Paradise flying snake — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Paradise flying snake — origin: Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Borneo. Humid tropical rainforests and forest edges, arboreal habitats..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–32 °C

Basking spot30–33 °C

A diurnal canopy species that basks in sunlight gaps: a moderate, localised basking spot up high is beneficial, combined with a strong gradient and large shaded areas. A natural night-time drop down to ~22 °C is tolerated and desirable. Avoid any overheating: a slender body dehydrates quickly.

Enclosure (adult)

90 × 60 × 120 cm

Tall arboreal vivarium, densely planted and preferably bioactive

Prioritise height and climbing volume: numerous horizontal and diagonal branches, lianas and sturdy plants to accommodate lateral movement and leaps. ABSOLUTELY airtight closure (an exceptional escape artist that slips through the smallest gap). Good cross-ventilation to avoid stagnant air. The species is not listed under CITES to date, but is almost always wild-caught: strict quarantine and a veterinary parasite screening are essential upon acquisition.

Humidity

60–80 %

A humid tropical ambiance without being waterlogged. Daily misting (ideally morning and evening) with partial drying in between; combine humidity and ventilation to prevent respiratory and fungal infections.

Substrate

Coco fibreBark / mulch (cypress, orchid)Sphagnum moss (humid zones)Planted bioactive substrate

A substrate that retains moisture but drains well to maintain humidity without stagnation. As most of the animal's life takes place up high, focus above all on the arboreal décor; a layer of leaf litter is useful in a bioactive setup.

UVB

Recommended

Recommended. A diurnal species: a 5–6 % UVB tube (T5 HO) covering a raised area, with extensive shaded zones and branches filtering the light. Promotes metabolism and natural behaviour.

Water source

Always available

A large, clean water dish renewed frequently, plus misting: the animal drinks mainly the droplets on the foliage and décor. Monitor hydration (sheds, muscle tone) in this slender snake that is prone to dehydration.

Origin

Colubridae

Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Borneo. Humid tropical rainforests and forest edges, arboreal habitats.

Feeding & health

Diet

Strict lizard specialist (saurophagous) — Geckos, skinks and anoles; occasionally small arboreal frogs. Rodents are not naturally accepted.

The trickiest husbandry point: converting to rodent prey is very difficult and requires "scenting" (rubbing a pinkie/fuzzy with a lizard). Many wild individuals refuse to feed in captivity. Plan for a lasting and ethical source of prey, which is often problematic and weighs on the long-term prognosis.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 5–11 eggs/young. Incubation of about 60 to 90 days at around 27–28 °C according to available data. Captive breeding is rare and poorly documented; parameters should be regarded as indicative.

Health watch points

Massive internal and external parasitism (nematodes, protozoa, mites) — almost systematic in wild-caught specimens
Stress-induced anorexia and food refusal, linked to the strict saurophagous diet that is difficult to meet in captivity
Dehydration and poor shedding (dysecdysis) when humidity or hydration is insufficient
Rostral abrasions and wounds ("rubbed nose") caused by escape attempts against the walls
Respiratory infections and stomatitis ("mouth rot") following poor parameters or chronic stress

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Paradise flying snake.

Albino (Hypothetical) amelanisticRec
Axanthic (Hypothetical) aneryRec

Pairing calculator

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Paradise flying snake × Paradise flying snake

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

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Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the paradise flying snake.

Is the paradise flying snake dangerous to humans?▾

It is a rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) colubrid that is mildly venomous, but its venom is adapted to its natural prey (small lizards) and poses no notable danger to a healthy adult. A prolonged bite can nonetheless cause a local reaction (pain, oedema), which is why handling should be reserved for experienced keepers, in line with the regulations governing the keeping of rear-fanged species, which vary from country to country.

How big does this snake get as an adult?▾

It typically reaches between 100 and 130 cm in total length as an adult, with a very slender, elongated build: despite this length, its body mass remains low.

What kind of terrarium does it need?▾

A tall arboreal vivarium, densely planted and ideally bioactive, is recommended, with a minimum of 90 cm long, 60 cm wide and 120 cm high for an adult. Priority should go to climbing volume (horizontal and diagonal branches, lianas, sturdy plants) and, above all, a perfectly airtight closure, since this is an outstanding escape artist capable of slipping through the smallest gap.

How should the temperature be set up?▾

The warm side should sit between 28 and 32°C and the cool side between 24 and 26°C, with a moderate basking spot of 30 to 33°C positioned up high, mirroring the sunlit gaps in the canopy it favours. Above all, avoid any overheating, since this slender-bodied snake dehydrates very quickly, and allow a natural night-time drop down to around 22°C.

What humidity level should be maintained?▾

Humidity should stay high, between 60 and 80%, with daily misting, ideally morning and evening, followed by a light drying-out period. This combination of humidity and ventilation is essential to prevent respiratory infections and fungal infections in this tropical species.

What does the paradise flying snake eat, and is it difficult to feed?▾

In the wild, it is a strict lizard specialist (geckos, skinks, anoles, and occasionally small arboreal frogs): rodents are not naturally accepted. This is the trickiest aspect of keeping it, since converting it to rodent prey requires a long process of "scenting" (rubbing the prey item with a lizard), and many wild-caught individuals simply refuse to feed at all in captivity.

Should you provide a water dish, misting, or both?▾

Both: a large, clean water dish, changed frequently, should be combined with misting, as the animal drinks mainly the droplets that settle on the foliage and décor. Its hydration should be monitored closely (quality of sheds, muscle tone), since this slender snake is particularly prone to dehydration.

What lifespan can be expected?▾

A well-acclimated specimen can live 10 to 15 years, but this range only applies to animals that make it through the acclimation period. Many individuals available in the trade are wild-caught, parasitised and stressed, and acclimation remains the main factor limiting their actual lifespan in captivity.

Is this snake easy to handle and approach?▾

No: it is a nervous, very fast and particularly visual species that is not aggressive but is easily stressed ("high-strung"). An outstanding climber and escape artist, capable of long gliding flights, handling should be kept to an absolute minimum, and you should make sure the terrarium is perfectly closed.

Is this snake suitable for a beginner?▾

No, it is classed as advanced difficulty and is intended for experienced keepers, particularly because of its strict saurophagous diet, which is very difficult to sustain reliably in captivity. Since almost all animals available are wild-caught, strict quarantine and a veterinary parasite screening are essential as soon as the animal is acquired.

What health problems are common in this species?▾

Heavy internal and external parasitism is almost universal in wild-caught specimens, as is stress-induced anorexia linked to the difficulty of its diet. Dehydration and poor sheds, rostral abrasions from escape attempts against the enclosure walls, and respiratory infections and stomatitis are also among the risks to watch for.

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