Trinket Snake - Elaphe helena
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Trinket Snake -
Elaphe helena
[Back to Snake
Care Sheets]
General Information
Distribution — Bengladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
Habitat — Scrub zones of rain forest edges, rice fields, plantations, and meadows near water.
Adult Size — Trinket snakes are a small rat snake with a pronounced difference between the size of males and females. That is, they are sexually dimorphic with females ranging in size from 120 cm - 130 cm (46-50 inches) and males ranging in size from 90 cm - 100 cm (36-39 inches).
Temperament — This species is shy and will calm down with regular, gentle handling. Young animals should be given at least four weeks to acclimate to their new environment before being handled.
Longevity — Elaphe helena lives for 12-15 years. Long term captive data for this species is unavailable as they have not been bred in captivity for more than a decade.
Captive Care
Rating: 1 — Moderate size, gentle disposition, and easy to care for.
Diet: Hatchlings and juveniles - pink/ fuzzy mice, hopper mice, and pink/fuzzy rats every 7 days; Adults - large rodents such as rats every 9-14 days.
Temperature: Daytime: 25°C to 29°C (75°F-84°F); Nigh-time: 20°C (68°F)
Space: Trinket snakes can be housed in a 20 Gallon Long (30 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches) to a 23 Gallon Long (36 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches) terrarium. Taller enclosures - 30-35 Gallons will be best as this species is semi-arboreal.
Breeding: Trinket snakes are not a common species in Canada but have been readily available as captive bred animals in teh U.S. for several years. They are prolific and relatively easy to breed. Females can ovulate as many as 7 times a year producing 7 fertile clutches of eggs. Although one copulation can result in two fertile clutches a male should be introduced 3-4 weeks after a clutch is laid to ensure egg viability. Females should be at least 3 feet in length before they are bred. Males will reach maturity at 2-3 years of age. Clutch sizes vary from 5-12 eggs that will take between 65-75 days to incubate 26°-29°C (77°F-85°F). No cooling is necessary to breed these animals.
Special Requirements: Trinket snakes are hardy and easy to care for; however, they must be provided with humid hide areas to ensure proper shedding. Providing these snakes with a taller enclosure and secure branches will permit them to exhibit their semi-arboreal nature.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
de Vosjoli, Philippe. 2004. The Art of Keeping Snakes. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Irvin, California. Pp 232.
Mattison, Chris. 1995. Keeping and Breeding Snakes. Cassell Publishing, London, UK. Pp. 184.
Schultz, Klaus-Dieter. 1996. A Monograph of the Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Elaphe Fitzinger. Koelz Scientific Books, Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic. Pp 439.