What is your snake keeping maintenance schedule?

I decided to write down my snake maintenance schedule and put it on my calendar so I can track it easier, I'm on a five day schedule. Just wondering what other people are doing... Here's my routine:

Day 1: Feed all snakes. I at least attempt to feed everyone, some will eat every time, some fast for months, some skip a meal or two. I offer them a fresh killed or frozen thawed rodent for about 30 seconds max. If they don't hit it I'll move on. Sometimes if I have an extra rodent left over after feeding my 20 snakes I'll go back through and offer it a second time to the non-eaters, some will actually take it the second time around. I always start with my pickiest eaters first and prepare fewer rodents to start so I don't have any left over.

Day 2: In the morning while my snakes are sleeping / inactive I'll go through the tubs and check for uneaten rodents just in case someone grabs one and then doesn't eat it.

Day 3: Day off.

Day 4: On this day I go through all my tubs and spot clean, I usually move the snakes up to the front of the tub or put them in a different tub, then move the coconut husk out of the back of the tub where the heat is and spray it down with diluted Chlorhexidine and wipe it dry. Then I spray down the coconut husk real good (water only) for humidity and change out their water cups. I try to handle each snake, mainly to try to tame down the mean ones.

Day 5: On the last day of my rotation I clean my ARS rat breeding rack (20 tubs) and my 8 mouse tanks, I change out the bedding, spray down the tubs with dilute Chlorhexidine and rinse and dry, then add new bedding, top off the water and food, and if I have an excess of rats of the appropriate size I'll put them down with CO2 and pop them in the freezer. Usually I'll just mark that tub (make a mental note) and try to feed them off on Day 1, then whatever doesn't get eaten goes in the freezer. I try my best not to freeze any, the fresh killed are easier to prepare and the snakes like them better. But if I don't feed them off they get too big for even my biggest ball pythons, then I have to feed them to my retic!

I do an AM and PM check on all animals, every day, to clean enclosures and change water as needed. Probably averages out to about 1 hour each day. Being meticulous when it comes to cleaning waste and keeping water fresh is probably the greatest ingredient for healthy reptiles.

Thursday: Pull feeders from the freezer and put them in the fridge to prepare for Friday feeding. Some of the more active colubrids might get a midweek meal, usually just a fresh killed mouse since I always have them on hand.

Friday: Normal feeding night, roughly 1/2 of the animals are offered food depending on their build and/or the season. I run a late PM check a couple hours later and if any meals are uneaten, they go to one of my garbage disposal critters.

Sunday: Rodent cleaning day. I only run 3 breeding colonies of mice these days so it's a quick affair. I usually have 15-20 growouts that get euthanized and frozen during cleaning. Sunday is also my fresh water day for the herps. Every bowl gets a good scrub out - even if it was just changed the previous day during AM or PM rounds.

My schedule isn't really a schedule, it's more of a guideline. :)

I spot clean daily as needed and change water twice a week. I do complete enclosure cleanings every 6 weeks on average.

Every 10-14 days- Feed larger snakes (Bull snakes and Coastal Carpet)
Every 7-10 days- Feed Jungles and Bredli
Every 5-7 days- Feed younger snakes (Olive Python and Albino Carpet)

I am on paper so my "schedule" will vary a little. Most days twice daily spot check morning and evening. Replace paper and clean with vinegar where needed. Water changed when cleaning done.

Saturday morning defrost. Saturday night feed. My weekly cleaning is usually after everyone has eaten. Most of the time I replace everything after the feed unless the animal is off food, then it is water only.

Wednesdays I feed holdbacks and any babies I might have purchased again. I usually do this until the animals are on smalls, then they are on once a week (some babies will not eat twice, but most do).

Mine are all pets, so I feed accordingly and to season. Water every three days max with a complete cleaning of water dishes at that time. And always a complete change and cleaning whenever any waste is spotted. They're in my living room so I check a lot. Lol.

I just spot clean when I need to. I'm looking in on them multiple times daily anyway so I notice things really fast. I change out their water every 2 or 3 days unless something dictates I do it more frequently. Like substrate in the water dish or something like that. I do a deep cleaning of water dishes once a week or so. I deep clean tubs every 10 days or so. Usually when I change substrate or if someone makes a big mess. I don't have tons of snakes like some of you guys do and time isn't an issue so I haven't been forced to regiment myself so much.

I only have one BP so I'm not sure that my schedule is that interesting. He lives in my bedroom and I spend a ton of time there, it's quiet and I do my homework, floor exercise and obviously sleep and relax there. Point is, I'm always glancing over at him. I check his temperatures and humidity constantly, like pretty much any time I enter the room, because early on I had some issues with fluctuation and I think I got paranoid. I can probably stop doing that, but noooo...

I also change his water every night when I go to bed, do all his feeding and stuff when I get home from school which can be anytime between 6-11pm. I've been feeding him twice a week and marking it on my calendar. I mostly just look to see if he's squirming around smelling the air a lot and then I offer up a mouse. He is a very good eater! Most of the time I spend with him is at night because he seems pretty content to sleep during the day, plus it's easy to go occupy myself with other things :P I also handle him at night, every night unless he's eaten in the past 48, for at least 15 minutes. As for his tank, I give it a once over every night also, as well as anytime I go by it really. I change his substrate pretty constantly... usually it's my own fault because I go to change his water and my shaky weird hands splash it everywhere :P I dunno I'm a helicopter parent I suppose.

I only have 1 BP and am still new at all this, but .... I glance over the temps periodically whenever I'm home (might be a bit obsessive right now since I'm still learning), both in morning and nighttime (I work during the day)....adjust the lamp dimmers if necessary to keep ambient temps ideal, as needed... I check the hot spot under the warm hide morning and night with a temp gun... double check that the UTH probe is still firmly in place once in awhile, probably every few days or so (it's taped to the non-sticky side under the tank, so I make sure it isn't loosened or falling off) ... look over the tank for any spot cleaning that may be necessary everyday... mist inside if the humidity needs a pick-me-up, maybe once a day (shes in a glass terrarium) ... aim to change water every evening, no longer than every other day... wash water dish with antibacterial dish soap once a week, otherwise just rinse it out real well with hot water when I replace drinking water...feed once a week f/t in the evenings (Tuesdays as of now) ...

I have not yet done a full-on thorough tank cleaning/disinfecting as I just got her on 02/08, but I'm thinking I will this weekend... will aim for every 30 days for that

I am proud to say that this morning I woke up to her first shed (with me, that is), and it was complete and no issues! Very happy to see that, means I must be at least doing something right ?? Ha

I just check them every day for a surprise poop or piss.

Give them all a petting on the head or body.

Stir their Eco Earth, then shove them to the other side so I can stir that side.

Every couple days, give them fresh water.

Depending who it is, feed them.

Once a month, change out everyones substrate.

And every couple days, I drag them out for some 'cuddle' time lol which turns into them cruising all over me or sitting on the bed or couch.

*new bally mommy* i had my girl for 2 weeks now, i do have her in a 20g tank, she has already fed twice - every 6th day - next feeding she will go up in size, she is always in her hiding rock on the warm side during the day (which is when i spot clean - change water/paper towel/fresh moss), on nights that she is not feeding or digesting i take her out to hang while i thoroughly clean her tank! Everyone has their own routine, and this one works for me :)

I keep a calendar only to write down their names on days they ate (or offered and refused). I don't feed on exact schedule for my adults anymore. It can range from every 10~16 days. The only one I am feeding every 6~7 days is Togetic, my 280g little girl.

Otherwise, I just check them every day for pees and poops, check their temps once a day. I only handle them when I feel like it, whichever snake I feel like. :P They don't need to be handled regularly to keep them "tame", since they are all naturally tame, even if I don't touch them for weeks (except for Drizzle, because she's crazy lol).

Wow CCHardwick! I do not know how you keep track of so many! I have two, and they each have their own monthly/yearly calendar book. (You can get them at the Dollar Store, for peeps that are reading and learning like me!) I keep track of everything from feeding, pooping, shedding, cage changes, even their social behaviors. I take my snakes into the public frequently so I need to monitor habits and moods. They both had a bath, got a mineral oil rub, and then ate yesterday. They were looking miserable this morning. Both were all crackly and wrinkled. I took them each out for another 30 minute bath. After their baths, when I know they are ready to shed completely I put a wet washcloth on their back, hold it down, and let them slither. It will peel off at least 30-50% of the skin. Then I gently hold little pieces, and if it gives right away I take it, but I DO NOT force it. They both had excellent peels this morning! I had to pick off one eye cap off Mikey, and as soon as I did he turned and looked straight at me, slithered up to my nose, and gave me a kiss. He's been off balance on his sticks yesterday, so he's glad to see normally again. Then they both got a mineral oil rub again, and I put them back home. They will get their cages changed tomorrow.
To be specific.... I never feed in their house. They are always moved to a separate bin for feeding. That way they NEVER mistake me for food. Also I never feed live. They gladly eat warmed frozen if I put on a puppet show, swinging the mouse in their face to make them notice and attack. I was told by one of the gentlemen at my snake shop to put it IN THEIR FACE if they refuse for a bit.
I also put them in a separate swim bin for 30 minutes with one of their rocks from their house. They can swim around and rub on their rock, or just rest on their rock if they want. I often find large pieces of skin when I empty it. Once I take them out, I give them the spa treatment with the washcloth and oil. They have gotten used to it, and they love it because they feel so much better afterwards.
That being said, my Harvey gave me a soft hiss when I went to pick him up this morning. He did not really open his mouth this time, but he has before. That means he feels really crabby and sore, so I'm careful. I still moved him with bare hands. Can you imagine having all of your skin fall off at once?!? He made me nervous enough for a while that I got a hook and leather gloves. Now he's fine. Once he's done with his spa treatment, he goes back home and marches around to rub against anything to take of the rest of the skin. My Mikey absolutely looks like a rich chick at a spa. He sits still to let me rub the washcloth, and then sits up and acts all important with the oil rub. It's funny!
Anyway, my boys are very spoiled, but they have to be in order for me to trust letting 5 year old children handle them. I miss them so much right now, because they are finishing shed, and they normally get daily holding time (at least 30 minutes, but last week Mikey wouldn't let go for an hour and a half). Tomorrow they get cage change and we will be back to normal. I hate shedding time, because I feel bad and I can't hold them as much.
Thanks for posting CC, this was extremely timely for me. And, if I had as many as you do, I would feed in their homes as well. Mine are specialized for social stuff, so I'm extra careful.
Any input from you CC, or any moderators, please, please put it right here so we can all learn!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Merriah

They both had a bath, got a mineral oil rub, and then ate yesterday. They were looking miserable this morning. Both were all crackly and wrinkled. I took them each out for another 30 minute bath. After their baths, when I know they are ready to shed completely I put a wet washcloth on their back, hold it down, and let them slither. It will peel off at least 30-50% of the skin. <snipped>

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Apologies for tone in advance -- I really like to be positive, and I'm worried I will come off as . . . slightly negative. But, this is not good or normal.

I trimmed it to the above because this sort of sums up what does not work with your routine. It is wholly unnecessary and counter productive. Especially the oil -- oil can and will slough scales. Not the used, shed scales; the live scales, that the animal needs. It really, really has to stop.

What is your setup? What are the temps and humidity, and how are they measured? Please, start a new thread if need be. Sheds are a good way to gauge a snake's setup, and how it's actually doing. If the sheds are bad, then something in the setup is wrong. Most likely, humidity, followed by temperature. If you retool your husbandry, you should have perfect sheds. Even if that means adding a humid hide during wintertime sheds, when humidity can really drop. Please, please address this.


Anyway, my schedule . . .
Daily:
Everyone gets checked first thing in the morning.
Cages cleaned as needed.
If a snake has pooped, it may also be weighed -- especially females and youngsters, and males that are fasting.
Records are taken if someone has shed.
I check my thermostats and heaters.

Weekly:
Water bowls get changed every 3-4 days (usually Mon and Thurs) and as needed.
Tues and Wednesday -- general feeding days. The BPs are offered food on these days, with the iffier feeders offered a meal on Tuesday, the super reliable feeders the next day. I feed in the evenings.
Feeding activities are recorded.

Other:
The JCP is on a 4-6 week feeding schedule. I usually give her XL rats. Sometimes she'll get an additional small rat or two to mix things up.
The female Angolan is on a 4 week schedule.
The male Angolan, 2 weeks.
Most of the year, the Rosy Boa eats weekly. She slows down in winter and stops taking food between about November and Feb.


So, there are days when I don't have to do anything, 'cept maybe play with somebody and take photos :), and days when pretty much everyone has done something horrible to their cages.

It's funny, I don't record sheds, when they poop, snake weights, etc. the only thing I keep track of is number and type of rodent eaten. I don't even weigh the rodents, just record '2x fresh killed rat' (for example). I just check weights when it's time to breed LOL. Or if I'm curious how many tens of pounds my retic weighs LOL.