Water Snake (Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus)

Water Snake Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus
Name	Water Snake
Name Lat.	Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus
Synonym	Liophis poecilogyrus
Family	Colubrids
Family lat.	Colubridae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	South America
Habitat	Wetlands
Diet	Fish, amphibians
Humidity	50-70 %
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	5-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	60-70 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Temperature Local	30-35 °C
Housing Size	100 x 60 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	24"-28"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Temperature Local	86-95 °F
Housing Size	40" x 25" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The golden-bellied snakes are widespread in South America, from Ecuador through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay to Argentine. They live in forests, scrubland and grassland always near flowing or standing water.

Maintenance

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

1-2 animals

1,25KL x 0,75KL x 0,5KL (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 100 x W 60 x H 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a terrarium structured with roots, climbing branches, cork tubes and bamboo sticks (hiding places and visual protection) with a moisture-retaining substrate, e.g. of sand-humus mixture with peat and foliage, as well as a large, easy-to-clean water basin as drinking and bathing possibility. Part of the substrate should always be kept slightly moist (no waterlogging). Several times a week, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity). A rain or mist system is ideal.

Temp. day: 24-28 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 50-70

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-15 hrs depending on the season. Daylight fluorescent tubes supplemented with spotlights are ideal.

Diet

The food offer consists of live fish, smelts, fish meat as well as mice according to their size. After successful acclimation often succeeds the changeover to dead food animals (commercial frozen food). Juveniles should be offered food every 3-5 days, adults every 7-10 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 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.

A short rest period is recommended for successful reproduction. The female lays her eggs, 5-10 per clutch in the moist substrate. A second and third clutch is laid at intervals of 30 to 40 days. She does not perform brood care. After 50-60 days, at a temperature of 27 °C, the 15-20 cm large young hatch.

Important

A total of 4 subspecies are known in their wide range. They need a dry sunny place warmed by radiators. When threatened, they can emit strong-smelling feces

For the resting phase, the lighting duration is reduced by 2-3 hours for 2-3 months and the temperature is lowered to approx. 15 °C, depending on the origin.

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: petdata; 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