Japanese Ratsnake (Elaphe climacophora)

Japanese Ratsnake Elaphe climacophora
Name	Japanese Ratsnake
Name Lat.	Elaphe climacophora
Family	Colubrids
Family lat.	Colubridae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Asia
Habitat	Shrubland
Diet	Small mammals
Humidity	50-80 %
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Humid terrarium
Life Span	10-15 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	120-160 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	30-35 °C
Housing Size	160 x 80 x 160 cm
US Units
Size	47"-63"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	86-95 °F
Housing Size	65" x 30" x 65"

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the mainly diurnal and crepuscular Japanese Climbing Snakes is the Japanese archipelago and the Russian island of Kunsair. They live in bamboo forests, meadows and shrublands as well as in cultivated land, mostly near water bodies.

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 160 x W 80 x H 160 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a terrarium structured with branched climbing branches, cork tubes and bamboo sticks (hiding places and privacy screen) with a graveable 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 small portion 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 (rain or mist system).

Temp. day: 22-28 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 50-80

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

Diet

The food supply consists of live rodents (mice, rats) and chicks 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 occasional periods of fasting (e.g., skipping 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. If it does not eat for a long period of time, both the timing and the food should be varied. It is important to fortify the food 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

Probing by the veterinarian is the only reliable method of sex determination.

The female lays her eggs (7-20 pieces) in the moist, about 5 cm deep substrate and does not perform brood care. The incubation period is 40-90 days at a temperature of 26-28 °C. Juveniles are between 27 and 40 cm long

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 warmed with radiators. Higher temperatures and too low humidity are not tolerated in the long term.

A winter rest of 4-5 months at a temperature of 2-10 °C accompanied by a feeding break 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