Spilotes pullatus

Large, tall arboreal terrarium, very well ventilated, with solid branches, platforms and hides both up high and at ground level.

A large, fast, semi-arboreal species: favour volume and height. These dimensions are an adult minimum; larger is always preferable. Perfectly secured closures (an excellent escape artist). Provide dense foliage to reduce the stress of an often skittish animal.

Tropical conditions: maintain 60-70% during the day, with peaks up to ~80% (particularly during shedding). Ensure good ventilation to avoid stagnant humid air and respiratory infections.

Moisture-retaining substrates, at a sufficient depth; keep a surface layer that is not too waterlogged to prevent dermatitis and rot of the ventral scales.

Recommended for this diurnal snake: low to moderate UVB (Ferguson zone 2-3, e.g. T5 tube 5-7%) placed above the basking spot, with shaded areas. Beneficial for well-being and vitamin D3 metabolism, even if not strictly essential.

A large container of clean water, stable and renewed regularly, wide enough to allow hydration and an occasional soak. Contributes to maintaining humidity.

Neotropical America: from southern Mexico across Central America into South America (as far as northern Argentina), as well as Trinidad and Tobago. Occupies humid tropical forests, forest edges and riparian zones of low and medium altitude.

Opportunistic carnivore — Birds, eggs, rodents, lizards, bats and amphibians.

High metabolism and a very active animal: feed more frequently than heavy constrictors (appropriately sized prey, more closely spaced for juveniles/subadults). Whole thawed prey. Warning: many specimens in the trade are wild-caught (often parasitised, stressed, difficult to start feeding); a captive-bred individual is strongly preferable.

Clutch 5–15 eggs/young. Egg-laying is generally preceded by a seasonal cycle (variation in photoperiod, temperature and humidity). Incubation of about 70-90 days around 27-29 °C. Captive breeding is still poorly documented and uncommon.

• Internal and external parasitoses (nematodes, coccidia, mites), very common in wild-caught individuals
• Respiratory infections (unsuitable humidity/temperature parameters or ventilation)
• Abrasions and wounds of the snout (rostrum) from rubbing against the walls in stressed or nervous individuals
• Dysecdysis (difficult shedding) linked to insufficient humidity
• Stomatitis (mouth rot) and food refusal of stress-related origin