Classification
Order: squamata
Family: elapinae
Genus: micrurus
Species: Micrurus frontalis.
Habitat
The Southern coral snake is endemic for South and Central America. It can be found in the south-west of Brazil, in Paraguay, Uruguay and in the north of Argentina. They live in rainforests and woodland as well as in the fields. It is seldom seen in the open spaces although sometimes it even comes close to people’s houses. The Southern coral snake prefers sand or cool and damp ground in the woodland where it can easily find hiding places in fallen leaves or among the bushes.
It is a burrowing species. Most of the time the Southern coral snake spends hiding and it appears on the surface only in the rain and during the mating season.
Outward appearance
The adult snake is about 1 m long. It is not possible to tell males from females.
It is a slender cylinder-shaped snake with smooth scales and small eyes. The color pattern is very interesting: it consists of alternating black, white and red rings that follow each other in the following way: red – black – white – black – white – black – red etc. Such coloring makes the snake almost invisible in the daylight which enables the coral snake to camouflage well. The tail is short, the mouth and the venomous fangs are small.
The head of the Southern coral snake is small and blunt. The maxillary bone is shortened and the upper jaw has only two fixed venomous fangs. These snakes don’t release their victim immediately after the bite but hold onto it for a while in order to speed up the effect of venom.
Character
The Southern coral snake has very specific behavior at the threat. It hides its head and the back part of its body raises; the tail curls. If the threat doesn’t disappear, the snake attacks.
The Southern coral snake is extremely venomous and dangerous for people. Without medical help death is inevitable and occurs less than in 24 hours after the bite. The venom of the coral snake is neurotoxic and causes depression of the nervous system and respiratory center. But in general this species is not prone to aggression and to attacking people.
The coral snakes live in holes that they dig in loose ground.
Maintenance care
The Southern coral snake should have a special enclosure due to the hazards related to its keeping. The enclosure should have a hiding place for the snake that can be safely closed from outside of the enclosure: it will guarantee the safety of the person who will be cleaning the enclosure. The enclosure should be vertical, at least 40х30х60 cm. The bottom can be covered by a thick layer of coconut cuttings. The snake will also need some branches to climb and a bowl with fresh clean water (has to be changed daily). The air inlets in the enclosure have to be safely closed since coral snakes are agile and can be adept at escaping. Also they can use the inlets for biting their owners.
The ambient temperature in the enclosure should be in the range of 22 – 24°C at night and 25 – 27°C at daytime. It is best to use the heat pad.
The Southern coral snake needs a high level of humidity, about 70%, so you will have to mist daily.
You have to keep the light on around the clock for safety reasons, since snakes can see in the dark better than people and the enclosure should be lit at all times.
Feeding
In the wild the Southern coral snake eats mainly amphibians and smaller reptiles. Also they can eat small mammals, birds and large insects.
In the captivity the menu of the coral snake normally consists of small rodents: mice and rats. It is best to feed the snake twice a week and see to not overfeeding it. You have to add minerals and vitamins to the food.
After the feeding you mustn’t disturb the snakes. Overcooling can also be dangerous since the speed and the quality of digestion depend on the ambient temperature (if the temperature drops from 28 to 18 the speed of digestion gets approximately 3 times lower). The food can rot in the snake's digestive tract and it can kill the reptile. Any stress can cause regurgitating of food which can lead to inflammation in the digestive tract.
Features
The Southern coral snake is extremely venomous! They are not recommended to be kept as pets, but if you still decide to do that, it is best to have a special separate room for it.
You mustn’t ever handle this snake; in order to take it you will need a special hook.
The poison of the coral snake is a very dangerous neurotoxin, so you should really think twice before you decide on keeping it at home. According to Russian law, the death of your family members or neighbours from a bite of a home-kept snake can be considered as negligent homicide and result in 2 years in jail.
The Southern coral snake comes 4th in the rating of the most venomous snakes in the world. A bitten person normally doesn’t feel pain in the spot of the bite, but shortly after he starts feeling weakness in his limbs – it’s the beginning of paralysis that is gradually spreading throughout the body. The breathing becomes difficult, the person cannot speak, the lips and the tongue cannot move, the face gets blue. Death occurs within 24 hours after the bite due to the paralysis of the respiratory center and muscles.
The coral snake can do without food for quite a while, but there always should be fresh clean water in the enclosure.
Diseases
If the snake refuses to eat, it can be caused by stress, unsuitable food, or it can happen that the snake just is not hungry. You should not try and force the food into the snake: they can live without food for a long time without any damage for their health. You should only start worrying if your snake doesn’t eat for several months. Then you need to analyze its living conditions and the menu prior to this situation. You should never try to force-feed the coral snake, it is very dangerous.
The coral snake can vomit because of stress, illness or if the prey was too big. Also it can vomit if it was fed during shedding or if the temperature in its enclosure is not suitable. After vomiting you mustn’t feed the snake for 7-10 days, and then you can offer it food taking into account the previous mistakes.
Shedding is not a disease, it is a necessary step in the snake’s growth. Its eyes get milky, their color grows paler and the skin starts coming off. During this time you should be extra careful about the humidity and clean water in the enclosure.
Mites are small parasites that live on the snake’s skin. They stick on the snake’s body between the scales and suck its blood. This can make the snake lethargic and it can turn down the food. To get rid of mites you need to use the weak solution of the same medicine which is used against ticks on cats and dogs. You will also have to disinfect the whole enclosure.
Respiratory diseases are usually caused by potentially pathogenic bacteria if the immune system of the snake doesn’t function properly either due to a stress or to unsuitable living conditions. The symptoms include gasping, open mouth, runny nose. These diseases are treated by the injections of antibiotic called Baytril.
Breeding
The Southern coral snake is an egg-laying species but in the captivity it doesn’t breed.
Females lay 10-12 eggs. They make a nest in fallen leaves or in a hole in the ground and warm the eggs with their bodies. During this time the snakes are extremely aggressive.
Average life span is about 15 years.
