Least smelly snake breeds (Are Colubrids off the table?)

Hey guys, prospective first time snake owner here.

Was looking at cali kings and MBKs, even corn snakes. The more I study up the more I'm reading that colubrids have the smelliest poop.

What are your experiences, goes without saying that I do plan to spot clean everyday, but I still hear something like a corn snake has extreme poops :O

On the other hand grey banded owners seem to report no smells. How about MBKs, or any other snake breeds?

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Also wanted to say I'm aware of the musking aspect of cali kings, will disregard that part as I assume as I continue to handle my snake it would not be musking regularly.

Your snakes shouldn't smell. Musking is a defense mechanism that untamed individuals will use but after they are tamed it's not very common.

The actual poop smells at first but only if you stick your nose right in the cage, it usually dries out within a few hours and doesn't smell.

When it comes to choosing a snake, smell should be the last thing on the list.

Well snakes don't actually poop very often (sometimes going more than a month) so even if it smelled bad, I don't think that would be a problem because it wouldn't happen very often.

When I had 20 snakes in tubs on paper towels it seemed like every day I had at least one go to the bathroom and I could smell it when I walked into the room. Since I've changed to a coconut husk substrate I don't smell it at all, at least until I open up the tubs (I check them all now every morning). My retic smells the worst, her poop is as big as my St. Bernard's poop! And when she pees I can smell it too, but she is on coconut husk and it tames the smell down, but usually that's the only one I can smell now walking in the room. She is about a 30 pound snake. I change out all my substrate once a month, but my retic could use it every two weeks.

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

When I had 20 snakes in tubs on paper towels it seemed like every day I had at least one go to the bathroom and I could smell it when I walked into the room. Since I've changed to a coconut husk substrate I don't smell it at all, at least until I open up the tubs (I check them all now every morning). My retic smells the worst, her poop is as big as my St. Bernard's poop! And when she pees I can smell it too, but she is on coconut husk and it tames the smell down, but usually that's the only one I can smell now walking in the room. She is about a 30 pound snake. I change out all my substrate once a month, but my retic could use it every two weeks.

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I totally agree. I could NEVER go with paper towels. Bleh. I use it for the hatchlings, and even that stinks up the room when one pees. All my adults and sub adults are on coco. SO much better. And since I still check and clean every day, I don't feel that it makes it any less sanitary, as a matter of fact, it gets soaked up in a corner, not like the paper towels who get soaked all over making the snake lay on the smelly mess..

I honestly NEVER smell it when my Cal King poops. Even when I clean his enclosure it NEVER stinks.

My hognose stinks like a cow pasture when he poops. How such a tiny snake packs such a stinky poop still surprises me.

My BP stinks, but only when I open the enclosure and get close enough.

Never noticed a problem with any of my snakes. I use Repti Carpet and astro turf before Repti Carpet was invented. When soiled I remove it, replace with a clean mat. Wash, disinfect, rinse, and dry the soiled mat. Then repeat.

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Originally Posted by Joci

Well snakes don't actually poop very often

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....Colubrids do! ....and it's pretty bad actually! Well, at least compared to ball pythons or other species. The poo of a colubrid is often more watery as well and it "smells" longer if you will. I've had cornsnakes that will make a bedroom smell like a truck stop gas station in a mere 15 seconds.


Honestly, Ball Pythons are probably one of the best "non smelly" snakes I would say. Boa's aren't terrible either but the urates can get pretty smelly if not removed right away.

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Originally Posted by Joci

Well snakes don't actually poop very often .

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Yeah, this varies drastically by species and other variables.

I keep one ball and she or her enclosure rarely stink even after a poo.