Viperine water snake (Natrix maura)

Short answers

Viperine water snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 110×45×45 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes).

Viperine water snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, basking spot 30 °C, at night 15–18 °C.

Viperine water snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended.

Viperine water snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Viperine water snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

30 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 110×45×45 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes)

Substrate

Coco humus, a very large water basin (a swimming area), a bank zone

Feeding

Food

Fish, amphibian substitutes, earthworms

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

60–85 cm

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

South-western Europe, north-western Africa

Protection status

Protected in parts of its range – mind the proof of origin

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 8–12 °C

Cohabitation

Group keeping is possible. Water and garter snakes are the exception among colubrids: they lie together willingly and can be kept in groups. But the feeding accident remains the risk here too — so always feed them singly, ideally in separate boxes, and only house animals of roughly the same size together.

Notes

Strongly tied to water, and it hunts while swimming. It needs an aquaterrarium with a genuine swimming area. Despite the name and markings, entirely non-venomous.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) – Intermediate
• Grass snake (Natrix natrix) – Intermediate
• Dice snake (Natrix tessellata) – Expert
• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate
• Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) – Expert
• Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) – Intermediate
• Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Viperine water snake (Natrix maura) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 110×45×45 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, Eurasian water snakes)), substrate (Coco humus, a very large water basin (a swimming area), a bank zone), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.