Snakes are among the most misunderstood and poorly kept reptile pets, with chronic welfare problems arising from inadequate enclosures, inappropriate temperatures and poor nutrition.
Snakes are highly thermoregulation-dependent — inadequate temperature gradients prevent digestion, immune function and shedding. Chronic failure to provide adequate thermal conditions causes chronic disease. Feeding of live prey to facilitate capture practice is both stressful for prey and risky for snakes, who can be injured during prey defence. Improper feeding intervals and prey sizes cause malnutrition or regurgitation. Welfare codes for captive snakes have improved but are inconsistently applied in the pet industry.