Is the Twin-spotted Ratsnake Venomous? An Article to Help You Understand This Snake
The Twin-spotted Ratsnake is a reptile of the genus Elaphe in the family Colubridae, with a body length of 700-1200 mm. Its back is grayish-brown, with dark dumbbell-shaped transverse bands. The markings on its sides alternate with those on its back. There are paired black markings on the top of its head, and another black stripe runs from behind the eye to the corner of its mouth. Now let us take a look together at whether the Twin-spotted Ratsnake is venomous!
Is the Twin-spotted Ratsnake Venomous?
The Twin-spotted Ratsnake is non-venomous. Although the Twin-spotted Ratsnake looks frightening, it is non-venomous. In China, it is mainly distributed in Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places.
Habits of the Twin-spotted Ratsnake
The Twin-spotted Ratsnake is commonly found on plains or hilly open fields, as well as near villages, in grass clumps, and around grave mounds. It preys on lizards, geckos and rodents. It has a gentle temperament; a wild one, once held in the hand for a minute, will no longer attack humans. It is oviparous.
How to Keep a Twin-spotted Ratsnake
1. Keeping environment: The simpler the keeping environment for the Twin-spotted Ratsnake, the better. Lay newspaper on the bottom, prepare a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak its whole body in, and provide a hiding hole. Change the water and newspaper frequently.
2. Feeding method: Feed newborn pinky mice. Do not doubt the snake's swallowing ability; it can get them down. Generally speaking, aside from a few individuals, it will not eat fish. Lizards or geckos are also acceptable. If it refuses to eat pinky mice, you can rub the pinky mouse against a lizard so it picks up the lizard's scent, then feed it to the snake. Frogs are also acceptable. Do not force-feed, as people unfamiliar with the procedure can easily cause the snake to develop stomatitis due to improper handling.
3. Controlling hibernation: If you let the snake hibernate in winter, the chance of death is actually quite high. If conditions are not controlled properly, it is basically hopeless. So it is best to use a heating pad, incandescent lamp, etc. to provide warmth and prevent the snake from entering hibernation. Keep the temperature at around 27 degrees during the day and around 22 degrees at night.