Grass snake (Natrix natrix)

Short answers

Grass snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 190×75×75 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); with a large water pool.

Grass snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot 30–35 °C (basking spot), at night 15–20 °C.

Grass snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (a diurnal sun-worshipper, Ferguson zone 2).

Grass snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Grass snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

30–35 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

UVB recommended (a diurnal sun-worshipper, Ferguson zone 2)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 190×75×75 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); with a large water pool

Substrate

Soil or a sand-soil mix, leaf litter and moss, a humid box; a large bath for swimming

Feeding

Food

Amphibians (frogs), fish (smelt or trout), rarely mice; add vitamin B1 when feeding fish

Feeding interval

adults ~1×/week, juveniles ~2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

females 100–120 cm (up to 150 cm), males 70–90 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Europe (native to Germany) to Central Asia

Protection status

Specially protected (German nature conservation law, Species Protection Ordinance Annex 1); registration required; only legal captive-bred animals with proof of origin – taking from the wild is prohibited

Brumation

A winter rest is essential: several months from about mid-October to March or April at ~4–8 °C

Cohabitation

Keeping it singly is the least stressful option - grass snakes are solitary in the wild and only come together in larger numbers for mating and communal hibernation. Pair or group housing in a spacious enclosure is possible and commonly practised as long as feeding is done separately; the feeding accident remains a risk.

Notes

A native, specially protected species → keep it only with proof of origin or as a legal captive-bred animal. It eats mainly amphibians and fish; under stress it plays dead and releases a foul-smelling cloacal secretion. A winter rest is indispensable for health and breeding.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) – 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 Grass snake (Natrix natrix) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 190×75×75 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes); with a large water pool), substrate (Soil or a sand-soil mix, leaf litter and moss, a humid box; a large bath for swimming), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.