# Snake Keeper Guide

> Plain-spoken care guides for pet snakes, built on vet and welfare sources. Educational pet snake care (ball python, corn snake, California kingsnake, western hognose); every husbandry number links to a vet, zoo, RSPCA or FDA source.

Not veterinary advice. Animals are not sold on this site; the shop is a separate MorphMarket store.

## Species care guides

- [Ball python care](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/species/ball-python/): Ball python care from vet and welfare sources: warm and cool end temperatures, humidity, enclosure size, feeding schedule and why ball pythons skip meals.
- [Corn snake care](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/species/corn-snake/): Corn snake care from vet and welfare sources: basking and cool end temperatures, humidity, enclosure size, feeding schedule and handling.
- [California kingsnake care](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/species/california-kingsnake/): California kingsnake care from zoo, vet and welfare sources: temperatures, humidity, enclosure size, feeding and why kingsnakes must live alone.
- [Western hognose snake care](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/species/western-hognose/): Western hognose snake care from exotic-animal vets: enclosure size, burrowing substrate, temperatures, low humidity, feeding picky eaters and the venom question.

## General guides

- [Setting up a snake enclosure](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/guides/enclosure-setup/): How big a snake enclosure should be, what goes inside, which substrates to avoid, and a cleaning routine, from VCA vets and the RSPCA.
- [Heating and lighting for pet snakes](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/guides/heating-and-lighting/): How to heat a snake enclosure safely: temperature gradients, thermostats, burn risks, night heat and what vets say about UVB, with a species temperature table.
- [Feeding frozen-thawed prey safely](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/guides/feeding-frozen-thawed/): Why vets recommend frozen-thawed prey over live, how often to feed, prey size, and FDA advice on Salmonella from feeder rodents.
- [Shedding problems and stuck eye caps](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/guides/shedding-problems/): What a normal snake shed looks like, why sheds come off in pieces, how to help, and why stuck eye caps need a vet.
- [When to take your snake to a vet](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/guides/when-to-see-a-vet/): Signs a pet snake needs a reptile vet, from breathing trouble and mouth rot to prey bites and burns, plus the checkups VCA recommends.
- [Choosing your first snake](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/first-snake/): What to think through before buying a first pet snake: lifespan, feeding rodents, who lives in your home, captive-bred animals and how to spot a healthy snake.

## Reference

- [FAQ](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/faq/): Short, sourced answers to common pet snake questions: how often to feed, live versus frozen prey, refusing food, UVB, shedding, housing together and Salmonella.
- [Sources](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/sources/): every source cited, with the pages that use it

## Optional

- [Full text of all guides](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/llms-full.txt)
- [About](https://snake-care-preview.pages.dev/about/)