What is your snake keeping maintenance schedule?

[cchardwick]

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!

[John1982]

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.

[EL-Ziggy]

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)

[JodanOrNoDan]

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).

[Sonny1318]

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.

[cletus]

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.

[cayley]

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 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 I dunno I'm a helicopter parent I suppose.

[SpacegirlSpiff]

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

[Sauzo]

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.

[myginny]

*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