Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus)

Short answers

Malayan krait: How big does the enclosure need to be?

For an animal of 120–160 cm total length, per the expert-report formula (1.0 x 0.75 x 0.5 times total length), around 150 x 110 x 80 cm, lockable with a secured sliding door.

Malayan krait: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–29 °C, basking spot 30–31 °C, at night 21–24 °C.

Malayan krait: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential.

Malayan krait: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Malayan krait: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–29 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

30–31 °C

Humidity

65–80 %

UVB

Not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

for an animal of 120–160 cm total length, per the expert-report formula (1.0 x 0.75 x 0.5 times total length), around 150 x 110 x 80 cm, lockable with a secured sliding door

Substrate

Damp substrate, hides, a water basin

Feeding

Food

Snakes, fish, amphibian substitutes

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

100–150 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

South-East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a highly potent neurotoxin; a dangerous animal

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

Nocturnal, sluggish and seemingly harmless by day – markedly more active and defensive at night. Bites are often barely painful, with delayed respiratory paralysis.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) – Expert
• Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) – Expert
• Many-banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus) – Expert
• Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
• Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
• Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
• Barnett's lancehead (Bothrops barnetti) – Expert
• Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (for an animal of 120–160 cm total length, per the expert-report formula (1.0 x 0.75 x 0.5 times total length), around 150 x 110 x 80 cm, lockable with a secured sliding door), substrate (Damp substrate, hides, a 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.