Snakes are popular companion animals but among the most welfare-compromised in captivity — frequently kept in enclosures too small for thermoregulation, movement, and natural behavior.
Snakes are ectotherms requiring precise thermal environments for physiological function — inadequate temperature gradients compromise digestion, immune function, and behavior. Most commercially available snake enclosures are dramatically undersized relative to the animal's body length. Respiratory infections and parasitism are common consequences of inadequate husbandry. Many snakes are capable of enriched behaviors like exploration and problem-solving that never occur in barren, undersized tanks.