number of hours of sleep per day and most common species as a pet

Question
Dear Joseph Glenn,
I am writing a book and need to know how many hours of sleep per day snakes need. I also need to know which species of snake is the most commonly uased as a pet.
Cordially, Scott

Answer
Scott,

    Thanks for your questions.  I really don't have a definite answer for you, as far as how much sleep a snake needs per day.  It is sort of tricky to tell whether a snake is sleeping or not, due to their docile nature and fused transparent eye lids.  If you will allow me to get back to you about this question, I would be more than happy to do some further research on it.  What I can tell you is that snakes need a period of rest after they ingest a meal in order to allow metabloic processes to occur.  In the larger species, such as the boids, this period of "rest" can last for several days, depending on the size of the prey ingested.  
    I would say that the most common pet snakes are probably either corn snakes or rat snakes.  These snakes are two of the easiest snakes to keep, and are relatively cheap to care for.  They can grow between four and seven feet long, and can live for about fifteen years.  Another type of snake which is a popular pet is the Ball Python.  This small python grows to be about four feet long as an adult, and doesn't require near as much food or space as larger pythons.  Another popular snake is the Boa Constrictor.  These snakes are larger, however, and are much more difficult for the average hobbyist to care for, requiring much more space, money, and larger meals, such as large rats and rabbits.
    I will get back to you about the sleeping question as soon as I find out more information.  Good luck with your book!

Joseph Glenn