Our Field Testing

Our Field Testing

With decades of experience handling and observing both venomous and non-venomous snakes in captivity and the wild, many herpetologist’s, including Dan Krull, Tim Cole and John Potash have tested SlitherStation’s design using live snakes across a wide range of species and sizes.

Our experts were asked to evaluate how the enclosure functions in real-world conditions—why it succeeds, how snakes interact with it, and whether any improvements were needed.

Throughout testing, we have worked with rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, rat snakes, coachwhips, coral snakes, a cape cobra, and more—some wild-caught, others long-term captives.

In every case, the results were consistent and impressive.
Simply put: the design is effective.

One of the key features behind SlitherStation’s proven containment design is the unique top rail design. The angled structure—what we call the containment channel—creates a physical and psychological barrier that snakes simply don’t challenge.

When a large snake approaches the inner wall, it encounters three options: move left, move right, or attempt to climb.

If it chooses to climb, the shape of the upper channel forces it to bend backward at an angle that is unnatural and difficult.

Once they reach the edge, they’re met with an outward-facing overhang—one that no snake, in our trials, has been able to cross.

This upper design doesn’t just stop movement—it subtly uses the snake’s own instincts against them.

In nature, snakes seek shelter and shade when they feel exposed.

The shape and shadow of the top rail appears to offer cover, which draws them forward into the containment area—only to find themselves enclosed, with no opportunity to scale the walls.

This feature became especially apparent when testing with a large western diamondback inside the enclosure.

When presented with a section of barrier that lacked the overhang, the snake immediately slithered up the 11 inches and over! 

It was a striking reminder of just how effective the angled top design is, not only as a physical deterrent but as an instinct-driven redirection tool.