Leopard snake (Zamenis situla)

Short answers

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

From 120×60×120 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, formerly Elaphe, adult; richly structured with plenty of hides).

Leopard snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C (local hot spot), at night 18–20 °C.

Leopard snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended.

Leopard snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20+ years in captivity.

Leopard snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C (local hot spot)

Humidity

50–60 %

UVB

UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 120×60×120 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, formerly Elaphe, adult; richly structured with plenty of hides)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix or forest humus, cork tubes, rock structures; dry, with one damp hide

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice (small); juveniles are sometimes reluctant feeders (scenting with lizard may help)

Feeding interval

adults every 7–14 days, juveniles every 5–7 days

Key facts

Adult size

70–100 cm (rarely up to 120 cm)

Life expectancy

15–20+ years in captivity

Origin

South-eastern Europe (Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Crimea, Asia Minor)

Protection status

Strictly protected – Habitats Directive Annexes II and IV, "strictly protected" under German nature conservation law; registration with the nature conservation authority plus an unbroken chain of proof of origin or an EU commercial-use certificate are required

Brumation

A winter rest of about 10–12 weeks at 10–13 °C; lower the temperature slowly from late summer

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – do not keep them permanently in pairs; put them together only temporarily for supervised breeding

Notes

Considered "Europe's most beautiful snake", but trickier than the corn snake: it needs plenty of hides in different temperature and humidity zones, is not very active, and is partly a reluctant feeder. Acquire only legal captive-bred animals with papers.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) – Intermediate
• Persian rat snake (Zamenis persicus) – Intermediate
• Russian rat snake (Elaphe schrenckii) – Beginner
• Baird's rat snake (Pantherophis bairdi) – Beginner
• Red bamboo rat snake (Oreocryptophis porphyraceus) – Intermediate
• Twin-spotted ratsnake (Elaphe bimaculata) – Beginner
• Western fox snake (Pantherophis vulpinus) – Beginner
• Rhinoceros rat snake (Gonyosoma boulengeri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Leopard snake (Zamenis situla) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 120×60×120 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, formerly Elaphe, adult; richly structured with plenty of hides)), substrate (A sand-loam mix or forest humus, cork tubes, rock structures; dry, with one damp hide), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.