Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." -Charles Darwin

"I am turned into a sort of machine for observing facts & grinding out conclusions"-Charles Darwin

"Man with all his noble qualities, with sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and constitution of the solar system- with all these exalted powers- Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin." -Charles Darwin

"A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, -- a mere heart of stone" -Charles Darwin

"The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an improved theory, is it then a science or faith?" -Charles Darwin

I don't know how sensitive the snake's respiratory system is (as opposed to most birds, which are very sensitive), but there are a lot of other factors that need to be considered in this question, and the info provided will help those with more knowledge of the snake's physiology to answer your question.

What kind of paint are you using? Some paints produce more hazardous fumes than others.

What kind of ventilation will be in effect during the painting and drying process? A closed in room with little to no external airflow is a greater risk than one with many outside windows opened up and plenty of fresh air passing through, "diluting" the paint fumes.

How many snakes are you talking about here, and how much work would it be to simply move them to another room during the process anyway? If your collection is only a few snakes in easily movable enclosures, I would move them to another room just on principle. If you're talking about a large collection in "hard to handle" enclosure racks, that definitely throws another spin into the whole equation. Having painted many rooms in my days, I also know from experience that the less stuff that's in the room to obstruct the process, the faster and easier it goes.

My own take on the whole question is that old adage, "Better safe than sorry." It's considerably better to look back on a task and think, "I did more than I really had to!" than it is to look back with regret and think, "If only I'd taken the time..."

A guy who used to live in my building breeds boas. About five years ago, his parents decided to paint their apartment and the fumes from the painting killed the three snakes that were left in the apartment. I would suspect that snakes, with their slow metabolism and susceptibility to respritory problems, are more sensitive to the effects of airborne paint and solvent fumes than humans. I would definitely move the snakes and I would be sure that the paint was dry and the room was well ventilated before I returned them to the room.

Good luck