Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila)

Short answers

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

From 240×120×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cat snakes, arboreal).

Mangrove snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot 31 °C, at night 22–24 °C.

Mangrove snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB recommended.

Mangrove snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–18 years.

Mangrove snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C

Basking spot

31 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Weak UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 240×120×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cat snakes, arboreal)

Substrate

Coco humus, plenty of climbing branches, a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice, chicks, fish

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

180–240 cm

Life expectancy

12–18 years

Origin

South-East Asia – mangroves and coastal forest

Protection status

Mildly venomous (rear-fanged) – bites are painful but usually without serious consequences; it may still be classified as 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

A strikingly black-and-yellow ringed tree snake. Nocturnal and decidedly quick to bite – considered one of the most irritable colubrids in captivity. The venom is rarely dangerous to humans, but the bite is painful.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) – Intermediate
• 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
• Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) – Expert
• Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 240×120×200 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, cat snakes, arboreal)), substrate (Coco humus, plenty of climbing branches, 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.