Sunbeam Snake
(Xenopeltis unicolor)
Distribution
This burrowing snake is currently classified as a distant relative of the Boidae family and is also sometimes referred to as The Iridescent Earth Snake. It is native to areas with damp soils near to rivers and paddy fields in South East Asia and Southern China. It gets its name from the brilliant iridescence of its scales when exposed to the sunlight. Care should be taken with this species as they are rarely bred in captivity and the vast majority are wild caught. Wild caught individuals often do not live for longer than 6 months in captivity so look for a long-term captive if purchasing one.
Size
The average size for this species is between 60 and 120 cm (two and four feet) in total length.
Diet
Snakes should always be fed with tongs and not by hand. This rule applies more so with this species as they have a rapid feeding response and eat their food extremely fast. A separate sheet is available on defrosting/offering food to your snake.
This species of snake eats a variety of prey in the wild including amphibians, small rodents and other snakes. Most will accept defrosted rodents in captivity, although care should be taken as with all snakes to ensure that the animal is feeding prior to purchase.
Requirements- Heat Source – A guarded Ceramic heater or red/green reflector spot bulb is usually the best method of heating these should be guarded to prevent thermal burns from occurring. Care should be taken if heat mats are used as ventral infections and damage has been linked to their use.
- UV Light Source: - Although controversial with snakes, if used this brings out the iridescence of the scales. Although this species is rarely above ground during daylight hours.
- Housing: - This should consist of a dark wooden vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation. Hatchlings require a small hatchling tub (pen pal, geoflat or even a ventilated sandwich box), which can be housed in a heated vivarium. An adult snake can be housed within a vivarium measuring 90cm long by 45cm deep by 45cm high (36 inches by 18 inches by 18 inches).
- Thermostat: - An essential part of any vivarium and is required to regulate the internal temperatures of the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
- Wire Mesh Guards: - These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent thermal burns.
- Thermometers: - One should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the vivarium. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat, as these are often inaccurate.
- Hides: - These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Artificial plants, boxes, plant pots, cave etc. all make excellent hides. Although this snake does tend to hide in the substrate.
Water and Humidity
A large ceramic/earthenware dog bowl is best for these snakes as they are harder for them to tip over. This should be large enough for the snakes to soak in. This water should be changed daily as this is also the water they drink. It is also beneficial to mist the enclosure every few days with tepid water to maintain a good humidity level. An area of the substrate should always be kept damp in order to prevent disecdysis and skin infections from occurring. Many sunbeam snakes develop a skin blister if kept too dry this is usually remedied by increasing the humidity and a trip to the vets. Do not dry your snake out to try and heal it this often kills the snake faster.
Most keepers keep their sunbeams in a humidity of 80-90%.
Temperature
This species of snake requires a temperature gradient of between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius (70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit). With a hot spot being provided which reaches between 30 and 31 degrees Celsius (86-88 degrees Fahrenheit).
NB- this species is ophiophagus (cannibalistic) and should be housed individually. Sunbeam snakes stress very easily and should only be handled when necessary.
Substrate
Large pieces of (Dust free and not pine or cedar) Bark Mulch can be used to good effect as long as the pieces are too large to avoid ingestion during feeding or feed your snake in a separate feeding container. Other substrates that have been used successfully with this species are sphagnum moss, Peat moss. It is essential that part of the substrate should remain damp at all times as skin problems can occur if the substrate is too arid. The substrate should be at least 6 inches deep.
Photograph taken from http://www.szgdocent.org/resource/rr/c-sunbim.htm
Distribution map taken from http://lifemapper.org/robotfood/Reptile/Xenopeltis%20unicolor.HTM
Recommended Reading/Useful Contacts
Stuart Dodsworth –
stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk
The International Herpetological Society –
www.international-herp-society.co.uk
The British Herpetological Society –
www.thebhs.org
Taxonomy Information –
http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Xenopeltis_SP_unicolor']
www.petsnakes.co.uk
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/8071/reptile/xeno.html
http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHsunbeam.htm
http://coloherp.org/cb-news/Vol-29/cbn-0210/Sunbeam.php
http://www.chinabiodiversity.com/search/english/detail.shtm?cspcode=030410002
www.reptilekeeper.co.uk
Linear Mode
