How Long do Snakes Sleep? | VenomousSnake

How Long do Snakes Sleep?

How do snakes sleep?

Snakes need sleep to survive. The way a snake sleeps, it may not appear to us as sleeping because we have to close our eyes. By closing our eyes, we send a signal to our brain to “switch off” and begin sleep stages. Snakes don’t have eyelids. A snake cannot send this “sleep time” signal that humans do. Naturally, this leads people to believe that snakes don’t sleep at all.

There is limited research on the sleeping habits of snakes. One of the few things we know is that reptiles experience 2 stages of sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) and SWS (slow wave sleep). Recent searches in Science found that reptiles frequently experience REM and SWS.

Humans experience both REM and SWS. They are considered vital stages in a healthy sleep cycle and allow us to function optimally. The study found that bearded dragons experienced an average of 350 80-second SWS/REM sleep cycles each night. What this means for snakes is that they too, like reptiles, can undergo similar sleep cycles.

Unfortunately, we don’t know how snakes sleep. Logical theories have been mapped out, but many have yet to be scientifically explored. Let’s look at a theory that has scientific merit: unihemispheric sleep.

What is unhemispheric sleep?

It is theorized that snakes may experience a form of unihemispheric sleep. One-hemispheric sleep is when half of the brain sleeps at a time. This is common in aquatic animals that have to move to breathe and “sleep with one eye open” for predators. Dolphins and fish are common examples.

As outlined in Ethology, snakes don’t have eyelids, which makes it challenging to identify their sleep patterns by observing their eye movements. Instead, they exhibit periods of rest that are often characterized by decreased activity, lowered metabolic rates, and a lack of responsiveness to external stimuli.

Snakes are known to have a type of sleep that involves shutting down one half of their brain at a time, known as “unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.” This means that while one hemisphere of the snake’s brain is in a deeper sleep state, the other hemisphere remains more awake and alert. This adaptation is believed to help snakes maintain awareness of their environment and be prepared to respond to potential threats even while sleeping.

Do snakes dream?

REM is the stage of sleep in which the subject is dreaming. Humans experience REM sleep nearly every night, even if we don’t remember it. REM has been observed in other species. Dog owners have seen their pet chasing a rabbit in a dream while sleeping. One neuroscientist hypothesizes that reptiles may dream of recent events, such as food, happenings in its environment, and encounters with its own species.

There is no conclusive evidence to say that snakes dream. Conversely, there is also no conclusive evidence to say that snakes Not dream. Given that reptiles have been found to experience REM, it is logical to assume that reptiles can dream as well.

How to Tell if a Snake is Asleep

Figuring out when a snake is sleeping can be tricky. The signal we recognize as sleep (eyes closed) does not exist for snakes. However, there are some ways to reasonably Guess when a snake is napping given what we know about their habits. The main one is: if you can’t see a snake, it is likely that it is sleeping.

Snakes are both predators and prey. Like many animals in this category, a snake will try to find a safe place to rest. For a snake, this often means a place that is only slightly larger than its mass or where predators cannot reach it. This could be a burrow, burrow, hideout, tree hollow, sunken cave, or any other nooks and crannies to find. As three examples:

• Ball pythons are nocturnal and in the wild are often found spending the day inside termite mounds.
• Green Tree Pythons will be found coiled up in the trees.
• Hognose snakes, according to the University of Michiganit will make a den or huddle in abandoned mammal burrows.

Conversely, for captive snakes, if your snake is hiding it may be asleep. Otherwise, possible signs that your snake is sleeping are:

• Lack of awareness: Your snake usually reacts when you approach or open its enclosure.
• Slow and calm breathing: Just like when you sleep, your snake’s breathing will slow down while it sleeps. This can be a little difficult to spot, especially if the snake is coiled up or hidden.
• Muscles relaxed: Most snakes coil up to rest or sleep, but with true sleep comes a relaxation of the muscles.
• Slow heartbeat: As with all other animals, a snake’s heartbeat will slow down during true sleep.

When do snakes sleep?

Snakes are ectothermic, which means they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. Because of this, their activity levels are often tied to temperature changes. In cooler climates or during colder seasons, snakes enter a state of reduced activity similar to hibernation, known as brumation. This period can last for several months, during which snakes are less active and might even stay in their shelter for extended periods.

Where do snakes sleep?

The sleeping spots of snakes vary depending on their habitat and species. Snakes can be found sleeping in a variety of locations, including:

1. Burrows: Many snake species seek shelter and sleep in burrows that they’ve either dug themselves or taken over from other animals.
2. Rock crevices: Snakes might curl up in crevices or gaps between rocks to find protection and warmth.
3. Tree branches: Some tree-dwelling snakes, like arboreal species, find suitable perches on tree branches to rest and sleep.
4. Tall grass or vegetation: Ground-dwelling snakes might hide and sleep within tall grass or other vegetation for protection.
5. Human-made structures: In urban areas, snakes could occasionally seek shelter and sleep in places like sheds, basements, or under structures.
6. Caves: Certain snake species might use caves as sleeping sites, especially in areas where caves are present.

What is brumation?

Brumation is a state of semi-suspended animation. During brumationsnakes live on stored body fat and move very little.

In preparation for brumation, a snake will seek out or make a den. This allows the snake a degree of protection from predators and insulation from the deadly cold.

Brumation allows snakes to survive everything from the harshest winters to sudden cold snaps. Many snake species, such as garter snakes and bull snakes, will emerge from brumation and immediately begin looking for a mate. This is because warmer weather, which awakens snakes from brumation, often signals the onset of spring. Aestivation is the equivalent tactic of brumation for surviving extreme heat and drought.

Why do snakes sleep with their eyes open?

In addition to literally not being able to close its eyes, a wild snake must be constantly on the alert. In the wild, a snake must always be on the lookout for its next meal, the next predator trying to make a meal of it. Or, snakes lack movable eyelids and have a transparent eye scale called a spectacle. This makes it impossible for them to close their eyes. They keep their eyes open for several reasons:

1. Sensory Awareness: Snakes rely on sight to detect movement and changes around them. Open eyes help them stay alert to potential danger or prey.
2. Vigilance: Since snakes are vulnerable, they stay watchful even while resting to avoid threats.
3. Unique Sleep Patterns: Snakes have different sleep patterns from mammals, so they need to stay responsive to their surroundings.
4. Protection: The spectacle shields their eyes from debris and harm.

Is my snake sleeping too much?

If you notice other worrying signs in combination with it, then you are oversleeping consult a reptile veterinarian. Such signs could be:

• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath or hoarseness
• Open mouth breathing
• Lack or loss of appetite

It’s not always the worst-case scenario. Your snake may be entering brumation. Even if a pet snake lives in an air-conditioned enclosure, it may still instinctively enter a period of reduced activity.

Research into the natural behaviors and habitats of snake species will help confirm normal and abnormal behavior.

Snakes sleep, though how and for how long remains largely a mystery. The theory suggests some form of one-hemispheric sleep. Scientists studying reptiles have discovered that lizards experience REM and SWS stages of sleep. This suggests that reptiles are sleeping and may even be dreaming.