Madagascar leaf-nosed snake — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Madagascar leaf-nosed snake — origin: Endemic to Madagascar: dry deciduous forests of the west and north, as well as the edges of humid forests in the east. An arboreal species of the low and middle strata..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min20 °C

Cool side23–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot30–32 °C

Provide a horizontal and vertical thermal gradient. A moderate warm spot (30-32 °C) via an offset lamp is enough: the species briefly exposes itself to filtered sunlight in the canopy but is not an intense sun-loving basker. Avoid any overheating. A natural nighttime drop to around 20-22 °C is beneficial.

Enclosure (adult)

90 × 45 × 120 cm

Vertical (arboreal) terrarium, densely planted, taller than long

Favour height and a dense clutter of thin horizontal/oblique branches, vines and foliage (real or artificial) where the animal can anchor itself and hide. Good ventilation is essential to avoid stagnant air. A single individual is preferable; cohabitation is a source of stress.

Humidity

60–80 %

A moderately humid environment with a day/night cycle. Let it dry out partly during the day, then raise it again by misting in the evening/at night. The humid-forest forms tolerate the upper end of the range; the dry-forest ones prefer the lower end. Permanent stagnant humidity promotes infections.

Substrate

Coco fibreOrchid bark / cypress mulchSphagnum / mossLeaf litter

The substrate mainly serves to regulate humidity, as the animal lives up high. An earthy, moisture-retaining mix, covered with dead leaves and moss, keeps humidity stable and looks natural. It can be bioactive.

UVB

Recommended

Low to moderate UVB recommended for a partly diurnal species: a low-power T5 tube in Ferguson zone 1-2 (UV index ~1.5-3 in the basking area), with numerous shaded areas. Providing vitamin D3/calcium remains useful. UVB is not strictly essential but improves long-term welfare.

Water source

Always available

Drinks mainly the droplets deposited by misting on the leaves and its body; mist daily (in the evening). Also provide a small dish of clean water. Good hydration is critical: dehydration is a frequent cause of death in recently imported animals.

Origin

Lamprophiidae (sous-famille Pseudoxyrhophiinae)

Endemic to Madagascar: dry deciduous forests of the west and north, as well as the edges of humid forests in the east. An arboreal species of the low and middle strata.

Feeding & health

Diet

Specialist saurophage (lizard predator) — Geckos and small diurnal/nocturnal lizards, sometimes frogs. In captivity, some individuals accept newborn rodents scented with lizard/gecko.

Feeding is VERY difficult in captivity: this is the main obstacle to keeping it. Many wild specimens refuse any substitute prey and waste away. Offer live or freshly killed prey of a suitable size, ambush-style within the vegetation. Feed at spaced intervals (the slow metabolism of an ambush predator).

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 5–10 eggs/young. Breeding is rarely achieved in captivity; data are limited. The cycle is probably stimulated by a drier/cooler season followed by a wet season. Incubation is estimated at around 60-90 days depending on temperature. Almost all animals in the trade are wild-caught, not captive-bred.

Health watch points

Anorexia / food refusal (a specialist lizard diet that is hard to reproduce)
Dehydration and weight loss, especially in recent imports
Heavy internal parasitism (nematodes, protozoa) common in wild-caught animals
Respiratory infections linked to stagnant air or poorly managed humidity
Stomatitis (mouth rot) and chronic stress due to handling or failed acclimation

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Madagascar leaf-nosed snake.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the madagascar leaf-nosed snake.

Is the Madagascar leaf-nosed snake dangerous to handle?▾

It is an opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snake, so mildly venomous. Its venom is not considered dangerous to humans — although local pain, swelling and numbness have been reported — but any prolonged bite calls for caution and medical advice. Keeping and handling it is reserved for experienced keepers, bearing in mind that the stress of handling clearly harms the animal's health.

Why do males and females look so different?▾

Sexual dimorphism is extreme in this species: the male, brown and slender, bears a long, tapering nasal appendage, while the female, grey and stockier, has a flattened, serrated leaf-shaped appendage. A pair can almost pass for two different species.

How big does it get as an adult?▾

Between 70 and 100 cm in total length, a slim, elongated build typical of an arboreal ambush snake living in the vegetation.

What terrarium suits this arboreal species?▾

A vertical terrarium of at least 90 x 45 x 120 cm, taller than it is wide, densely planted and rich in thin horizontal or oblique branches as well as vines the animal can anchor itself to and hide among. Good ventilation is essential, and it is best to house a single individual per terrarium, as cohabitation is a source of stress.

What thermal gradient and exposure should be provided?▾

Maintain a cool side of 23-26 °C and a warm side of 28-30 °C, with a moderate basking spot of 30-32 °C provided by an offset lamp. It is not an intense sun-lover: a brief exposure in the canopy is enough, and a nighttime drop to around 20-22 °C is beneficial.

Why is feeding a problem with this snake?▾

This is the main obstacle to keeping it: an ambush predator, it is a specialist saurophage that hunts geckos and small lizards, sometimes frogs, so many wild-caught individuals refuse any substitute prey. Some individuals eventually accept newborn rodents scented with lizard or gecko, but feeding must be sparing, in line with the slow metabolism of an ambush hunter.

How should it be hydrated correctly?▾

The animal mainly drinks droplets deposited by misting on the leaves and its body, so daily misting, preferably in the evening, is essential, in addition to a small dish of clean water. Dehydration is a frequent cause of death in recently imported specimens, making it a constant priority.

Is UVB necessary?▾

Low to moderate UVB is recommended for this partly diurnal species, for example a low-power T5 tube in Ferguson zone 1-2, with plenty of shaded areas. It is not strictly essential, but it improves the animal's long-term welfare.

Why is this species reserved for experts?▾

The difficulty level is expert: feeding is very hard to achieve, the animal is highly sensitive to stress and dehydration, and almost all specimens on the market are wild-caught rather than captive-bred. Good acclimation requires a great deal of experience and patience.

What is its lifespan?▾

Life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years, provided the acclimation and feeding difficulties typical of this species — still poorly documented in captivity — are overcome.

Does it reproduce easily in captivity?▾

Very rarely: it is an oviparous species that lays 5-10 eggs, but data remain limited. The cycle is thought to be stimulated by a drier season followed by a wet season, and incubation is thought to last around 60-90 days depending on temperature.

What health problems should be monitored?▾

Anorexia linked to the difficulty of its specialist diet, dehydration and weight loss in recent imports, often heavy internal parasitism in wild-caught specimens, respiratory infections in stagnant air, and stomatitis promoted by stress or failed acclimation.

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