What's With Keeping Snakes In Racks Small Without Hides?

[zina10]

Keeping any animal in "to small of a space for its needs" is cruel.

Now...there ARE animals where the opposite is true. Keeping them in TO LARGE of a space for their needs is cruel.

We always have to remember NOT to project our own needs and necessities onto other species.

And about this whole "enrichment" thing.

What does "enrichment" mean ? Something that enriches my life. Things that make me happy enrich my life. Feeling safe enriches my life. Long hikes through nature enriches my life. The sky, sun, beautiful weather. Fun things to do, travel. Friends, family, kids, spouse.

Most humans need some of those and other things to have enrichment in their lives.

When it comes to animals, "enrichment" is the new "in vogue" thing. It is usually used in context with making the space they live in more "interesting", not so boring and blah.

But what about species that care nothing for a jungle gym? Does it "enrich" their lives ? What about a species that prefers small and dark places, does it enrich their lives to offer large spaces full of "stuff" to do ?

And then..if that animal is "all over that stuff" does it mean it needs that stuff? Wants that stuff? How do we know it isn't simply going around all that in its search for food ? Or stressed over it?

Going back to Ball Pythons, we know in the wild they spend a LARGE amount of time in tight, dark spaces. They even oftentimes just "lie in wait" for food to walk by. Once they have to poop or pee, they are forced to find another "small, dark space" because the smell would give them away, and no food would just "walk by".
They also travel when they are looking to breed. Some may seek out food, for sure, or travel short distances for other reasons like to find water. But by far and large, they spend their time "hiding".

We often say...as long as we clutter it up well enough, a LARGE enclosure is just fine. But is it ? Usually we have a warm and and a cool end. In order to find the exact temperature they want (or need) they are forced to choose. They are forced to travel just for thermo regulation. In the wild THEY will pick their spot. It isn't chosen for them based on which side of their habitat is cooler or warmer. They don't have to venture out and travel over all kinds of "enrichment" (exposing themselves to danger and being eaten) just to find a cooler or warmer spot. Simply moving deeper or lower within their hiding spot usually gives them the gradient they need.

Therefor, "enrichment" can be many things. And it can be vastly DIFFERENT things for different species. What one species needs and craves , another might get stressed by.

However, we cannot "ask" our snakes what they prefer. We can watch their body language and what "they do". But how does one know the snake "cruises" back and forth because it loves the jungle gym and fun, or because it is stressed and unhappy ? Does the snake try to stretch to the edge of the tank because 1. It wants to hang out with the owner and have some fun 2. Its stressed and wants to find a safer place to live 3. The husbandry is incorrect and the snake tries to find better. Well, humans have their way to interpret things they way they would like them to be, so how is one to know?

When it comes to snakes, esp. Ball Pythons, we know they stress easy. We sort of know what stresses them. We know a stressed snake will not eat, breed and usually doesn't do well. They may survive, if not exactly thrive. It may be despite its circumstances. Not because of them.

We all know that even within a snake species, there are individuals. Some stress easier, others do not. Some are painfully shy, some aggressive, some seem calm and curious. So unless one has a great number of them, and has them for a long time, its hard to see the big picture on what seems to work best, across the board.

Just like with everything else, with time and exposure comes experience.

I was once a beginner, and even I thought that in some instances I had the better idea then some more experienced keepers. After all, experience isn't everything ? Little did I know, it may not be everything, but it is A LOT.

I was DEAD SET against racks and tubs. Spoke out against them. Like with so many things, one has to actually experience different situations, before having an informed opinion about them.

Many Ball Pythons do exceptionally well in rack set ups. They eat more readily, breed more readily, thrive. That in itself is a clue. You can accomplish all that in cages as well. But IMHO, and with Ball Pythons in particular, there really is a TO BIG. And the enrichment they need lies within the correct husbandry, and tight dark places.

I have a Display cage with a big Ball Python. Husbandry is spot on. It works. But "imho" the rack would work the same if not better, for this particular snake.

So ...Tub or cage, there is such a thing as to small, but there certainly is such a thing as to big.

my (very long) 2 cents..