Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Snake Rearing and Management in Summer

@#@246@#@is a good way for farming families to get rich. Summer is the active season for snakes; mating, egg-laying (or birthing live young), incubation, predation, and the growth and development of young snakes all take place in summer. To raise snakes well, the following tasks are involved in summer rearing and management.

1. Do a good job selecting breeding snakes. Place male and female breeding snakes in a separated area in proportion to form a breeding group; keep other snakes separately by sex. Before breeding snakes are grouped together, they should be given abundant nutrition so they maintain good breeding condition. Manage them carefully during the mating period to reduce deaths.

2. Manage pregnant female snakes well. Female snakes carrying eggs are best placed separately in isolation areas within the snake enclosure, keeping the environment quiet so that the egg follicles have good conditions for development. Observe the snakes' behavior at all times and check the degree of egg development. If egg granules can be seen 3-4 cm from the cloaca, it indicates that eggs will be laid within 7 days, so careful care should be given, and the female snakes about to give birth should be kept in snake boxes so they can lay eggs (or give birth) quietly, then returned to the snake enclosure after giving birth.

3. Pay attention to the management of young snakes. Young snakes generally do not eat for 7-10 days after birth, especially during the first 3 days, mainly relying on yolk for their own nutrition. As they grow older and the yolk is fully absorbed, the activity ability of young snakes gradually increases, and they then need to take nutrition from the outside. Young snakes have a poor ability to eat. At first, they can be force-fed or provided with rich artificial liquid feed, such as yolk, milk, etc., and artificially induced to feed; afterward, gradually give tadpoles, young frogs, and various compound feeds; after growing to a certain stage, larger animals can be given, such as white mice, rats, adult frogs, toads, etc. Snakes generally shed their skin 3 times a year. During shedding, they do not eat or move and are vulnerable to enemies; young snakes that have just shed their skin are prone to bacterial infection of the skin and must be carefully cared for.

4. Adjust the temperature of the snake house well. During the plum rain weather and the summer heat period, keep the environment clean and dry, pay attention to heat prevention and cooling and ventilation, and observe the snakes' activities. Generally, nocturnal snakes do not come out to move during the day, but in cloudy, rainy, and stuffy weather, when the temperature exceeds 30°C and the relative humidity is above 80%, they occasionally come out to move during the day or cool off at the entrance of their holes; therefore, shade shelters should be set up. In early summer when the weather is clear and the temperature is 15°C-18°C, snakes also like to come out at noon to bask in the sun for a short time. Snakes that come out of their holes during the day at other times are mostly male snakes or those with poor constitution or disease. After heavy rain in summer, the most snakes come out of their holes at night.

5. Keep the snake enclosure clean and hygienic. The snake enclosure should be cleaned frequently, the soil replaced, animal carcasses and food residues removed, and weeds removed in time. The water in the pool should be changed frequently to prevent snakes from drinking contaminated water. When heavy rain comes, promptly remove feces from the snake enclosure and drain accumulated water from the area. The snake house should be disinfected in time with lime water or potassium permanganate solution, and tetracycline should be put into the water pool as needed.

6. Strengthen snake enclosure management. Frequently check the water outlet holes of the feed pool and other places. If holes, gaps, or damage are found, repair and replace them in time to prevent snakes from escaping and wild rats from entering. Strengthen safety management of the snake enclosure and strictly prevent natural enemies such as eagles, hedgehogs, wild boars, and vultures from entering the snake farm and causing losses. The number of snakes should be checked frequently, and if any are found missing, the cause should be immediately investigated. If snakes escape from the enclosure, they should be captured back in time to avoid injuring people. Protective measures should be taken during work to prevent snake bites, and first-aid medicine for snake bites should be kept on hand.

7. Promptly deal with sick snakes. Snakes found to have difficulty moving, red and swollen mouths, rotting bodies, or other diseases should be treated or culled in time.