SpeciesAmur rat snake
Amur rat snake
Elaphe schrenckii
A large, hardy climbing snake from northeast Asia. It copes well with cooler phases: Constant warmth, by contrast, does not suit it.
- Group
- Snake
- Level
- Intermediate
- Origin
- Northeast Asia
Where the species comes from
- World region
- Northeast Asia
- Countries
- Russian Far East, northeastern China and Korea
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed forest, river lowlands and forest edges
The app does not yet hold an origin entry for this species. The distribution given here comes from the specialist literature.
The natural habitat is the yardstick for how you furnish an enclosure. Knowing where an animal comes from is knowing why it needs heat zones, hides and a particular humidity.
Husbandry at a glance
The same details appear in the animal’s profile inside the app.
- Enclosure
- Spacious and suitable for climbing. The Animal Welfare Ordinance sets no minimum size for Amur rat snakes. The reference is the German 1997 expert report on reptile keeping: at least 1 × 0.5 × 1 body lengths, i.e. 160 × 80 × 160 cm for a total length of 160 cm.
- Temperature
- Basking spot 28–30 °C, cool side 18–23 °C.
- Humidity
- Around 50–70 %.
- Lighting
- A bright light cycle and UVB are advisable.
- Substrate
- A soil, leaf and bark mix.
- Furnishings
- Plenty of sturdy branches, hides and leaf litter.
- Water
- A large drinking bowl.
- Feeding
- Thawed rodents or birds.
- Behaviour
- Active, hardy and a keen climber.
- Handling
- Support the body fully.
- Cohabitation
- Keep singly.
- Health
- Weight, breathing, shedding and mouth.
- Seasonal cycle
- Three months of winter rest at 8–12 °C. The Amur rat snake comes from the Russian Far East and north-eastern China, with harsh winters; the rest is part of its yearly rhythm and is well tolerated even by animals not intended for breeding. Do not feed for two to three weeks before cooling down.
- Safety
- Do not keep permanently too warm.
Legal position in Switzerland
No permit foreseen
No permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
No certificate of competence foreseen
No proof of competence required. It is only demanded for the animals named in Art. 89 of the Ordinance
No CITES listing
Not listed in the CITES appendices: Import and transfer require no species-protection papers. Keep the proof of purchase nonetheless
Minimum enclosure dimensions
Annex 2, table 5 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance does not list this species. Among snakes the table names only giant snakes (pythons and boas), elapids, vipers and pit vipers, and a few venomous or dangerous colubrids; for the rest no figure appears there.
The general rule in Annex 2 (letter K) then applies: the enclosure must be large enough for everything the species needs (hides, basking spot, climbing branches) to be arranged sensibly. As a yardstick, the ordinance points to expert opinions on a scientific basis. There is therefore no binding figure. The guide values in the calculator come from the 1997 expert report. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office.
What the enclosure must provide
Provide species-appropriate heat and light zones, UV-B where needed, suitable substrate, retreats, climbing or digging options, water and natural rest periods.
Paperwork
Keep the purchase contract and proof of origin. Use the scientific name to check CITES and import status reliably.
These details are a guide, not legal advice. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office; the text of the ordinance is what counts. More on the legal position
