Red pipe snake (Anilius scytale)
Snakes · Difficulty: Expert
Key facts and care guidance for Red pipe snake (Anilius scytale) (origin: The Amazon basin). Adult size around 70–110 cm. Life expectancy 10–15 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Red pipe snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?
From 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, pipe snakes).
Red pipe snake: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 22–25 °C.
Red pipe snake: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Not required.
Red pipe snake: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 10–15 years.
Red pipe snake: Is it suitable for beginners?
No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 25–30 °C
- Night temperature
- 22–25 °C
- Basking spot
- No basking spot
- Humidity
- 80–90 %
- UVB
- Not required
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- from 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, pipe snakes)
- Substrate
- Damp coco humus 15–20 cm, leaf litter, a shallow water dish
Feeding
- Food
- Frösche, Kröten, Blindwühlen (Caecilia), kleine Echsen und Schlangen
- Feeding interval
- 1×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 70–110 cm
- Life expectancy
- 10–15 years
- Origin
- The Amazon basin
- Protection status
- Not listed under CITES
- 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 brilliant red-and-black ringed burrowing snake, a coral snake mimic. Its specialisation on elongated prey makes long-term keeping very difficult – only with a secured food source.
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Related species
- Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor) – Intermediate
- Rubber boa (Charina bottae) – Intermediate
- Calabar burrowing python (Calabaria reinhardtii) – Intermediate
- Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor) – Intermediate
- Red-tailed pipe snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) – Intermediate
- Savanna vine snake (Thelotornis capensis) – Expert
- Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) – Expert
- Egyptian saw-scaled viper (Echis pyramidum) – Expert
What you need to start
To keep Red pipe snake (Anilius scytale) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, pipe snakes)), substrate (Damp coco humus 15–20 cm, leaf litter, a shallow water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, 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://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Anilius&species=scytale, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korallenrollschlange
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).