Asian Rat Snakes
Yunnan Bamboo Rat Snake, Oreocryptophis porphyraceus pulchra
IntermediateYunnan bamboo rat snakes, sometimes simply called pulchra, are small, fossorial colubrids from the elevated mountainous regions of Yunnan Province in southern China. They are the same species as the Thai bamboo rat snake, and as far as we can tell their care is identical. As they come from an elevated forest they require access to water at all times, high humidity with regular misting, and plentiful substrate for burrowing and places to hide. They are handleable and get used to human interaction easily. We consider them an intermediate species due to their strict temperature ceiling, their high humidity requirements, and their small size as juveniles.
At a glance
- Origin
- Yunnan Province, China
- Size
- 32-36 inches. Females are larger than males.
- Lifespan
- 15-20 years
- Temperature
- 74-76 degrees with no hot spot. Temperatures over 80 can be fatal.
- Humidity
- 70-90%, above 90 at night
- Substrate
- Cypress and sphagnum moss
- Baby enclosure size
- up to 12″ x 5″ x 8″ (5qt) – 16” x 11” x 7” (15qt) with a closed top (no screen)
- Adult enclosure size
- up to 24” x 16” x 7” (32qt) with a closed top (no screen)
This guide is a brief overview of basic care and minimum husbandry requirements and is not intended as a comprehensive guide to care. Our best advice:
Read, read, read! Studying about your new pet is the key to a long and happy life for them, and years of enjoyment for you.
Housing
Pulchra do not need a tremendous amount of space, but they do need substrate for burrowing and places to hide. The enclosure can be short, though they will sometimes climb on small logs or short outcrops if they aren’t too high. Their enclosure should always have a closed top, never screen. Provide foliage and cork bark, as well as a humid hide with damp sphagnum moss. This species is ideal for bioactive enclosures.
Substrate
Cypress is an excellent substrate for these snakes. Provide plenty of sphagnum moss to hold humidity. Leaf litter, foliage, and cork bark for extra hiding are beneficial, as these snakes do not like to be exposed. They will frequently be more active when given ample places to retreat to.
Heating and Lighting
Lights are not necessary for these snakes as they are primarily fossorial and nocturnal. 74-76 degrees is the ideal temperature, so heating is not needed provided that the ambient temperature of the room is in the mid 70s. THEIR TEMPERATURE SHOULD NEVER GO ABOVE 80 DEGREES. If you do supplement heat, use a thermostat to regulate it with the probe secured directly against the heat source. Do not guess! Do not use only a thermometer. Overheating can be quickly fatal for your new pet.
Humidity
High humidity is critical for these snakes. 70-90% by day, rising above 90% at night. Regular misting is important.
Water
Provide these snakes with a non-porous water bowl and change it frequently. These snakes dehydrate quickly. Never let them run out of water.
Handling
These snakes can be skittish. Handling should be done slowly and gently. Gentle and regular interaction with them from a young age will lead to less elusive and easier to handle adults. Always handle young snakes over their enclosure as they are prone to darting away, and should not be held too tightly as they can be easy to injure.
Feeding
Pulchra are voracious eaters. Babies can eat every 3-5 days. Subadults and adults can eat weekly or bi-weekly if they are not taking food consistently. As they are high metabolism animals, frequent meals are superior to larger meals. Pulchra have large babies for their size, so regular pinky mice will work well. Due to their small size, adults seldom if ever need anything larger than a large mouse.
Common Issues
Overheating
Overheating is the most common way these snakes are lost, and it happens quickly. A snake that is out in the open, restless, gaping, or pressed against the coolest surface it can find is telling you that its enclosure is too warm. Anything over 80 degrees can kill one, and they want it cooler than most keepers expect. Correct the temperature of the room rather than simply moving the snake, and confirm your readings with a thermostat rather than relying on a thermometer alone.
Male aggression
Males housed together will fight, and the damage is usually done before you see it. We keep bamboo rat snakes communally and they do well that way, but never two males in the same enclosure. Always separate snakes to feed.
Quarantine
Any new animal should be kept separate from the snakes you already own. A different room is best, but the opposite end of the house will do. Feed and clean your quarantined animal last, and wash your hands thoroughly before you handle anything else.
Ninety days is a reasonable minimum, and your new snake should be feeding consistently before you consider it out of quarantine. Watch for mites, wheezing, regurgitation, and abnormal stool during this period, and consult your veterinarian if you see any of them.