Amur Ratsnake (Elaphe schrenckii)

Amur Ratsnake Elaphe schrenckii
Name	Amur Ratsnake
Name Lat.	Elaphe schrenckii
Family	Colubrids
Family lat.	Colubridae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Asia
Habitat	Forests, shrubland
Diet	Small mammals
Humidity	50-70 %
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	10-15 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	120-150 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Temperature Local	28-33 °C
Housing Size	150 x 80 x 150 cm
US Units
Size	47"-59"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Temperature Local	82-91 °F
Housing Size	60" x 30" x 60"

Distribution and habitat

The distribution range of the mainly diurnal and crepuscular Amur snake extends from southeastern Russia and Manchuria through Korea to southern China. There they prefer to live in higher wooded regions and scrublands, often near settlements.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals:

1-2 animals

1KL x 0,5KL x 1KL (L x W x H)

Body length (KL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal the floor space should be increased by 20%. A terrarium of e.g. L 150 x W 80 x H 150 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a terrarium structured with roots, branched climbing branches, cork tubes and bamboo sticks (hiding places and privacy screen), a moisture-retaining substrate, e.g. of sand-humus mixture with peat and foliage, as well as an easy-to-clean water basin as drinking vessel. To ensure constant humidity, a quarter of the substrate must always be kept slightly moist, for which sheets of sphagnum moss are well suited. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (misting or rain system).

Temp. day: 22-28 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 33 °C

Humidity: 50-70

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs depending on the season. Daylight fluorescent tubes supplemented with UV lamps are ideal.

Diet

The food supply consists of small live rodents (mice, small rats) as well as chicks or small pigeons and occasionally a chicken egg, according to their size. After successful acclimation often succeeds the switch to dead food animals (commercial frozen food). Juveniles should be offered food every 3-5 days, adults every 7-14 days, with an occasional fasting period (e.g., skip a feeding). If the snake is disturbed after feeding, this may result in vomiting of the prey. It is better to offer several small feeders, rather than one large one. It is important to enrich the feed animals with vitamins and minerals. Since the snake could be injured by live rodents, it should not be left unattended with them.

Reproduction and breeding

Males have paired reproductive organs (hemipenis), retracted at the base of the tail, and a longer tail than females. Probing by a veterinarian is the only reliable method of sex determination.

The female lays her eggs (about 15 of them) in moist substrate about 5 cm deep and does not engage in brood care. The incubation period is 40-60 days at a temperature of 26-28 °C.

The life expectancy can be 10-15 years.

Important

They are well tolerated among themselves. According to the number of animals, sunny places should be set up on stones or loamy surfaces, which are heated with radiators. Higher temperatures and too low humidity are not tolerated in the long term

A hibernation period of 4-5 months at a temperature of 2-10 °C, accompanied by a break in feeding, is recommended.Always have snake hooks and protective gloves ready when handling

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Christian Sänger; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten -  Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF