Mangrove Snake — Fact Sheet

Boiga dendrophila · Mangrove Snake

Full care guide and sources

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

Plan the adult enclosure around at least 120 x 60 x 120 cm of secure arboreal space. Height matters only when branches, elevated hides, water, ventilation, locks, and shift-box access are all safe and serviceable. Quarantine new arrivals, weigh them, confirm feeding and shedding, and keep tools separate until mites, respiratory signs, wounds, abnormal feces, and persistent refusal have been ruled out.

🪨 Substrate and furnishings

Use sturdy branches, elevated cork tubes or dark hides, dense visual barriers, a water bowl that can be removed safely, and locks on every opening. Design the enclosure so routine cleaning can happen with the snake shifted away from the door.

💡 Lighting

Use a regular 10-12 hour day-night cycle. Low-level UVB can be offered as an option, but the animal must be able to leave both light and UV exposure without leaving the correct heat range.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 31-33 °C
• Daytime air: 26-30 °C
• Cool zone: 24-26 °C
• Night: 22-25 °C

💧 Humidity and water

Baseline humidity: 70-90%. Temporary shed support: 80-95%.

Manage humidity with microclimates: a dry retreat, a more humid shed hide, fresh water, and ventilation. Retained shed should lead to checks of hydration, heat, and airflow rather than repeated forced soaking.

🪳 Feeding

Use appropriately sized frozen-thawed prey whenever possible. Rodents maintain many animals, but some imports or juveniles may need patient scenting or chick-based transitions. Avoid live prey as routine care, and never respond to defensive strikes by free-hand restraint.

☠️ Safety

This species is venomous. Venom exposure can cause pain, swelling or other systemic effects, and severity varies with species, locality, bite site and the amount delivered. A small wound or apparently dry bite is not proof of safety; every bite or sting requires urgent medical assessment.

If an incident occurs, move away, call emergency services or a poison centre, keep the patient still, remove rings and other constricting items, and follow dispatcher instructions. Do not use a tourniquet, cut or suck the wound, apply ice or electricity, give alcohol or medicines as a home treatment, or attempt to catch the animal. Antivenom choice and dosing are hospital decisions; verify the relevant product and local availability in advance. Sources: WHO snakebite guidance and appropriate species-specific toxinology or medical references listed below.

🩺 Health — warning signs

Common problems include escape attempts, defensive striking, imported-animal parasites, dehydration, retained shed, respiratory disease from stagnant wet air, mouth injuries, refusal during acclimation, and injuries from live prey. Secure servicing routines prevent many of these problems.