Pet snakes are among the most poorly understood companion animals, with welfare often compromised by inadequate housing and husbandry.
Pet snake welfare is poorly understood partly because snakes do not vocalize or show pain in ways recognizable to human owners. Inadequate thermal gradients prevent thermoregulation, leading to immune suppression and digestive problems. Small enclosures prevent natural locomotion and exploratory behavior — recent studies have demonstrated that snakes given larger spaces use them actively. Feeding live prey causes welfare concerns for both the prey animal and the snake, which can sustain injuries during prey defense. The exotic pet trade also introduces significant welfare harms through capture, transport, and mortality before reaching pet stores.