Texas coral snake (Micrurus tener)

Short answers

Texas coral snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 100×50×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, coral snakes).

Texas coral snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot 31 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Texas coral snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential.

Texas coral snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Texas coral snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

31 °C

Humidity

55–70 %

UVB

Not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 100×50×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, coral snakes)

Substrate

Deep substrate they can dig in, with leaf litter

Feeding

Food

Snakes or lizards (frozen-thawed)

Feeding interval

every 10–14 days

Key facts

Adult size

60–100 cm

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Texas, north-eastern Mexico

Protection status

VENOMOUS – a neurotoxin; a dangerous animal under German state law

Brumation

A cooler spell is possible

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. The species eats mainly other snakes, including venomous ones, and occasionally even coral snakes - a second animal in the same enclosure is prey or a danger. On top of that, once kept together you cannot tell which animal has eaten. For breeding, put them together only under controlled conditions and with experience, and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

Burrowing and secretive like M. fulvius. Its specialised diet is the main problem in keeping it.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) – 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 Texas coral snake (Micrurus tener) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 100×50×50 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, coral snakes)), substrate (Deep substrate they can dig in, with leaf litter), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.