Mole snake (Pseudaspis cana)
Snakes · Difficulty: Intermediate
Key facts and care guidance for Mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) (origin: Southern Africa). Adult size around 100–180 cm. Life expectancy 15–20 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Mole snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?
150×70×50 cm.
Mole snake: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 34 °C, at night 18–22 °C.
Mole snake: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).
Mole snake: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 15–20 years.
Mole snake: Is it suitable for beginners?
Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 26–32 °C
- Night temperature
- 18–22 °C
- Basking spot
- 34 °C
- Humidity
- 40–55 %
- UVB
- Recommended (UVB 5.0)
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 150×70×50 cm
- Substrate
- Sand-loam 15–20 cm for digging, stone slabs, a cork hide
Feeding
- Food
- Frozen-thawed mice and rats
- Feeding interval
- 1×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 100–180 cm
- Life expectancy
- 15–20 years
- Origin
- Southern Africa
- Protection status
- Not listed under CITES
- Brumation
- A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks
- 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 powerful, burrowing rodent hunter with a pointed head – it lives in rodent burrows. Live-bearing with very large litters. It needs deep, diggable substrate rather than climbing structure.
Do you keep this species?
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Related species
- Common egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra) – Intermediate
- African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) – Beginner
- False water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) – Experts
- Spotted house snake (Boaedon maculatus) – Beginner
- Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) – Intermediate
- Striped house snake (Boaedon lineatus) – Beginner
- Smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis) – Expert
- Rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) – Intermediate
What you need to start
To keep Mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×70×50 cm), substrate (Sand-loam 15–20 cm for digging, stone slabs, a cork 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.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 9 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maulwurfsnatter, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_snake, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Pseudaspis&species=cana
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).