Pet snakes have specific welfare needs for temperature, humidity, enrichment, and appropriate enclosure size that are frequently misunderstood.
Pet snakes are commonly kept in enclosures too small for their needs, without appropriate temperature gradients or enrichment. Improper husbandry causes chronic immune suppression and respiratory disease. Feeding live prey causes stress to both snake and prey. Large constrictors acquired as small animals grow beyond owner capacity, leading to surrender or abandonment. Snakes show stress responses to inadequate environments including constant escape attempts.