Boas and Pythons

Hedley, Joanna

doi:10.1002/9781119389934.ch17

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 68 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the peer-reviewed literature in Table 3 (recommending ≥ 1 × SL minimum enclosures), information was substantively based on five identifiable criteria: 1. normal (roaming and rectilinear or near-rectilinear) behavior among wild and captive snakes [8,11,27,28,32,34,39,40,44,46,47,51,53,54]; 2. normal home ranges among wild snakes [8,34,39,40]; 3. reported stress-related behavior, injury or disease among captive snakes, with increasing prevalence among animals in smaller enclosures [8,27,28,34,40,42]; 4. established governing principles for animal welfare science (e.g., control over environment, expression of preference, hard-wired behavioral needs, five freedoms) [8,27,34,36,[38][39][40]; and 5. carrying forward recommendations based on 1-4 above, experience, opinion, or avoidance of harm [9,36,43,45,[48][49][50]52]. One review [47], and some anecdotal contributions, suggest that enclosures with a diagonal dimension that meet the ≥1 × SL could be acceptable.…”

Section: Peer-reviewed Literature Consistent With ≥1 × Slmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Arena and Warwick, in press [39]; Mendyk and Warwick, in press[5]; Warwick, in press[27]; Warwick and Steedman, in press[40];Taylor et al, 2021 [59];Todd and Nowakowski et al, 2021 [60]; Hedley, 2020[53]; Kubiak, 2020[54]; Cadenas and Martinez-Silvestre, 2020[36]; D'Cruze et al, 2020 [52]; Howell et al, 2020 [9]; Learmonth, 2020 [18]; Loughman, 2020 [37]; Spain et al, 2020 [38]; Benn et al, 2019 [61]; Lambert et al, 2019 [17]; RSPCA, 2019 [62-65]; Warwick et al, 2019 [8]; Bacon, 2018 [66]; Divers, 2018 [49]; Mendyk, 2018 [3]; Rossi, 2018 [50]; RVC, 2018 [67,68]; Warwick et al, 2018 [51]; Newman and Jayne, 2018 [69]; Oonincx et al, 2017 [70]; de Andrade, 2016 [71]; Sears et al, 2016 [72]; Hart et al, 2015 [73]; Jepson, 2015[47];Wilkinson, 2015 [48];Barten and Fleming, 2014 [46]; BVZS, 2014[74];Hedley, 2014 [75];Hyslop et al, 2014 [76]; Martinez-Silvestre, 2014[77]; Burghardt, 2013[7];Warwick et al, 2013 [34];Miller et al, 2012 [78];Cannon and Johnson, 2011 [45]; Phillips, 2011[79];Breininger et al, 2011 [80]; Fernandez et al, 2011[81]; Baxley and Qualis, 2009 [82]; FAWC, 2009 [24]; Hamilton, 2009 [83]; Hu et al, 2009 [84]; Sperry and Taylor, 2008 [85]; Astley and Jayne, 2007 [44]; Gerald et al, 2006 [86]; RSPCA 2006 [87]; Brito, 2003 [88]; Shine and Shetty, 2001…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Getting It Straight: Accommodating Rectilinear Behavior in Captive Snakes—A Review of Recommendations and Their Evidence Base

Warwick¹,

Grant

Steedman³

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Snakes are sentient animals and should be subject to the accepted general welfare principles of other species. However, they are also the only vertebrates commonly housed in conditions that prevent them from adopting rectilinear behavior (ability to fully stretch out). To assess the evidence bases for historical and current guidance on snake spatial considerations, we conducted a literature search and review regarding recommendations consistent with or specifying ≥1 × and <1 × snake length enclosure size. We identified 65 publications referring to snake enclosure sizes, which were separated into three categories: peer-reviewed literature (article or chapter appearing in a peer-reviewed journal or book, n = 31), grey literature (government or other report or scientific letter, n = 18), and opaque literature (non-scientifically indexed reports, care sheets, articles, husbandry books, website or other information for which originating source is not based on scientific evidence or where scientific evidence was not provided, n = 16). We found that recommendations suggesting enclosure sizes shorter than the snakes were based entirely on decades-old ‘rule of thumb’ practices that were unsupported by scientific evidence. In contrast, recommendations suggesting enclosure sizes that allowed snakes to fully stretch utilized scientific evidence and considerations of animal welfare. Providing snakes with enclosures that enable them to fully stretch does not suggest that so doing allows adequate space for all necessary normal and important considerations. However, such enclosures are vital to allow for a limited number of essential welfare-associated behaviors, of which rectilinear posturing is one, making them absolute minimum facilities even for short-term housing.

show abstract

Section: Peer-reviewed Literature Consistent With ≥1 × Slmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Getting It Straight: Accommodating Rectilinear Behavior in Captive Snakes—A Review of Recommendations and Their Evidence Base

Warwick¹,

Grant

Steedman³

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

A survey exploring the impact of housing and husbandry on pet snake welfare

Cargill¹,

Benato²,

Rooney³

2022

Anim. welf.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Snake ownership is popular; however, housing and care may not always satisfy the animal's welfare needs. For example, snakes are often kept in environmental conditions that restrict their ability to stretch out fully or move around, using rectilinear locomotion. To date, little empirical data exist on the housing and husbandry of captive snakes and how these impact welfare. This study analyses survey responses from 744 snake owners worldwide and explores potential welfare concerns for snakes kept within private homes. It documents the most common housing and husbandry methods and compares the three most common families (Pythonids, Boids and Colubrids). Owner-reported data were used to derive scores for two potential welfare indicators: number of clinical signs of ill health and the number of reported negative (abnormal) behaviours. Using these indicators, associations were tested with snake-keeping variables, such as enclosure size, level of enrichment, temperature and humidity. Owners reported that 90.7% (n = 675) of snakes adopted rectilinear (straight-line or near straight-line) positions or movements. Snakes kept in enclosures > 1 snake length tended to have more enrichment types and were reported with fewer clinical signs of ill health. Some snakes were housed at unknown temperature (7.7%) or humidity (48.1%) ranges or in environmental conditions not in keeping with current recommended guidelines. Corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) were the most likely species to be kept at a humidity which did not match recommendations which may present a welfare concern. This study's results can be used to target husbandry guidance for future recommendations and care manuals.

show abstract

Boas and Pythons

Cited by 2 publications

References 68 publications

Getting It Straight: Accommodating Rectilinear Behavior in Captive Snakes—A Review of Recommendations and Their Evidence Base

Getting It Straight: Accommodating Rectilinear Behavior in Captive Snakes—A Review of Recommendations and Their Evidence Base

A survey exploring the impact of housing and husbandry on pet snake welfare

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About