snakes may seem low maintenance, but they still need mental stimulation just like any other pet. Providing enrichment is key to keeping captive snakes healthy and reducing stress. With a bit of creativity, you can turn your snake enclosure into an engaging playground.
Here are 7 fun and easy snake enrichment ideas to try
1. Climbing Branches
Snakes love to climb and explore heights. Add branches, vines ladders or nets to allow arboreal species like green tree pythons to exhibit natural climbing behaviors. Even terrestrial snakes like ball pythons enjoy climbing opportunities.
- Use safe, pesticide-free branches from your backyard
- Purchase bendable vines, ropes or nets from pet stores
- Lean branches against enclosure walls at an angle
- Affix hammocks or nets across the enclosure ceiling
2. Tunnels
Tunnels are endlessly fascinating for snakes. They can hide, explore and simulated burrowing behaviors.
- Use bendable PVC pipes or flexible dryer vent tubes
- Cut holes in cardboard boxes
- Bury sections of pipe under substrate for burrowing species
- Purchase multi-chambered plastic tunnel toys from pet stores
3. Plants
Fill the enclosure with fake foliage and plants for added enrichment. This stimulates their prey-hunting instinct and provides security.
- Silicone or suction cup plants to walls and decor
- Pile loose leaves and vines on the substrate
- Choose robust, realistic-looking silk plants
- Rotate plant accessories weekly
4. Hides
Hides are essential for security, but you can get creative with hide shapes and materials for added enrichment.
- Hollow cork, logs or coconut shells
- Ceramic pots, reptile caves, cardboard boxes
- Decor items like skull, dinosaur, castle or space-themed hides
- Rock and cave formations made from foam or plastic
5. Substrate
Substrate options like cypress mulch and coconut fiber allow snakes to burrow or search for buried treasures.
- Bury feeder insects or treats under substrate
- Add layered substrate with leaf litter on top
- Use textured substrates like bark chips or moss
- Provide at least 6 inches of substrate for avid burrowers
6. Scent Stimulation
Snakes rely heavily on scent cues. Rotate novel, safe scents to engage their curiosity.
- Drop extracts (vanilla, almond, anise) on paper towels
- Rub toys with rodent bedding or fur
- Apply spray scents made for reptile enrichment
- Place cut branches, pinecones or leaves from outdoors
- Limit scent swaps to once a week
7. Enrichment Feedings
Make mealtimes more interesting by making snakes “hunt” for food rather than just placing it in the enclosure.
- Place feeder rodent in a paper bag
- Wedge prey in tree bark or under leaves
- Put feeder insects in plastic balls with holes
- Create scent trails with rodent bedding leading to the prey
- Ensure regular successful feedings before enrichment
Other Tips for Snake Enrichment
- Rotate new accessories and rearrange enclosure layout weekly
- Place food dish on platforms or in boxes to encourage movement
- Provide appropriate lighting and heating for full enclosure use
- Perform enrichment activities when snakes are alert and active
- Monitor snake stress levels and remove accessories if needed
- Add accessories gradually to allow snakes to adjust
Providing an interesting environment keeps pet snakes mentally and physically stimulated. Aim to swap out at least 1-2 accessories or enrichment elements weekly. Observe your snake’s interactions and adjust as needed.
With a little creativity, you can turn any snake enclosure into an engaging habitat that showcases your pet’s natural behaviors! Consult your vet for any health or special needs concerns.
Promoting Natural Behaviors In The Wild
We can provide enrichment methods that promote natural behaviors such as digging by providing species appropriate loose substrates. Most snakes have the ability to burrow as that is typically how most eggs are laid, obviously there are some exceptions to this (live bearing snakes). Providing a nice digging area within your enclosure is a great way to encourage your pet to exhibit some of their natural digging behaviors.
Inside Your Snake’s Enclosure:
Providing enrichment within your snake’s enclosure is a form of enrichment called environmental enrichment. Environmental enrichment is defined as changing a captive animals environment in a way that improves the animals quality of life.
Top 5 Easy and FREE Reptile Enrichment Ideas!
FAQ
What are enrichment activities for snakes?
Visual enrichment can include novel objects, varying colors, varying contrasts, movement, light, target training, station training, and objects the reptiles can see moving around or that they can cause to move, such as balls. Auditory stimulation can be any sound the reptile reacts to with interest and curiosity.
How to mentally stimulate a snake?
Toys. Snakes aren’t playful in the way dogs and cats are, but they do like some toys. Your pet will appreciate having some different things to explore. Some good examples of this would be cork rounds, log decorations, and rock caves.
What is an example of reptile enrichment?
For example, goldfish for turtles or anacondas, feeder fish for tentacle snakes or crocodiles and wild crickets and other insects from a pesticide free area, for lizards and turtles can promote foraging. Adding earthworms to a box or wood turtle’s substrate can also stimulate foraging behavior.
What do pet snakes like to play with?
Corkbark and Plants are great for enrichment. I have Garter snakes who love this hanging coconut ment for rodents. Things like sisal rope hung around the cage can be great for climbing too. Most snakes won’t ‘play’ with toys but most will seem to have fun just slithering in and around different decor items.
What are the best snake toys & enrichment ideas?
A puzzle ball is one of the most interesting snake toys and enrichment ideas as it sparks interest. Pet snakes get to crawl into the ball easily and use its many entrances for fun. Made out of pure rubber, Hol-ee’s Roller Dog Ball is also one of the most durable toys for snakes that like to play rough and exercise a bit of constriction. 2.
What do snakes do for fun?
Snakes also really enjoy exploring tunnels, climbing on rocks, and hiding in fake plants. Snakes don’t play with toys in the same way as other mammals. However, ‘toys’ are still crucial for their mental wellbeing. We’ll look at what snakes do for fun, and assess some snake enrichment toys.
How do I provide enrichment to my snakes?
Some small things we can do to provide enrichment to our pets include puzzle feeders that encourage animals to forage for food, climbing structures that enhance habitats, and training sessions where animals can interact with their owners. Providing enrichment within your snake’s enclosure is a form of enrichment called environmental enrichment.
What are the best enrichment accessories for snakes?
Another favorite enrichment accessory for snakes is the Zilla Vertical Rock Cave. It’s a cave with a small entrance and a flat top, made to resemble a rock formation. It’s made from synthetic material, but looks very realistic, with painted mossy details. This makes it easy to clean.
What is environmental enrichment in a snake’s enclosure?
Providing enrichment within your snake’s enclosure is a form of enrichment called environmental enrichment. Environmental enrichment is defined as changing a captive animal’s environment in a way that improves the animal’s quality of life.
Do snakes need toys?
Some snake enclosures are quite bare: substrate, a water dish, and two hides. But just because snakes are reptiles doesn’t mean they don’t need toys to keep them occupied. Snakes love to investigate new things, hiding places, and smells, just as they would in the wild. Climbing branches are entertaining toys for snakes.