Black Copper Ratsnake (Coelognatus flavolineatus)
This is a small to medium sized species of snake from southeast Asia that is imported from Indonesia and very occasionally Vietnamese specimens are available. The Vietnamese specimens are especially sought after as they can retain much more pattern into adulthood. Overall, this is a relatively easy species to keep and breed provided that healthy stock is obtained.
This species is easily maintained in a 3-4’ long terrarium or tub with a newspaper substrate and multiple hide boxes The author uses sterilite 1996 tubs for the adults which are around 20” wide and 40” long. Gumprecht (2003) translated an article from a German breeder which noted that imported specimens not given sufficient space often suffered nose rub and respiratory infections, but not those kept in larger terraria of 1x1x1 meters did not. A moist hide box large enough for the snake to get its entire body into should be available for egg laying, humidity, and shedding.
This species will dig in the bedding so the moist hide should be at least 3” deep so they can get some additional exercise from digging. Fresh water should be available at all times. This species does not require overly warm conditions and it would be advisable to prevent such conditions. Ambient temperatures in the mid to upper 70s will create the right conditions with a small hotspot created with heat tape to 85F. Heat tape will create a basking site without creating overly warm ambient temperatures or excessive drying. If using a basking lamp, regular misting is likely to be needed. The goal is to create a moist area for borrowing but the snakes should also have access to dry areas, too.
Experience with a number of wild caught Indonesian specimens has taught the author that they will readily take live pinky to crawler rats or hopper mice (depending on the size of the snake) but leaving thawed prey items in the cage overnight rarely results in success The best initial results are to feed live prey, transitioning to live prey off a pair of long blunt end tweezers or forceps, and finally onto thawed large hopper or small adult mice. Captive born young will start easily on live small pinky mice.
No specific conditions appear to be needed to induce reproduction other than maintaining the animals in a healthy state. Eggs can be incubated in the upper 70s in small containers of damp vermiculite with a small hole for ventilation. The hatchlings are not tiny (much larger than say C. helena) and are very colorful. Live pinky mice should be available as the hatchlings may not take frozen thawed rodents (though there is no harm in trying some).
Resources
Gumprecht, Andreas, 2003. Coelognatus flavolineatus (Schlegel). Litteratura Serpentium, Vol. 23(4): 180-187.
This is a small to medium sized species of snake from southeast Asia that is imported from Indonesia and very occasionally Vietnamese specimens are available. The Vietnamese specimens are especially sought after as they can retain much more pattern into adulthood. Overall, this is a relatively easy species to keep and breed provided that healthy stock is obtained.
This species is easily maintained in a 3-4’ long terrarium or tub with a newspaper substrate and multiple hide boxes The author uses sterilite 1996 tubs for the adults which are around 20” wide and 40” long. Gumprecht (2003) translated an article from a German breeder which noted that imported specimens not given sufficient space often suffered nose rub and respiratory infections, but not those kept in larger terraria of 1x1x1 meters did not. A moist hide box large enough for the snake to get its entire body into should be available for egg laying, humidity, and shedding.
This species will dig in the bedding so the moist hide should be at least 3” deep so they can get some additional exercise from digging. Fresh water should be available at all times. This species does not require overly warm conditions and it would be advisable to prevent such conditions. Ambient temperatures in the mid to upper 70s will create the right conditions with a small hotspot created with heat tape to 85F. Heat tape will create a basking site without creating overly warm ambient temperatures or excessive drying. If using a basking lamp, regular misting is likely to be needed. The goal is to create a moist area for borrowing but the snakes should also have access to dry areas, too.
Experience with a number of wild caught Indonesian specimens has taught the author that they will readily take live pinky to crawler rats or hopper mice (depending on the size of the snake) but leaving thawed prey items in the cage overnight rarely results in success The best initial results are to feed live prey, transitioning to live prey off a pair of long blunt end tweezers or forceps, and finally onto thawed large hopper or small adult mice. Captive born young will start easily on live small pinky mice.
No specific conditions appear to be needed to induce reproduction other than maintaining the animals in a healthy state. Eggs can be incubated in the upper 70s in small containers of damp vermiculite with a small hole for ventilation. The hatchlings are not tiny (much larger than say C. helena) and are very colorful. Live pinky mice should be available as the hatchlings may not take frozen thawed rodents (though there is no harm in trying some).
Resources
Gumprecht, Andreas, 2003. Coelognatus flavolineatus (Schlegel). Litteratura Serpentium, Vol. 23(4): 180-187.