Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These aren't the greatest of photos, but they were rather easy to get, so I thought a few of you might like to see them. These South Korean Dione's ratsnakes, Elaphe dione, were born in 2001. They seem to mature at three yrs. of age, so would be ready to breed next spring if we wanted to put them together. The female happens to be nearing ecdysis, so she's a little dark right now. Actually she's the lighter of the two. She has yellowish highlights, if you could see the venter and head markings, compared to the male...

The male is the darker phase, but he has nice, orangish highlights and reddish-brown blotches on a brownish dorsal ground color. Very hardy and personable snakes. They are out basking and such almost every day and compliment my other, reclusive snakes, very well. Here's a head/neck shot of the male...

These guys are a lot of fun to work with. They do need a fairly long brumation their third year, however. They are similar to garter snakes too, btw, ecologically. This is another of those underappreciated Old World ratsnakes. I hope they catch on in the hobby before long.

TC
Ratsnake Haven's Gallery

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Ratsnake Haven: Calico and hypo Chinese stripe-tailed ratsnakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, leopard snakes, and Great Plains ratsnakes

They are definitely cool snakes and should catch on before too long. I sure like the reddish highlights on that male.

Yes, this is cool snake. See some of its variation here http://www.edione.narod.ru.
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Ivan Arinin
Tula Exotarium
ICQ 151665951
Site: www.edione.narod.ru
E.g. guttata Normal 2.3
E.g. guttata Albino 2.4
E.g. guttata Oketee 2.0
E.g. guttata Hypo Oketee 1.1
E.g. guttata Albino Okeetee 2.2
E.g. guttata Ghost 2.3
E.g. guttata Motley 2.2
E.g. guttata Albino Motley 2.2
E.g. guttata Anerythristic 2.2
E.g. guttata Snow 2.4
E.g. guttata Creamsicle 2.1
E.g. rosacea 2.2
E.g. emoryi 2.2

E. persica black 3.4
E. persica brown 2.1
E. longissima 4.6
E. situla 3.3
E. dione 54
E. bimaculata 4.3
E. quatourlineata 10.15

E. o. obsoleta yellow 2.2
E. o. lindheimeri White Sided 2.2.
E. o. lindheomeri Leucistic 1.2
E. o. lindheimeri Black Orange 2.2
E. o. quatourlineata 1.3
E. o. quatourlineata Deckerti 2.2
E. o. quatourlineata Williamsi 1.0
E. o. rossalleni 2.2

Langaha madagascariensis 2.1.12
Cylindrophis ruffus 0.1
Enhydris plumbea 1.0

Great snakes. I have a couple pairs. They are out more than most of my other snakes.

Terry Parks

I guess these snakes remind me of some of our own "home town" snakes. I compare them to the garters, and milksnakes, and other small snakes of Michigan. I think they're as good or better than any of our natives as captive pets. I was just out this afternoon, and happened to see some nice species, like the smooth green, E. garter, brown, red-bellies, and a couple of E. milksnakes. I'll probably make a post on the Field Observations Forum.

TC