How to Care for a Green Grass Snake

The rough-scaled green grass snake is a small, slender snake that is found in grass, bushes and trees in nature. This snake can also be kept as a household pet, although frequent handling of the snake is not recommended due to its nervous nature. The green grass snake will likely not try to bite, but it will try to flee, so holding the snake should be done with caution. Reaching up to 33 inches in length, the green grass snake exhibits beauty and exquisiteness like no other.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass or wooden tank
  • Twigs and vines
  • Dried leaves or newspaper
  • Large shallow bowl
  • Water
  • Tank heater
  • Thermometer
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Live crickets
  • Powdered calcium/vitamin supplement
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up adequate housing for your green grass snake. An ideal setting would be a glass tank or wooden cage with glass doors. The snake̵7;s terrarium should be no less than 10 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 10 inches tall. Place several climbing outlets for your snake in the terrarium, such as vertical tree limbs, twigs and plant vines. Line the bottom of the tank with a substrate such as dried leaves or newspaper. Place a large, shallow bowl filled with water in the tank and change the water twice weekly.

    • 2

      Keep the temperature of the tank between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a heater to the tank, such as incandescent bulbs or a ceramic heat emitter, either of which can be attached to the ceiling of the tank. Place a thermometer in the tank to observe the temperature and adjust it as needed.

    • 3

      Clean the tank once a month. Take out the decorations, climbing plants and trees and substrates. Clean items that can be reused in the sink filled with 95 percent water and 5 percent chlorine bleach. Rinse the objects thoroughly in plain water and dry completely before putting them back into the tank. Replace objects such as real leaves and newspaper with fresh ones.

    • 4

      Leave your grass snake alone for two to three days after bringing it home. This will allow it to get acclimated to its new environment. Avoid feeding or disturbing the snake for the first few days.

    • 5

      Feed your snake live crickets every two to three days. Give the snake as many crickets as he will eat in one sitting. Sprinkle the crickets with powdered calcium and vitamin supplement once a week to give your snake extra nutrition. This can be found at any pet store. Give your snake meal worms, flies, wax worms and moths occasionally to supplement their diet. There is really no specific number of times per week you should feed a green grass snake foods other than crickets. They can survive on crickets alone, so whenever you get a chance to give them other foods, feel free to do so.

    • 6

      Mist your snake daily with plain water. Fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water and lightly mist the snake to prevent dehydration.