Elaphe dione is a small, curious snake that is generally
straightforward to care for. That was exactly what drew me to
this species when I first encountered one. In my experience,
these snakes are quite active and fascinating to observe during
the day. They can also be kept in groups, although extra care
is needed during feeding, as they can be very enthusiastic
eaters.
Although they enjoy climbing, they are not particularly agile
climbers, so an especially tall terrarium is not necessarily
required.
From spring to autumn, temperatures of around 22°C at night and
26°C during the day have worked well for my animals. As
steppe-dwelling snakes, they also benefit from suitable
substrate conditions, and I avoid keeping their enclosure
excessively damp.
One particularly important aspect of keeping Elaphe dione is
seasonal cooling. I give my animals a winter rest lasting
around three to four months. During this period, I keep them in
black boxes placed inside insulated boxes in my garage. Last
winter, the average temperature during their winter rest was
around 5°C.
My collection includes Elaphe dione from several localities,
including Vladivostok, Barnaul, Mongolia and China. I hope to
get a clutch from my Vladivostok pair in spring/summer 2027.
One of the things I enjoy most about this species is observing
the differences in colour and pattern between the various
groups. The photos below show some of the animals in my
collection.
