Forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca)

Short answers

Forest cobra: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 480×240×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cobras).

Forest cobra: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot 32–34 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Forest cobra: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (diurnal).

Forest cobra: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–25 years.

Forest cobra: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

32–34 °C

Humidity

60–80 % (the forest form more humid; the savannah form / subfulva drier, good ventilation)

UVB

UVB recommended (diurnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 480×240×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cobras)

Substrate

A peat substitute and sand mix or woodland substrate; a shedding box with damp soil, a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Rodents (mice or rats), birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish too

Feeding interval

adults 1× every 7–10 days, juveniles 1× every 5–7 days

Key facts

Adult size

180–250 cm (the largest true cobra), record up to approx. 320 cm

Life expectancy

15–25 years

Origin

Zentralafrika (Nigeria, Kamerun, Zentralafrikanische Republik, Äquatorialguinea, Gabun, Kongo, DR Kongo, Nordangola, Ruanda, Südsudan); Tiefland-, Galerie- und Sumpfwald

Protection status

Highly venomous (neurotoxic), very defensive and large - not CITES-listed; keeping it requires a permit or notification, or is banned outright, depending on the German state.

Brumation

No real winter rest; only a night-time drop (~20 °C) and a shorter photoperiod

Cohabitation

Keep singly. Forest cobras also eat other snakes and are large and defensive – one animal per enclosure is the only safe and stress-free solution, not least because during every task you must know where the animal is. For breeding, put them together only briefly and under supervision.

Notes

It reacts defensively to disturbance and does not flee at once; a very good swimmer, semi-aquatic and climbing → a large, well-secured terrarium with water and climbing opportunities. For experts only.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
• Indian cobra (Naja naja) – Expert
• Chinese cobra (Naja atra) – Expert
• Indochinese spitting cobra (Naja siamensis) – Expert
• Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) – Expert
• Cape cobra (Naja nivea) – Expert
• Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) – Expert
• Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 480×240×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cobras)), substrate (A peat substitute and sand mix or woodland substrate; a shedding box with damp soil, a large water basin), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.