Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica)

Short answers

Barred grass snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 150×60×60 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); an aqua-terrarium.

Barred grass snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–27 °C, basking spot 32 °C, at night 12–17 °C.

Barred grass snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).

Barred grass snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–25 years.

Barred grass snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–27 °C

Night temperature

12–17 °C

Basking spot

32 °C

Humidity

55–70 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 150×60×60 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); an aqua-terrarium

Substrate

Bark mulch with leaf litter, a cork hide, a large water section

Feeding

Food

Fish, amphibian substitute food, earthworms

Feeding interval

2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

usually 80–120 cm total length; females noticeably larger and more robust, males rarely over 140 cm. A maximum length of just under 2 m has been recorded.

Life expectancy

15–25 years

Origin

Western and southwestern Europe: England, France, Benelux, Switzerland, Italy, northern Spain; in Germany west and south of the Rhine

Protection status

Specially protected (German Federal Species Protection Ordinance) – taking from the wild is prohibited, keeping it only with legal proof of origin

Brumation

A winter rest of 12–16 weeks at 4–8 °C

Cohabitation

A group is possible. Water and garter snakes are the exception among colubrids: they lie together willingly and can be kept in groups. But the feeding accident remains the risk here too — so always feed them singly, ideally in separate boxes, and only house animals of roughly the same size together.

Notes

Split from Natrix natrix in 2017 – the western grass snake, with strong dark cross bars. Native and strictly regulated: documented captive-bred animals only, and taking it from the wild is a criminal offence.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Grass snake (Natrix natrix) – Intermediate
• Viperine water snake (Natrix maura) – Intermediate
• Dice snake (Natrix tessellata) – Expert
• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate
• Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) – Expert
• Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) – Intermediate
• Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 150×60×60 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); an aqua-terrarium), substrate (Bark mulch with leaf litter, a cork hide, a large water section), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.