Homemade Decorations for a Snake Cage

Small snakes can be comfortable living in a large aquarium, as long as you provide the amount and type of decorations that will make the snake feel at home. The tank decorations also are the snake's "furniture," and provide him with places to hide, bask and bathe. You can find most of the materials you need to decorate your snake tank at home or in your backyard.

  1. Hiding places

    • All species of snakes appreciate having a place to hide while they sleep. The hiding area also provides shade from the basking lamp, and can help the snake conserve body heat when necessary. The hiding spot should have just one opening, at least twice the snake's diameter. Driftwood or clean pieces of wood piled in a corner of the tank may serve this purpose. Flat rocks, placed in a pile with an open center, can create a good hiding place. Broken terracotta flower pots or ceramic bowls (with rough edges filed down) also may be used.

    Basking places

    • At the end of the tank under the basking light, provide a high spot for the snake to bask. One long tree branch, positioned diagonally across the tank, might be useful. Any flat piece of wood can work, as can a length of dowel rod wrapped in peat moss. Use wire to hold the peat moss in place, or use a woody house plant with a strong trunk, especially if the plant has some horizontal branches.

    Bathing spots

    • The snake needs a place to soak and bathe; choose a waterproof container at least three times as tall as the snake's diameter, and fill it one-third full of water. A flat, glass baking dish is a good choice as it can be easily removed and sterilized when you clean the tank. Snakes also like round containers more than rectangular. Setting the baking dish on the surface of the tank's substrate allows you to view the snake while it soaks. For a more natural look, sink the dish so the rim is just above the level of the substrate.

    Finishing touches

    • Add small, leafy houseplants to the corners of the tank to give the habitat a more natural look. Philodendrons do well in snake tanks. Let their long leafy branches trail across the tank. The leaves also help filter the light and make the snake feel more secure. Place pretty rocks here and there near the front of the tank; this is a perfect place for a rock collection. For visual interest, add a small ceramic or stone statue, or a scattering of colored glass marbles.