Classification
Order: squamata
Family: elapinae
Family: pseudechis
Species: pseudechis porphyriacus.
Habitat
The red-bellied black snake is native to the southern and the eastern parts of Australia and to the islands of New Guinea.
It prefers to live near the water, especially by the rivers and swamps. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, it can stay submerged up to 1 hour.
It is a diurnal snake and is most active during the daytime, when the water is warm.
Outward appearance
The red-bellied black snake reaches up to 1.5-2 metres in length, but even specimens up to 3 metres long have been reported. It is one of the largest venomous snakes in the world.
Its body and head are glossy black; the belly is pink or bright pink. It is a slender snake with smooth scales. The head is small and narrow. The venomous fangs are quite long, they are located in the front of upper jaw. They are visibly larger than other teeth, are bent backwards and have venom conducting canals. The fangs are inflexible. Normally only one fang functions, the second is a replacement in case the first one is broken.
Apart from fangs, there are smaller non-venomous teeth in the upper jaw.
Character
The red-bellied black snake is a good swimmer and diver, it can stay submerged up to one hour. It is a diurnal species. The snake shows aggression towards people only if provoked.
It ranks as the seventh in the list of the most venomous snakes of the world.
When the snake feels threat, it stretches its neck 10-20 cm high, bends the front part of the body and bites. It hunts from the ambush where it stays still. Often the snake waits for its prey in the water.
Maintenance care
The enclosure for the red-bellied black snake has to be set in a special way 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 best solution is a tank that consists of two sections. The enclosure should be horizontal, at least 100х50х60 cm. The bottom can be covered by a thick layer of coconut husks. The snake will also need some branches to climb and a bowl with fresh clean water (has to be changed daily). You should put sphagnum in one of the corners of the tank. It must always be damp, and the snake will bury itself there when it feels like it.
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 red-bellied black 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 red-bellied black snake mainly eats small amphibians, for example frogs. Young snakes also eat insects, reptiles and small mammals. They can also eat other snakes, including the representatives of their own species. When the cane toad was introduced in Australia, a lot of venomous snakes died out (this toad is covered with poisonous slime). But lately there has been an increase in the number of these snakes because they have changed their food preferences and now mostly eat rodents.
In captivity the main food for the red-bellied black snake is small rodents: mice and rats.
You should feed your snake twice a week and add to the food vitamins and mineral supplements.
Features
The red-bellied black snake is very venomous and dangerous for people.
It is strongly recommended not to keep this snake at home.
Its venom is neurotoxic, it causes protein coagulation in humans.
When the snake feels threat, it stretches its neck 10-20 cm high, bends the front part of the body and bites. Its bite is potentially lethal for people, since this snake emits record amount of venom. The venom is neurotoxic, it causes protein coagulation. The red-bellied black snake is particularly dangerous for swimmers, because it tends to lie still on the bottom of the river and it is very hard to notice.
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 red-bellied black snake, it can be dangerous.
Snakes can vomit because of stress, illness or if the prey was too big. Also they 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
It is an ovoviviparous species (the eggs develop in the snake’s body and after a while the young snakes hatch). The shell resolves in the female’s genital tract.
Usually a female gives birth to 8-40 hatchlings, 5 -22 cm long. This species rarely breeds in captivity.
In the wild during the mating season males fight for females. They crawl on each other, their necks bent, their heads risen, and try to cover their rival’s head with their own. When one of the snakes succeeds, it wraps around the rivals body. The snakes squirm, hiss and squeeze each other. After a while they stop fighting and crawl apart in order to prepare for the next “round”. Each stage lasts for about one minute and they are repeated until both males get completely exhausted. The snakes get so involved in their fight that sometimes they continue even when raised from the ground. During the fights snakes don’t bite each other. Besides sexual excitement, these fights can be caused by territorial instinct.
Average life span is 12-15 years.
