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Elaphe Bimaculata (Chinese leopard ratsnake)
Origin: This Asian species is distributed in the mountainous region of southeast China.
Length: up to 100 cm, average length 60 to 80 cm
Lifespan: 15 years
It is a typical Elaphe, clearly visible in both its head and body structure. This species reaches a length of about a meter. It is one of the small Elaphe species, which appears even smaller due to its slender build. Its color is brownish-yellow to reddish-brown with two rows of spots that sometimes form stripes on the neck. The purple spots sometimes merge into one another. The spots/stripes are reddish-brown with a black border. The spots/stripes sometimes run across a brownish band, giving the animal the appearance of being striped with spots/stripes. Eight to ten, sometimes eleven, scales on the upper lip. They have 18 to 20 teeth in their upper jaw. |
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Care
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey. The main prey given are small mice.
Feeding adults: every 14 days
Feeding young: every 7 days
Water dish: Yes
Water changes: 2-3 times a week
Food
You can choose to offer the prey live or dead. It is recommended to offer dead food. This is more practical and prevents the prey animal from injuring your snake. It is also recommended to offer the prey animal with feeding tongs and to feed your snake outside its enclosure. This ensures that your hand is not associated with the food and prevents the snake from grabbing your hand during feeding. If you do choose to offer live food, you must supervise feeding, as the prey animal can also injure the snake. Feed the snakes separately, because when two snakes eat the same prey, they can injure each other and sometimes even eat each other. The ideal prey animal is approximately as wide as the widest part of the snake.
Water
Snakes love to lie in water, so a large water bowl is essential in the enclosure. The water bowl should be large enough for the snake to lie in with its entire body, and slightly larger is appreciated. Because the snake lies in it, the water can get dirty more quickly, so make sure to change the water when it becomes dirty. They drink the water too.
Cleaning
A hygienic environment is important to keep your orange rat snake healthy. To achieve this, the enclosure should be cleaned regularly. Cleaning once a week is sufficient. In addition, the entire enclosure should be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year to prevent bacteria buildup.
Handling
From time to time, you will need to handle your snake(s). When handling a snake, it is wise to use a snake hook; otherwise, make sure to handle the snake gently. These snakes are easy to handle, but there are a few things to watch out for when handling them. First, never squeeze your snake while handling it, as their vertebrae are fragile and can easily break. It's best to let your snake rest quietly in your hand. Also, make sure your hands are washed and free of food odors. Finally, don't handle your snake while it's molting, and don't handle it in the dark.
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Housing
Minimum enclosure size for one animal: 80x40x50
Daytime temperature (warm side): 25-30C
Daytime temperature (cool side): 22-25C
Nighttime temperature: 18-20C
Daylight hours: 10-12 hours
Humidity: 40%-60%
Substrate: Humus or sand (not desert sand)
The snake lives in and along forest edges, grasslands, and cultivated areas. Therefore, it is very diverse.
There are a few additional things to keep in mind regarding the enclosure. The snake is capable of squeezing itself through small cracks. Keep this in mind and ensure that the enclosure doesn't have any small gaps that it can fit through. Ventilation is necessary to keep the air fresh, and it is recommended to place the enclosure out of direct sunlight and as vibration-free as possible.
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Costs and Purchase
Legislation: This species is not classified as a "cités," so a transfer document is desirable, as is the case with any animal. This allows you to prove where they were originally purchased if questions arise.
One-time costs: These include the costs of housing, lighting, heating, water tank, and decorations. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include food, which amounts to several tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs arise if your snake accidentally becomes ill or your equipment breaks down.
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