Spatial considerations for captive snakes

Dropping the Ball? The Welfare of Ball Pythons Traded in the EU and North America

“…However, numerous scientific and other reports emphasise that snakes, including more sedentary species such as the Ball python, require the ability to fully straighten their bodies to satisfy their need for behavioural normality, exercise, avoidance of stress and disease, alleviation of physical discomfort, and achievement of physical comfort [26,29,[37][38][39] For example, Kreger and Mench [40] found that Ball pythons that were restrained in a container prior to handling demonstrated a significant rise in plasma corticosterone (CS) levels, potentially indicating an acute stress response. Given that the majority of the snakes observed during our study were not given the ability to extend their bodies to full and unrestricted natural length, it is arguable that the current husbandry practices could likely be having a negative impact on the welfare of the Ball pythons that are housed in this manner.…”

“…The Ball python is commonly referred to as a relatively "docile" species, due in part to its tendency to curl up tightly into a ball rather than to try and bite when handled [41]. Yet, such "head-hiding behaviour" i.e., the deliberate seclusion of head including under its own body, or objects and substrate is considered to be a response that can be related to fear, defense, and/or stress inducing experiences resulting from inappropriate captive environments (e.g., excess/rough handling and inadequate lighting [29,42]. It is generally advised that snakes, especially those that are considered reclusive in nature, should be provided with cover such as multiple hides that allow them to exhibit stress avoidance behaviour [26,41,43].…”

“…In contrast to the other housing scoring criteria, we found that breeders and vendors typically utilised display and rack systems for Ball pythons that met the minimum hygiene standards as recommended by the RSPCA [26] and others (i.e., that they were observably "clean" with detritus being minimal or absent in the vast majority of cases). The fact that enclosures appear to have been regularly cleaned indicates some direct animal welfare benefits (e.g., by helping to mitigate the accumulation of particular potentially pathogenic wastes and microbes [29]. However, it is important to note that this cleanliness may have come at the expense of impacting negatively on other aspects of Ball python welfare.…”

“…It is reasonable to assume that the environmental conditions provided by breeders (as shared via social media) reflect how some vendors keep snakes between expositions. Whilst it is generally accepted that wildlife can be held under temporary conditions that would not be acceptable for longer-term accommodation (e.g., clinical and quarantine situations) [29], it is dubious as to whether commercial captive breeding and display for subsequent sale falls under these criteria.…”

“…(3) a water bowl that is large enough to allow them to bathe fully submerged; and (4) appropriate substrate that allows them to maintain hygiene levels, and to express burrowing behaviour [26], and this guidance is broadly well supported in the objective scientific literature [27][28][29].…”