Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking about getting a pair of trinket snakes but I can't seem to find much information on them-temps, humidity, etc. Does anyone know about these snakes or know where I could find a care sheet? Thanks.

There are two types of Trinket Snakes. There is the Common Trinket Snake, Elaphe helena, and the Assam Green Trinket Snake, Elaphe Frenata. You are most likely getting Common Trinkets. These snakes are from India. They are climbing snakes, so have some branches in the cage(s). You can feed them mice, and do keep their cage warm. Just look at the climate of southern and central India.

Best of luck with them.

>>There are two types of Trinket Snakes. There is the Common Trinket Snake, Elaphe helena, and the Assam Green Trinket Snake, Elaphe Frenata. You are most likely getting Common Trinkets. These snakes are from India.

On the Indian subcontinent most all of the old Elaphe are called trinket snakes. The common trinket (Elaphe) helena was assigned to the new genus, Coelognathus, quite a while back. It is a racer-ratsnake, closely related to radiata, etc. (Elaphe) frenata and prasina have not been assigned to a new genus, yet, but are not members of the true Elaphe, or Coelognathus. They probably will get assigned to the Gonyosoma, as Utiger et al. suggested. More work needs to be done on the taxonomy of these snakes.

C. helena is a pretty cool snake. Although they are a tropical snake and don't need to be hibernated, I wouldn't keep them too warm. The pair I had for a year I kept at my normal Herp Room temps, 77 to 82*F. They did quite well. Wish I still had the time and room for them and would like to find out more about these interesting snakes.

They are climbing snakes, so have some branches in the cage(s). You can feed them mice, and do keep their cage warm. Just look at the climate of southern and central India.
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>>Best of luck with them.

I kept mine in ten gallon tanks with little in the way of climbing branches and they did, ok, but maybe they would have liked more items in their cages. My cages are designed to be functional more than aesthetic.

Good luck....TC

What was their temperment like I also been thinking about getting a pair. Thanks.

Dave.
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David Hiscock.

>>What was their temperment like I also been thinking about getting a pair. Thanks.
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>>Dave.
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>>David Hiscock.

You should've told me what temperament you're looking for. Would've been an easier question to answer. Compared to a corn snake...not as docile, doesn't constrict as much, quicker. Although it seems to have a little racer in it, they're still nice snakes, small, very interesting, and can be calm. Hope it helps. Let us know what you find out. I might have to get a pair myself

TC

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Ratsnake Haven: Elaphe dione, bimaculata, mandarina, conspicillata, porphyracea coxi, t. taeniura, situla, emoryi; Lampropeltis zonata, and mexicana.

I use to have a trio and have raised a few. Two were stiff but handleable enough, and the other one was jumpy and Radiated rat like in temper: "s" display, hissed and striked in a jump, then flies out of the bin or flees to the back. I've never been viciously tagged by one yet. As babies, most I saw were defensive, and timid feeders.

The babies are born real small. It's always cool if you can get an animal that is well started on large FT pinks.

good luck... JF

As a tropical form they tend to be a little racy, but they are constrictors, which makes a big difference. Mine seemed a little calmer than yours, I think. They also ate pinkies pretty well. I'm interested in the taxonomy a lot and may keep this species again some day. I'm asking around to locate breeders, so if anyone knows of any, post away, or e-mail me.

Jim Kavney of "Hiss 'n Things" might have them. They are wide-ranging on the Indian Subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, so there's a wide range of color/pattern variations. It would be nice to find out who's working with the best color phases. There's a totally awesome yellow one in Staszko and Wall's, Rat Snakes, on pg. 163.

Let me know if anyone finds out anything. Thanks....TC.

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Ratsnake Haven: Elaphe dione, bimaculata, mandarina, conspicillata, porphyracea coxi, t. taeniura, situla, emoryi; Lampropeltis zonata, and mexicana.

Thanks for the info. I have never kept one myself, but I passed on what I found in one of my books. Your information is more up to date. Thanks for sharing.

>>Thanks for the info. I have never kept one myself, but I passed on what I found in one of my books. Your information is more up to date. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. I'm no expert on this species, but I have worked on the taxonomy and have a little experience, so I thought I'd add to what you said. A cool snake and some of us should be working with it, I think TC.