Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm getting ready to be away from my home for seven days and I plan on just leaving my snakes at home. I've left for 3-5 days before but this is the nlongest I've ever been gone so I'm a bit nervous. I assume they should be good, and I was thinking of leaving two bowls of water just in case but I'm worried about humidity getting too high. How long do you leave your snakes alone before you get somebody to look after them?

That depends very much on the species.

a garter snake left alone for 7 days would be very angry with you. (I have one that bites me if I miss a day!, he will even bite me while I feed him if I miss a day.)

A ball python , milk king or corn would hardly notice you were gone.

Regards,
Wayne A. Harvey
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1.0.0 Ball Python - Python regius "Cane" Rescue
0.0.1 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmello" adult super sweet temperment
1.2.3 Storeria dekayi Casper, Xena, Athena, & Kids (30 plus released!)
0.0.2 Thamnophis marcianus - Checkered Garters "spot" & "Zig"
2.2.0 Thamnophis radix Snow, Iowa snow & christmas snow het.
2.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis - "Flame" red and white stripes
1.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis CB "Flame" & Melanistic
1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon - Water Snake - "Aqua" adult WC
0.1.0 Storeria occipitomaculata - Red Belly snake (Her children were raised & released)
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Juvinile CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Growing fast!
0.1.0. Green Anole "Crystal" WC
1.0.0. K9 "ACE" Black Cockapoo
0.2.0. Feline"Felix"(R.I.P. 4/27/08) "Kaja" & "Silver"
2.1.0. calico RATS
2.4.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.

>>That depends very much on the species.
>>
>> a garter snake left alone for 7 days would be very angry with you. (I have one that bites me if I miss a day!, he will even bite me while I feed him if I miss a day.)
>>
>> A ball python , milk king or corn would hardly notice you were gone.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Wayne A. Harvey

I second Wayne. Having a house full of pythons, there are only 3 that I check daily. My Burms and balls are all pretty solid for at least a weeks vacation. My bloods do have hydration issues if I am gone for more than a few days. I have a person that comes in on day three to switch out the water on the three bloods. Other than that they are fine.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Hi everyone!
I hope that I can clarify something here without offending anyone.

I interpreted one reply as the situation being personality related, dependent upon the species' personality. I interpreted another reply as the situation being housing condition related. Two different issues.

Personally, I think Cindy is right - it depends on your setups, how well they maintain temperature and humidity. Good, established, self-maintained, setups can be left unattended for 7 days, easily.

With Boids and corns I've left mine unattended for two weeks. Sometimes, as mentioned in the original post, improvising is necessary. Sometimes having someone tend to them is necessary.

I assure you one thing, your snakes will not miss you on a personal level. They're incapable of emotions/affections. There is such a thing as handling too much. There is a thing called stress. And reptiles are very capable of being stressed from too much handling.

Have a great day!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Thanks for the replies to everyone. I was speaking more on a husbrandy level and I figured they would be ok, but just wanted to run it by everyone.

It'll still play upon your mind the whole time you're gone. Most of my setups have been established for the last 3yrs and I've left them for 7 - 10 average once or twice each year for the last 3 years. I still think about 'em and wonder, though.

Now we're talking about a mental issue. It may very well be worth the peace of mind to have someone check on 'em. The mind is powerful and hard to control sometimes. Hahaha!!!

Confidence & faith will serve you well, too.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

All of the previous suggestions are super. I would like to add one more that addresses both husbandry and peace of mind. I leave a key and my contact info with a herp friendly neighbor in case the power goes off. Since the ambient temp in the herp room depends upon an air conditioner w/timer unit, it's important that someone check to make sure the air comes back on, and the timer is re-set. Also, if the air is off for a long time, my neighbor monitors the temp and can take alternative action(s) as needed. Troubleshoot, plan, and then leave town.
rgds,
althea