The Elaphe dione is a curious, small, diurnal snake. It is
generally very tame and easy to keep. They can also be kept
very well in groups, though care must be taken when feeding, as
they are very voracious eaters. While they do enjoy climbing,
they are not particularly skilled at it. Therefore, the
terrarium does not need to be very tall. As for the
temperature, in the months between march and November a
temperature between 22°C at night and 26°C at day is generally
sufficient. Regarding soil moisture, however, care should be
taken to ensure the soil is not too wet, as these animals are
predominantly steppe dwellers.
From my point of view the most important part of this snake
species is probably its hibernation. It should definitely last
for about 3-4 months. A comparatively low temperature of
approximately 4-8°C is important here. I overwinter my animals
in black boxes, which are placed inside isolation boxes, which
in turn are kept in the garage.
