Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)

Short answers

Monocled cobra: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 300×150×150 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, cobras).

Monocled cobra: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 34–36 °C, at night 22–25 °C.

Monocled cobra: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (diurnal), not essential.

Monocled cobra: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–25 years.

Monocled cobra: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

34–36 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

UVB recommended (diurnal), not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 300×150×150 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, cobras)

Substrate

A peat substitute or a soil and sand mix; a slightly damp shedding box, good ventilation against mould

Feeding

Food

Rodents (mice or rats), frogs and toads, lizards, birds, occasionally snakes

Feeding interval

adults 1× every 7–10 days, juveniles 1× every 5–7 days

Key facts

Adult size

120–180 cm, rarely over 200 cm

Life expectancy

15–25 years

Origin

South and South-East Asia (north-eastern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, southern China, Malaysia)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B - registration required, proof of origin required. Additionally highly venomous (neurotoxic): keeping it requires a permit or notification, or is banned outright, depending on the German state.

Brumation

An optional slight winter rest in October and November at about 18 °C to stimulate breeding; otherwise none is essential

Cohabitation

Keep singly. Monocled cobras also eat other snakes and strike at anything that moves when feeding – one animal per enclosure is the only safe and stress-free solution. In addition, during every task you must know where the animal is. For breeding, put them together only briefly and under supervision.

Notes

One of the more commonly kept cobras, but dangerous and fast. Keep it slightly more humid before a shed. Only for experienced venomous-snake keepers with a safety concept.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
• Indian cobra (Naja naja) – Expert
• Chinese cobra (Naja atra) – Expert
• Indochinese spitting cobra (Naja siamensis) – Expert
• Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) – Expert
• Cape cobra (Naja nivea) – Expert
• Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica) – Expert
• Nubian spitting cobra (Naja nubiae) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 300×150×150 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, cobras)), substrate (A peat substitute or a soil and sand mix; a slightly damp shedding box, good ventilation against mould), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.