Snakes
African house snake care guide
Boaedon fuliginosus
A small (2–4 ft), fast-feeding African colubrid that breeds readily.
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →African house snake enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult african house snake should live in at least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H; we build toward 48" L × 24" W × 24" H (4 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 8 sq ft of floor and about a 120-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 30" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 24" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 48" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 36" L × 18" W × 18" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 88–90°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 82–86°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 75–78°F
- Night
- No lower than 70°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 40–60%. Water bowl and a humid hide.
Substrate and depth
Aspen, cypress mulch or a soil/sand mix. Depth: 3–4 in.
Diet and feeding
Frozen-thawed mice every 5–7 days for juveniles, 7–10 days for adults.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
African house snake FAQ
How big should an adult African house snake enclosure be?
At least 36" L × 18" W × 18" H, and we recommend building to 48" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 4 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 120-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does an African house snake need?
Basking or warm surface 88–90°F surface, warm side 82–86°F, cool side 75–78°F, night No lower than 70°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does an African house snake need UVB?
Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does an African house snake need?
40–60%. Water bowl and a humid hide.
What substrate is best for an African house snake?
Aspen, cypress mulch or a soil/sand mix, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does an African house snake enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own african house snake record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.