Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

Short answers

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

Approx. 80×50×50 cm with a dry-stone wall or rock structures and plenty of hides (a guide figure; no dependable published data).

Smooth snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–28 °C, basking spot 28–32 °C, at night 12–18 °C.

Smooth snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (diurnal/crepuscular; Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–3).

Smooth snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~20 years.

Smooth snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–28 °C

Night temperature

12–18 °C

Basking spot

28–32 °C

Humidity

50–70 % (moderate)

UVB

UVB recommended (diurnal/crepuscular; Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–3)

Enclosure

Minimum size

approx. 80×50×50 cm with a dry-stone wall or rock structures and plenty of hides (a guide figure; no dependable published data)

Substrate

Sand-loam or forest soil, rock structures, a dry-stone wall, leaf litter and hides

Feeding

Food

Mainly lizards, slow worms and their young or eggs; small mammals; it constricts its prey (hence the name)

Feeding interval

adults ~1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

60–75 cm, rarely up to 90 cm

Life expectancy

up to ~20 years

Origin

Europe (southern Norway to the Caucasus and Kazakhstan); native to Germany

Protection status

Strictly protected in Germany (Federal Nature Conservation Act, Habitats Directive Annex IV), German Red List category 3 (threatened). Catching and killing them is prohibited; keeping it is possible ONLY with legal proof of origin (captive-bred), and where applicable proof of expertise and registration with the authority

Brumation

A winter rest from October to April at ~5–10 °C (essential; a native species)

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – territorial (especially in the mating season in May); put them together only for supervised breeding

Notes

A strictly protected native species – wild collection is illegal, and only documented captive-bred animals with proof of origin and registration. Live-bearing / ovoviviparous (3–15 young). A lizard specialist (a difficult diet in the terrarium). A quiet, hidden-living species; it is often confused with the adder, but is non-venomous (a round pupil). A winter rest is essential.

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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (approx. 80×50×50 cm with a dry-stone wall or rock structures and plenty of hides (a guide figure; no dependable published data)), substrate (Sand-loam or forest soil, rock structures, a dry-stone wall, leaf litter and hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.