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Size: 20 to 30 inches Max: 47.5 inches



Captive longevity record: 12 years



General: In the wild this is a very secretive species, typically being found beneath rotting logs

and leaf litter. This species is notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity. Once set up, the less

you bother with this species, the more successful you will be.



Distribution: southeastern North Carolina, coastal lowland South Carolina and Georgia, Florida

south to Key Largo, southern Alabama and Mississippi; extreme southeastern Louisiana.



Substrate: 4 to 5 inch deep sphagnum peat moss is recommended, however a 40/60 mixture of

aspen and cypress can be used. The cypress must be a high grade, finely shredded. Some

successful keepers recommend using a commercial reptile product called “Jungle mix”. The peat

moss can be moistened on the end of the cage nearest the water bowl. A large flat piece of pine

or other bark should be placed in the cage as a hide spot. However, NEVER use pine or cedar

shavings as a substrate!



Caging: At a very minimum a 20 to 30 gallon tank should be used. Successful keepers report

using large enclosures, with bottom dimensions of 24 inches x 42 inches being considered large.

Cage height is not a major factor, as these are terrestrial snakes that rarely climb.

Temperature: Gradient temps of 72F to 80F.

Humidity: Moderate. Never bone dry! Mist cage with clean water periodically. Cage ventilation

temps and room humidity’s will have to determine the frequency of misting.



Light: When providing light, consider that coral snakes spend the majority of their lives under

forest debris. Normal light cycles can be imitated; however these are slender bodied snakes that

will warm quickly under direct light.



Brumation: Prior to brumation, the snake should be allowed to defecate its last meal at a normal

temperature. The collection locality of the specimen will determine Winter brumation

temperatures and duration. Weather.com has a weather almanac that can be used to determine

year round climate data for any locality. Clean water should be provided throughout the dormant

cycle.



Misc: Keep feces and shed skins removed. Keep drinking water clean! Clean cages are vital to

keep snakes healthy.



Diet: Frequency 10 days to 2 weeks depend on size of meal. Preferably Ground skinks

Leiolopisma, Five-lined skinks Eumeces, Glass lizards Ophisaurus, Pine Woods snakes

Rhadinea, Brown snakes Storeria, Rat snakes (formerly Elaphe now Pantherophis), Racers

Coluber. Other species may have some success. Prey items should be less than half the length

of the coral snake. Live prey is preferred, however frozen and thawed prey items have been

used with some success. Prey items should be introduced into the cage quietly and left alone. In

24 hours, gently probe the substrate to see if prey item has been taken. Prey item can either be

removed and re-introduced in several days, or the prey item can remain in a large enclosure with

the coral snake for up to a week. The prey item should be fed an appropriate diet while living with

the coral snake. Avoid feeding Ringneck snakes Diadophis, to coral snakes!



Force feeding: This is a dangerous undertaking that should not be taken lightly. While there has

not been a death from a coral snake in the US in 30 years, recently M.fulvius antivenom has

become in short supply and may be all but impossible to come by. With that in mind, we will

explain the safest way to force feed a coral snake, as this technique may keep the animal alive

during periods when it will not eat on its own. A blanket, folded sheet or towel is placed on the

floor of a herp room. All possible routes of escape must be blocked. A Midwest brand

(www.Tongs.com) Pro Pinky Pump is loaded with pinkies. Use 2 to 4 pinkies for 1 adult snake.

The snake is pinned with 2 Midwest brand mini-pinners, one on the middle of the body and one

behind the head. (Test rubber tubing prior to use.) The tip of the Pro Pinky Pump is dipped into

egg yolk and then inserted into the mouth and down the throat well past the head. The pump

handle is squeezed and the contents are injected into the snake. Be careful not to rupture the

stomach! The pump is removed from the throat and the pinners are taken off of the body. For

specimens under 36 inches, we recommend use of the 25 inch Midwest M1 tong to place the

coral snake back in its enclosure. A 48 inch specimen would require the 40 inch model.



Coral snake bites:

Coral snakes primarily utilize pre-synaptic neurotoxins that paralyze muscles to kill prey. Death in

humans is caused by either respiratory arrest or cardiovascular collapse. Coral snakes have very

tiny, fixed fangs that must be chewed into flesh. However only a tiny liquid volume is required to

kill a human - .025cc. Once a person has been bitten, at least 2 ACE bandages should be

wrapped around the affected limb from the digits toward the torso, about as tight as one would for

a sprain. Because the effects of envenomation may not show up for many hours, and are not

easily reversed once they do, it is recommended that all persons who have definitely been bitten

by a coral snake receive 3 vials of antivenom.(1) Therefore, once bitten one should always

proceed immediately to the hospital with bite treatment protocol in hand. A good source is

eMedicine.com.



Effective Antivenoms (2):

Coralmyn

Manufacturer: Instituto Bioclon

Phone: 525-488-3716

Address: Calzada de Tlalpan No. 4687

Toriello Guerra

C.P. 14050

Mexico, D.F.,

Country: Mexico



Antivenom Name: Soro Anti-Elapidico

Manufacturer: Fundacao Ezequiel Dias - FUNED

Phone: 55-31-3371-9525

Address: Rua Conde Pereira Carneiro, 80 - Gameleria

Belo Horizonte, MG - CEP 30510-010

Country: Brazil



Antivenom Name: Anticoral monovalent

Manufacturer: Instituto Clodomiro Picado T.

Phone: 506-229-0344; 506-229-3135

Address: Facultad de Microbiolgia

Universidad de Costa Rica

San Pedro, San Jose

Central America

Country: Costa Rica



Antivenom Name: Antimicrurus

Manufacturer: Instituto Nacional de Produccion de Biologics

A.N.L.I.S. 'Dr. Carlos G. Malbran'

Phone: 54-11-4303-1806 (to 11)

Address: Avdo. Velez Sarsfield 563,

CP 1281 Buenos Aires,

Country: Argentina



References:

1. Russel, Findlay E., Snake venom poisoning in the United States. (1980) Ann Rev

Med, 31: 247-259.

2. http://www.Toxinology.com

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