Plan for an adult Pantherophis guttatus.
Choose the site
RSPCA Australia recommends a quiet location away from drafts and direct sunlight, allowing room for growth.
The CDC advises keeping reptiles and equipment away from food areas.
Provide space and cover
The RSPCA calls for full stretching room, with width and height at least one-third of snake length. Use secure, ventilated construction.
Use a reptile soil/sand mix for burrowing; avoid sand alone. Add warm/cool hides, climbing fixtures, daily-changed cool-end water and a moistened-moss hide.
Set measured conditions
| Measure | RSPCA target |
|---|---|
| Basking | 28-30 degrees C |
| Cool end | 20-24 degrees C |
| Night | 16-20 degrees C |
| Humidity | 40-50% |
Place heat at one end. Fit a UVB tube. Guard lamps; use a thermostat plus thermometers at both ends. Position the probe at snake height. Measure UVB with a UVI meter at animal height: basking 1, shade zero; albinos need a lower maximum, 0.7. Follow maker distance/replacement instructions and use 12-hour light/dark periods.
Test before arrival
Run and adjust heating, lighting and humidity for at least a week before arrival.
See our thermostat guide.
