Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi)

Short answers

Dekay's brown snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 60×40×40 cm.

Dekay's brown snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C, at night 16–19 °C.

Dekay's brown snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential.

Dekay's brown snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–8 years.

Dekay's brown snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C

Night temperature

16–19 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 60×40×40 cm

Substrate

Humus with a thick layer of leaf litter, flat hides

Feeding

Food

Slugs, earthworms

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–40 cm

Life expectancy

5–8 years

Origin

North America

Protection status

—

Brumation

Yes, 8–10 weeks at 10–14 °C

Cohabitation

Singly or as a pair. Both work: keeping them singly is always safe, and a pair works as long as both animals are roughly the same size and are fed separately. As soon as one animal refuses food, loses condition or shows injuries, separate them — that is not an exception but the normal case you plan for.

Notes

A tiny, entirely harmless colubrid that does not eat rodents — snails and worms have to be permanently available. Anyone who can manage that is keeping an undemanding small species.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate
• Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) – Intermediate
• Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) – Expert
• Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) – Intermediate
• Cope's mountain meadow snake (Thamnophis copei) – Expert
• Fox's mountain meadow snake (Thamnophis foxi) – Expert
• Banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 60×40×40 cm), substrate (Humus with a thick layer of leaf litter, flat hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.