Care Sheet Diones Rat Snake

Elaphe dione Picture by Crystal Palace.com

Scientific Name
Elaphe Dione
Common name
Steppes Ratsnake
Range
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Korea, Russia,
South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Size
60 - 70 cm
Life Expectancy
In excess of 20 years
Captive Variants
T- Albino, T+ Albino, Hypomelanistic, Lemon, Orange, Nigrita (Melanistic), Striped, Sunrise,
Sunglow, Tenebrosa, Tiger, Red
Habitat
Largely a terrestrial species which is found in a wide range of habitats from dry to wet with sparse
to dense vegetation.
Housing
Vivarium 24 is suitable for one adult or plastic tub.
Diones enjoy hiding/climbing through greenery on the floor of their enclosure.
Dcor
Suitably large water bowl for them to drink and bathe
A minimum of 2 hides (1 in the cool end and 1 in the warm end) to one put some damp moss.
Substrate
Most substrate would probably be suitable for Diones. I use Aspen with a moist hide with some
damp moss inside.
Temperature/Humidity
22C (72F) to 28C (82F)
Heating
1

Viv - Guarded Ceramic heater or heat mat

Tub - Heat mat
Whichever method is used, a suitable thermostat should be used and monitored using a digital
thermometer.
Ceramic heater a pulse proportional thermostat should be used.
Feeding
Their natural diet is rodents, lizards, frogs, snakes, insects, birds and their eggs. They are also
known to be cannibalistic.
I feed mice, rats of a suitable size and a chick or quail now and then as a treat.
Comments
Primarily a terrestrial (ground dwelling) species and a member of the colubrid family of snakes.
Diones are fairly easy to keep in captivity and come in a variety of colours and patterns.
They can be quite shy but normally fairly docile although the odd one can be unpredictable and nip
without warning. Chinese Diones, in particular, are known for their nervous disposition.

John Gamesby