Do Snakes Get Lonely? Understanding Snake Social Behavior

Snakes are often portrayed as solitary, isolated creatures. But do snakes actually get lonely when kept alone in captivity? This is a fascinating question for snake lovers and herpetologists alike. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about snake companionship and social needs.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: While snakes are not social animals like dogs or humans, they do seem to benefit from and even enjoy interactions with other snakes of the same species.

However, most snakes do not require snake companionship and can thrive on their own in captivity when provided proper habitat enrichment.

The Solitary Reputation of Snakes

Snakes are often portrayed as lone, isolated creatures

Snakes are frequently depicted in books, movies, and other media as solitary animals who prefer to be left alone. The image of a snake coiled by itself or slithering through the grass evokes a sense of independence and solitude.

This solitary reputation stems from some truthful aspects of snake behavior, but may not paint a complete picture of their social lives.

In the wild, snakes spend much of their time alone

It’s true that in nature, snakes are often found by themselves rather than in groups. With the exception of breeding season, most snake species don’t form social groups or communities. Their daily activities like hunting, basking, and exploring are usually done alone.

For example, a common garter snake will set out by itself each day to find food and a warm place to rest, not interacting with other snakes along the way. So from an observational standpoint, snakes do seem to enjoy their own company.

Snakes lack social bonding behaviors

Another reason for the solitary reputation of snakes is that they lack the social bonding behaviors seen in many mammal species. Snakes do not groom each other, play together, or communicate in sophisticated ways. Even mating is relatively impersonal for most species.

This apparent lack of social connection reinforces the image of snakes as aloof and independent creatures. However, some fascinating new research suggests that snakes may have more social depth than previously thought.

Evidence That Snakes Enjoy Companionship

Snakes May Cluster Together in the Wild for Security

Although often portrayed as solitary creatures, snakes in the wild have been observed gathering together in groups, clusters, and communal nests. While the motivations are not entirely clear, it is believed they gather for added security and protection.

According to a 2021 study published on Oxford Academic, researchers using radio telemetry tracked black rat snakes and found 36% resided in clusters of up to 30 snakes in a single hibernation den over the winter.

This clustering behavior suggests snakes, as social animals, may have an instinctual drive toward companionship with their own kind.

Captive Snakes Housed Together Often Interact

Snake owners have long attested that snakes kept together in captivity will interact through play, exploration, basking, and tongue flicking. According to exotic pet site The Spruce Pets, signs your pet snakes enjoy each other’s company may include coordinated movements, reciprocal climbing over and investigation of cage mates, group thermoregulation, and coordinated sheltering.

Compared to solitary snakes who pace their enclosures seeking stimulus or interaction, snakes housed together demonstrate more natural behaviors indicative of fulfillment social needs.

Snakes Have Been Observed ‘Cuddling’ for Warmth

Anecdotal evidence of snake companionship is the observation of snakes appearing to “cuddle” together. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning they rely on external heat sources like the sun or heated rocks to warm their bodies.

According to Reptiles Magazine, snakes housed together will entwine and pile together, using each other’s body heat to keep warm in a behavior known as thermoregulating. This snake cuddling suggests an instinctual comfort and preference toward group clustering.

Similar to penguins huddling for warmth in Antarctica’s winter, the very survival of snakes relies on social groupings, making companionship a beneficial and essential snake behavior.

Providing Enrichment for Solo Pet Snakes

Habitat complexity reduces stress for solitary snakes

Although snakes are largely solitary creatures, their well-being still depends greatly on having an enriching habitat. An enclosure set up with ample hiding spots, climbing branches, substrate variety, and overall habitat complexity has been shown to reduce signs of stress and restlessness in pet snakes.

Studies demonstrate that snakes provided with basic cages versus more enriched habitats had higher levels of corticosterone, indicating increased stress levels (source: https://academic.oup.com/conphys/article/8/1/coaa083/6025694).

Enrichments like vines, hollow logs, and sheltered hiding areas allow snakes opportunities to feel more secure and exhibit natural behaviors like climbing and burrowing.

Hide boxes, branches, and plants prevent boredom

Hide boxes, artificial foliage, branches, rocks, tunnels, and other habitat enrichments prevent boredom by allowing snakes to interact with their environment. Especially for active species like corn snakes and king snakes, ample opportunities to explore, climb, and hide are vital for their health and preventcage stereotypies.

Providing multiple hide areas, especially on both the warm and cool side of the enclosure, allows snakes to thermoregulate while remaining hidden and secure. Positioning branches, vines, and plants strategically promotes natural climbing and perching behaviors.

Rotate items periodically to keep the layout fresh and interesting.

Rotation of enclosure accessories keeps things interesting

Rotating different habitat enrichments is an easy way to keep pet snakes engaged with their environment. Swap out, rearrange, or introduce new items like:

• Artificial foliage and vines
• Branches, logs, and perches
• Rocks, caves, tunnels
• Different substrates – cypress mulch, sphagnum moss
• Pots, hide boxes

Maintaining novelty prevents habituation so snakes remain curious, active explorers of their domain rather than sitting in one spot out of boredom or feeling exposed due to lack of hiding spots. Rotate items monthly or biweekly.

Check for signs of increased investigating behaviors and tongue flicking whenever new layouts are introduced as this indicates mental enrichment and stimulation.

When to House Snakes Together Safely

Only house snakes of the same species and gender

When considering co-habitating snakes, it is critical to only place snakes of the same species and gender together. Mixing snake species or genders can lead to dangerous territory disputes, starvation if one hog feeds, dominance issues, and even attempts to eat one another in some cases.

For example, corn snakes can safely be housed together if they are all male or all female. However, mixing the genders is not advised as the male may continuously mate with the female which can be dangerous and stressful.

Beware of housing different size snakes together

Additionally, any snakes housed together should be of similar size. If one snake is significantly larger, it may intimidate, injure, or even eat a smaller cage mate.

As a general rule, any snake housed with another should not have more than a 50% size difference to prevent deadly conflict or competition.

Carefully monitor feeding time – offer multiple prey items spaced apart to reduce dominance over food sources

Have a backup enclosure in case they need to be separated

Have multiple hide areas and sources of heat

Finally, a co-habitat environment must offer ample resources for the number snakes housed within in it. This includes:

Multiple hide boxes/areas so each has their own private nesting spot

Enough space for each to freely roam and thermoregulate

Multiple confined sources of heat like heat pads so one snake cannot dominate the warmth

With ample space, hiding spots, and resources, housing snakes of the same species and sex can be safe. However, continue monitoring them closely for signs of dominance or intimidation. Be prepared to separate at the first sign of trouble.

For more co-habitation tips see the Reptiles Magazine article here.

Conclusion

While they are not inherently social animals like humans, snakes do seem capable of deriving benefits from companionship when housed together responsibly. However, a solitary snake can thrive on their own when provided with proper enrichment.

Understanding your pet snake’s needs is key to keeping them happy and healthy.

The solitary reputation of snakes has been overstated – they are capable of far more social complexity than we give them credit for. With proper handling and habitat enrichment, even the most introverted snake can live an engaged, active lifestyle.