DIY Glass Snake Terrariums

Create a terrarium at home to house your pet snake.

There are several options when it comes to housing snakes. Many people choose to purchase a glass terrarium. However, there are many additions to snake tanks that can be done on your own, so it’s not always necessary to purchase a terrarium with all of the accoutrements included. The items that will be added to the cage depend upon the size of the terrarium and the snake, and how much money you can devote to your pet.

Things You'll Need

• Glass cage
• Vented cage top
• Lights
• Saran wrap
• Plants

Instructions

1. Choose the type of glass tank for your snake. Regular plate glass is common and will work fine, but starphire or low-iron glass, while more expensive, will give a clearer view inside the tank.

2. Drill holes in the top of the terrarium so that the snakes can get air if there is no other way for air to get into and out of the cage. Make sure to check with the terrarium supplier to ensure that holes can be drilled in the top of the cage. However, many glass tanks come with a screen top instead of a glass top; just make sure it fits perfectly so the snake can't escape.

3. Add soil and plants to cages that need high humidity. Another way to increase the humidity is to wrap the screen top with saran wrap.

4. Install lighting to the top and sides of the cage to increase the temperature. This is particularly necessary in large cages that house large snakes -- big terrariums allow some heat to escape, and the temperature will need to be raised.

5. Add wood shavings to the bottom of the tank to provide the snake with a place to burrow and hide. However, avoid the use of pine or cedar shavings. These types of wood are potentially harmful and toxic to snakes.

Tips & Warnings

• Every type of snake is different, and the way to take care of one snake is not necessarily the way to take care of another. It's important to be educated on how to care for the types of snakes that are being kept. This will determine the exact cage setup that's needed.

• Don't ever fill a glass snake terrarium with water. They are not designed for this purpose and may not be able to hold the water.

References

• Glass Cages: Glass Terrariums
• Eco Terrarium Supply: Materials for Snake and Other Reptile Cages
• UVMA: Snake Cages