Taiwan Beauty Snake - Elaphe taeniura friesi
[Back to Snake Care Sheets]
Taiwan Beauty Snake - Elaphe taeniura friesi
[Back to Snake
Care Sheets]
General Information
Distribution — Endemic to the island of Taiwan
Habitat — Beauty snakes occur in a wide variety of habitats including: wood lots, prairies, fields, oak scrub lands, and semi-arid regions.
Adult Size — Taiwan beauty snakes are a large, powerful, rat snake that can attain lengths of 154 cm - 215 cm (5-7 feet).
Temperament — This species is general nervous unless handled regularly. Young animals should be given at least four weeks to acclimate to their new environment before being handled.
Longevity — Most captive Taiwan beauty snakes live between 15 and 20 years.
Captive Care
Rating: 2 — Taiwan beauty snakes are large active snakes that require a lot of space.
Diet: Hatchlings and juveniles - pink/ fuzzy mice, hopper mice, and pink/fuzzy rats every 7 days; Adults - large rodents such as rats every 9-14 days.
Temperature: Daytime: 25°C to 28°C (75°F-82°F); Nigh-time: 18°C to 20°C (62°F-68°F)
Space: Adult animals require a minimum enclosure size of 120 cm x 60 cm x 45 cm (48 inches x 24 inches x 18 inches). Larger enclosures that are best as this species is quite agile and likes to climb.
Breeding: Taiwan beauty snakes are one the most common Asian rat snakes to be bred in captivity. Females should be 5- 6 feet in length before they are bred. Smaller animals may have difficulty with egg laying. Males will reach maturity at 2-3 years of age. Clutch sizes vary from 5-12 eggs that will take between 55-77 days to incubate 25°-29°C (75°F-85°F). Note: A winter cooling period of 2-4 months at temperature of 10°C-15°C is a must if you intend to breed these animals.
Special Requirements: You must provide these snakes with adequate space as they are very active. Higher humidity hide spots are also a must to avoid any shedding problems. Hatchlings should be left for one to two months without any handling to make sure they get on a good feeding schedule. Most people make the mistake of handling their animal too soon and they end up with a very stressed snake that refuses to eat. For the first few months, the contact you should have with your snake should be for feeding, cleaning, and changing water only. Once this time has passed, you should begin regular handling at least 2-3 times a week to ensure your snake is manageable.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
de Vosjoli, Philippe. 2004. The Art of Keeping Snakes. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Irvin, California. Pp 232.
Mattison, Chris. 1995. Keeping and Breeding Snakes. Cassell Publishing, London, UK. Pp. 184.
Schultz, Klaus-Dieter. 1996. A Monograph of the Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Elaphe Fitzinger. Koelz Scientific Books, Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic. Pp 439.