Egg-Eater Snakes as Pets and how to Care for them

Introduction

Many snakes eat eggs as part of their regular diet. However, the African egg-eater and the Indian egg-eater species only eat eggs.If you don't like the idea of feeding rodents to snakes, the egg-eating snake may be the pet for you. African egg-eating snakes are not bred in captivity. The only place to acquire one is from an exotic pet dealer. You want to make sure your snake is healthy. It’s a good idea to take your snake to a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals for a check-up.

How to House Your Snake

Before you get your pet snake, make sure you have a proper home for it. The males are smaller than the females, so take that into account when making your enclosure. Females are easier to feed because of their size. Fully grown, they are between 24 and 30 inches long. An important thing to take into consideration when setting up your cage is where they live in the wild. Egg-eater snakes live in a dry climate, so you do not want to set up a tropical enclosure. They also live in trees, because that is the easiest way for them to get the eggs they eat. These snakes don’t hide underground. About an inch of substrate will be enough bedding for the bottom of your enclosure.[endnoteRef:2] You should set up the cage to where one side is heated and one side is room temperature. They also need something they can hide in. Make sure your enclosure is big enough to provide space for the snake, two hiding places, a small bowl of water, and branches for them to climb on. Amazon offers many options for snake habitats and accessories. Some people use plastic enclosures with holes in them and a top that comes off. Some people use traditional terrarium setups using fish tanks. Some people use enclosures specifically designed for reptiles. Depending on your budget and your preference, you can make the enclosure as simple or as elaborate as you like. As long as the snake has what it needs, the rest is all personal preference.

Egg-eater snakes are only active at night, so they will hide most of the day. That's why it is so important that they have two hiding places to feel safe. One of the hiding places should be on the warm end of the enclosure. The other one should be on the cool end of the enclosure. Snakes are cold-blooded, so they regulate their body temperature based on their environment. It is very important that their environment is as close as possible to how they live in the wild. They are not “soakers,” so a fairly small bowl of water for drinking is enough. They also need things to climb on. You want your snake to be content in its environment. Make sure you have tree branches and leaves, so they feel like they're climbing a tree. Sometimes you have to think like a snake. Think about what your snake would need to survive in the wild, and try to mimic that in your enclosure. I do not recommend getting tree branches from your local forest, because they can have parasites on them. You can purchase parasite free tree branches or driftwood from your local pet store and from numerous places online. You can use plastic plant material, like ivy vines for example, for the leaves. These are readily available at your local craft store. If you don't live near a craft store, these can be found online also.

What you feed your snake will depend on what size it is. These snakes never get big enough to eat chicken eggs. The females grow big enough to eat quail eggs. If you get a male or a young female, you may have to feed it finch eggs at first. As the snake grows, you may have to feed it button quail eggs for a while. Button quail eggs are smaller than spotted quail eggs. The spotted quail eggs are easier to buy. Finding a regular source of food for your snake is going to be the biggest challenge in taking care of it. Quail eggs can be found at specialty markets, if you happen to live near one. You can also purchase quail eggs online.[endnoteRef:3] Make sure you do not get fertilized eggs. The egg-eater snake will only eat unfertilized eggs. They are very sensitive to knowing if there is an embryo inside, and they will leave them alone.

Acquiring finch eggs is more difficult. You may have to go to a pet store that sells finches and ask them what they do with their eggs. If they just throw them away, they may be willing to give them to you. Another option to consider if you need finch eggs on a regular basis is to raise your own finches. This is not one of the more popular options. It could be a viable option if you have the room, and you like birds. If you go with this option, make sure you take the eggs out of the nest as soon as the bird lays them. You don't want an embryo to start growing. Keep any eggs you get, from whatever source, refrigerated until it's time to feed your snake.

Unlike traditional house pets, snakes in general don't eat as often. An egg-eater snake will eat about once a month. In the wild they go long periods of time without eating, because birds don't lay eggs all year.[endnoteRef:5] You may find that your snake is not eating that often, but that doesn't mean it is sick. If you notice your snake starting to lose weight, though, then it is time to take it to the vet. Freshly-caught snakes may not eat at all. They may have to be force-fed until they are comfortable in their environment. If small eggs are not available, and your snake is not big enough for quail eggs, you may need to resort to this. Do not try to do this on your own. Get advice from your local vet who specializes in reptile care. You want your snake to stay healthy and live as long as possible. When properly cared for, an egg-eater snake can live up to 10 years or longer.[endnoteRef:6] Once it learns how to eat eggs on its own, it is fairly easy to feed your snake. One way to teach your snake to eat the quail or finch eggs you give it is to make them smell like a bird's nest. How do you do this? If you have pet birds it's easy. You just rub the egg on the bird's nest to get the scent. Another way is to rub it with the yolk of a chicken egg. An important thing to keep in mind is your snake doesn't swallow egg shells. It splits the shell with strong spinal bones in its gullet, sucks out the inside, and it spits out the shell. Expect to find egg shells on the floor of your enclosure after your snake eats.

Some people place their eggs around the cage. Other people keep them clutched together in a dish or a makeshift bird's nest. If you are really creative, you can make a bird's nest similar to what they encounter in the wild. You can place it in your branches and put your eggs in there. This will appeal to your snake’s instinctive nature of climbing trees to get eggs from a nest. If you use this method, securely attach the nest to the branches, so it doesn't fall out. As you get to know your snake and its preferences, you will be able to figure out what works best.

Your egg-eater snake does not have teeth, so you don't have to worry about it biting you. Egg-eater snakes have a reputation of being quite docile. Until your snake gets used to you, it may sound like its hissing. What it is actually doing is rubbing scales together to create a hissing sound. That’s the egg-eater’s natural defense. They are not constrictor snakes, so you don't have to worry about your snake squeezing you in any way that could be painful. They are natural tree climbers, so they will climb on your arm and wrap themselves around your hand when handling them. Be patient with your new snake. It will take time for it to get used to you and allow you to handle it without feeling nervous. Once you pass this initiation phase, your snake should be easy to handle. Play with your snake on a daily basis, so it stays accustomed to being held by you. If you don't handle your snake enough, it may revert to being nervous when you try to touch it. Always remember to be gentle with your snake. These snakes are slender and cannot defend themselves by biting. A very gentle approach in getting your snake used to you will prevent injury to your snake.

Conclusion

The African egg-eater snake makes a very good pet for snake lovers. It is docile and doesn't have teeth to bite you. Once it gets used to you, it is easy to handle. Creating housing for your egg-eater snake varies on your style and budget. You may prefer a simple housing enclosure or something more elaborate. The most difficult part of caring for an African egg-eater is locating a reliable source of food. Once you do, then you should have a long and satisfying relationship with your new pet.

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