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Zoo-pedia > Diones Ratsnakes

Diones Ratsnakes

By Tom Halvorsen.

Natural history and other information on this seldom kept but very appealing species.

Diones Ratsnake ... Elaphe dione

Diones Ratsnake or The Steppes Ratsnake as they are commonly called are a small Elaphe species with a large distribution range. They can be found throughout a large part of Asia, from West-Russia on the border of Europe to the east, in Korea. Across their range you will find Diones Ratsnake in many different colour and pattern variations. Those from China are more colourful having a yellowish background with stripes as well as blotches along it's back, the center of these blotches are deep ruby red colour.

Most Diones imported are a mixture of greys & browns with either stripes or blotches or a mixture of the two. Several morphs are being selectively cultivated in captivity including Hi-Red Striped & Hi-Yellow stripes, naturally occurring Melanistic types exists in certain areas of it's range as do patternless varieties.

They are an intelligent, inquisitive snake, active in the vivarium throughout the day. Like most Elaphe species they will vibrate their tail on the substrate if startled, generally a placid snake they very rarely attempt to bite.

They will breed readily in the vivarium and the eggs have a very short incubation period, we have known eggs to hatch in as little as 13 days after laying, but in most instances the normal incubation period is around 21 days. We have also on two occasions, over two consecutive years, witnessed twins being hatched from eggs that had a shorter than average incubation time.

In the wild Elaphe dione will eat almost anything, rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, frogs & even insects. In captivity they thrive on a diet of small rodents.