Elaphe climacophora (Japanese ratsnake)

Origin: The Japanese archipelago
Length: This species can grow up to 150 cm in length.

Lifespan: They can live up to 20 years.
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey. The main prey items are mice and rats.
Feeding adults: every 14 days
Feeding young: every 7 days
Water dish: Yes
Water changes: 3 times a week
Feeding
You can choose to offer the prey live or dead. It is recommended to offer dead food. This is more practical and prevents the prey animal from injuring your snake. It is also recommended to offer the prey animal with feeding tongs and to feed your snake outside its enclosure. This ensures that your hand is not associated with the food and prevents your snake from grabbing your hand during feeding. If you do choose to offer live food, you must supervise feeding. The prey can also injure the snake. Feed the rat snake separately, because when two snakes catch the same prey, they can injure each other and sometimes even eat each other. The ideal prey is approximately as wide as the widest part of the snake.

Water
Japanese rat snakes are real swimmers, so they greatly appreciate the opportunity to swim or bathe. To achieve this, a water dish large enough for the snake to lie down in with its entire body is necessary; they will appreciate something larger. Because the snake lies down in it, the water can get dirty more quickly, so make sure to change the water when it becomes dirty. They drink the water too.

Cleaning
To keep your rat snake healthy, a hygienic living environment is important. To achieve this, the enclosure must be cleaned regularly. Cleaning once a week is sufficient. In addition, to prevent bacteria buildup, the entire enclosure should be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year. Handling
From time to time, you'll need to handle your rat snake. When handling a snake, it's wise to use a snake hook; otherwise, make sure your snake is handled gently. Young snakes or snakes that haven't been handled before can be defensive and may attack. The snake is not venomous, but it's best to avoid bites. After several handlings, the snake will naturally become accustomed to the handling and less defensive.

Never squeeze your snake while handling it, as its vertebrae are fragile and can easily break. Also, make sure your hands are washed and free of food odors. Finally, don't handle your snake while it's molting, and don't handle it in the dark. Housing
Minimum enclosure size for one pair: 150 x 60 x 60
Daytime temperature (warm side): 28-32C
Daytime temperature (cool side): 24-28C
Nighttime temperature: 18-22C
Light hours: 12 hours
Humidity: 50%-70%
Substrate: Bark or beech chips

Equipment
The rat snake is a snake that lives in a variety of habitats and therefore requires a varied terrarium in captivity. They enjoy climbing and need climbing opportunities. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a terrarium that is higher than 60cm so the snake can actually climb. Climbing opportunities can be provided in the form of climbing branches. Besides climbing, they also enjoy bathing; you can provide a water dish large enough for the snake to lie in with its entire body. Make sure the enclosure is heavy enough so the snake can't push it over. Rat snakes can be very shy and therefore need plenty of hiding places. You can offer this in the form of a plastic cave or a piece of cork, making sure these are large enough for all the black rat snakes in the enclosure to hide underneath. Rat snakes also enjoy rooting around, so you can encourage this by offering thicker substrate or a sand bath.

There are a few additional things to keep in mind regarding the enclosure. The Japanese rat snake is capable of squeezing itself through small cracks. Keep this in mind and ensure there are no small gaps in the enclosure that it can fit through. Ventilation is also necessary to keep the air fresh, and it's advisable to position the enclosure out of direct sunlight and as vibration-free as possible.

Behavior
Hunting Mode: Constrictor.
Life Style: Semi-arboreal & diurnal
Temperament
The rat snake is an active snake and easily adapts to its environment. They are good climbers and swimmers. In captivity, they make interesting and lively pets.
Points of Attention
Black rat snakes can be defensive, especially in their enclosure. Pay attention to this when handling your snake to prevent unnecessary injuries. Regular handling will eventually make the snake tamer and calmer.
Costs and Purchase
Legislation: No documentation is required to keep a rat snake.
One-time Costs: These include the costs for the enclosure, lighting, heating, water dish, and decorations. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed Costs: Fixed costs include the cost of food, which amounts to several tens of euros per year. Unexpected costs: There are costs involved when your snake happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.