Shield-nosed cobra (Aspidelaps scutatus)

Short answers

Shield-nosed cobra: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 115×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, shield-nosed cobras).

Shield-nosed cobra: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 34–36 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Shield-nosed cobra: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended.

Shield-nosed cobra: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Shield-nosed cobra: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

34–36 °C

Humidity

35–50 %

UVB

UVB recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 115×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, shield-nosed cobras)

Substrate

Deep sand they can dig in, stone slabs

Feeding

Food

Small frozen-thawed mice, lizard substitutes

Feeding interval

adults every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

40–75 cm

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Southern Africa – dry savannah

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a dangerous animal under German state law

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 small, burrowing cobra with an enlarged rostral scale for digging. Nocturnal, buried by day – it needs deep, firm sand.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus) – 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
• Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) – Expert
• Malayan krait (Bungarus candidus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Shield-nosed cobra (Aspidelaps scutatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 115×60×40 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, shield-nosed cobras)), substrate (Deep sand they can dig in, stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.