Glossy Snake

Arizona elegans

Order:

Husbandry Information

Housing Requirements

• Temperature, Humidity, & Lighting:
  • Temperature:
  • Humidity:
  • Lighting:
• Substrate:

Diet Requirements

Veterinary Concerns

Notes on Enrichment & Training

• Check out the Reptelligence Facebook page and Reptelligence website for enrichment and training inspiration.
• Advancing Herpetological Husbandry July 2018 Quarterly Newsletter- Article Environmental Enrichment for Reptiles By Charlotte James

Other

Colony or Breeding Management

Notes species is housed or managed socially or for breeding purposes.

Individual Identification

Dimorphism or practiced ways to individually mark species (such as those in colonies, like giant millipedes).

Programmatic Information

Transportation

Temperature Guidelines

• Brandywine Zoo: During cool weather (under 65°F), supplemental heat is provided with a hot water bottle set to one side of the cooler.

 

Crating:

• Brandywine Zoo: reptiles travel in a Coleman style coolers that have been amended with extra ventilation holes on the lid (with a wood-burning tool). Small and medium sized snakes travel inside an inside-out, knotted pillowcase. Large snakes travel loose in the cooler that is also bungeed shut.
•   

Tips on Presentation

Touching Techniques

Tips on Handling

 

Potential Messaging

• Snakes are an important link in the food chain. They provide food for many bird and mammal species that prey on them. The main diet of most snakes is rodents. Therefore, snakes provide a very valuable service – pest control. Most snakes are non-venomous and will avoid humans if they can. Venomous snakes want to use their venom to kill small prey animals or to defend themselves; since humans are too big to be considered prey by most snakes, the best way to avoid a bite is not to make the snake feel threatened. Ask guests to avoid any snakes they may see in the wild and appreciate them from a distance. http://www.capesnakeconservation.com/snake-conservation-whats-the-point/http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/rattlesnake_roundups/facts/rattlesnake_roundups.html

Acquisition Information

 

Comments from the Rating System

• Zoo America: Very strong snake, and fast!

Natural History Information

Range and Habitat

 

Physical Description

 

Life Cycle

 

Behavior

 

Threats and Conservation Status

 

Did you know…

Photographs

 

Documents

Any Documents to attach, species spotlights, etc.

• Check out sample animal policies, handling sheets, and fact sheets on our Example Policies & Guidelines page
• View past issues of Program Animal SAG Newsletters
  • Ambassador Animal SAG Newsletter Vol. 2, Issue 3: Temperature and Transport: Welfare Implications for Ambassador Ectotherms
• Choice, Control, and Training in Ectotherms, By Carrie Kish
• Stress Management in Reptiles and Frogs
• Reptile Lighting Information
• Check out the Advancing Herpetological Husbandry Facebook group. They have also published several newsletters (see Reptiles page for links).
  • See: AAH -January 2018 Quarterly Newsletter Article: Temperature and Heat for Reptiles By Roman Muryn

Contributors and Citations

• Houston Zoo, Natural Encounters