S'N'A Intermediate Series: Episode 20 - Mandarin Rat Snake (Euprepiophis mandarinus)

Snakes ‘N’ Adders
Intermediate Series
Episode 20: Mandarin Rat Snake
(Euprepiophis mandarinus)
First described as Coluber mandarinus by Theodore Edward Cantor in 1842.
Cantor was a Danish physician, Zoologist & Botanist. Cantor worked for the British East India Company and collected animals whilst on expedition particularly from Penang & Malacca in Malaysia.
He was the first to describe many species of reptile & Amphibian including:
1836
Ophiophagus Hannah (King Cobra or Hamadryad)
1839
Bungarus bungaroides (North Eastern Hill Krait)
Bungarus lividus (Lesser Black Krait)
Oligodon albocinctus (Light barred Kukri Snake)
Oreocryptophis porphyracea (Bamboo Rat Snakes)
Pareas monticola (Common Slug Eating Snake)
Trimeresurus erythrurus (Red Tailed Bamboo Pit Viper)
1842
Oocatachus rufordoratus (Red Backed Rat Snake)
Naja atra (Chinese Cobra)
Ptyas dhumnades (Cantor’s Rat Snake)
1847
Lycodon effraenis (Wolf Snake)
Plus he also described a number of fishes and seahorses.
The genus Cantoria was named in his honour as were:
Pelochelys cantorii - Cantor’s Giant Softshell
Trimeresurus cantorii - Cantor’s Pit Viper
Taxonomic history is as follows:
Coluber mandarinus - Cantor 1842
Coluber mandarinus - Boulenger 1894
Ablabes pavo - Annandale 1912
Elaphe mandarinus - Stejneger 1925
This is the first time we see the use of Elaphe which for a long time was a huge melting pot of Rat Snake species.
Elaphe was first used by Johann George Wagler in 1833 (Of Wagler’s Pit Viper fame)
Elaphe takasago - Takahashi 1930
Holachus roulei - Angel & Bourret 1933
Elaphe mandarina - Smith 1943
Elaphe mandarinus - Fleck 1985
Elaphe mandarina - Das 1996
Elaphe mandarina - Schultz 1996
Euprepiophis mandarinus - Utiger 2002
This is the first time we see its current taxonomic name.
Euprepiophis was first used by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843.
Euprepiophis mandarinus - Gumprecht 2003
Euprepiophis mandarina - Zhao 2006
Euprepiophis mandarinus - Chen 2013, Pyron & Burbink 2013 and finally Wallach in 2014.
Natural distribution of the species is widespread and includes:
Extreme North Eastern India past Bhutan and Bangladesh
Arunchal Pradesh, Mizram & Nagaland Regions
Northern Myanmar (Burma)
Laos
Northern Vietnam
Hoa Binh region
Taiwan
Which came as a surprise, having looked at the weather data I assumed it would be too warm.
Southern China Westward to Tibet.
Shaanxi
Chehiang
Fujian
Guangdong
Kweichow
Sichuan
& South through to Beijing.
Type locality is given as:
China Zhejiang, Chusan Island (Cantor 1842)
Weather data for this species can be misleading. The data is collected from airstrips usually located in warmer more sheltered flat valley floors and basins. Mandarin Rat Snakes are mountain side snakes in cloud forests at mid to high elevations. Regardless, data from Hangzhou Airport 212km away from type locality region.
Hot season: Jun-Sept (28-34 c) DTH
(21-25 c) NTL
Cool season: Nov - Feb (8-11 c) DTH
(2-9 c) NTL
Wet Season: Mar- Aug (76-142mm)
Dry Season: Oct - Dec (28-38mm)
Whilst we are not necessarily going to follow these to the letter it does afford us a shap shot of seasonal shifts. Day to day in captivity upper DTH is around 26 Celsius. This is reflective of the elevations this species is found at.
Historically, this is somewhat of a mythical mystical snake, impossibly beautiful and equally impossible to keep alive. This and the 100 Flower Rat Snake Orthriophis moellendorfii were at the top of many 80’s and 90’s keepers wish lists
Wild collected animals were teeming with parasites, were usually very badly dehydrated, suffering with infections and stress. Even in experienced hands these animals would quickly perish.
too quick to treat
fussed them too much
kept them too warm
Keepers also failed to understand the inefficacy of antibiotics at lower temperatures. Most drugs formulated for 37 Celsius blood.
Because of the above they were written off as impossible, advanced and a waste of time.
Fast forward 25 years and thanks to some early keepers dedication they are now captive bred in very respectable numbers. Some animals are 3rd, 4th, 5th generation captive bred. These babies are posing very few of the original problems.
They are still kept cool and secluded but for the most part they make ready feeders. Their metabolism is somewhat slower than other rat snakes and they will never feed or growth with the speed of a Corn Snake. They simply are not hot enough to digest it quick enough.
Take longer to mature than other snakes as well as a result.
Trick is not to rush them, allow them to come on at their own rate.
Size can vary from Locale to locale - anything from 3ft to 4ft in adult length. Animals from China are known to be larger locales.
Vivarium should be 36x18x18 approx.
Basking temperatures should be 26 Celsius during the day reducing to 20 Celsius at night. It is imperative it has thermostatic control to avoid overheating.

[@yasminenaia2497]

I was recommended this video by someone I knew to help me learn about my new baby mandarin and honestly, he's completely exceeded all my expectations. I was okay with him being flighty and largely not a handling snake, especially being a juvenile, but he confidently climbs up my hand, all over the place and happily tumbles around while exploring. He isn't tense, or flighty either and I've always given him the choice to get away but he always seems to be happy to explore. Either I got really lucky, or the breeders did a phenomenal job with him. Probably both. I cannot recommend Marek Baron of ReptiTerra enough. This is a great informational video! So hard to find in depth information on these guys. I have a Vietnam locality.

[@christiansheard5739]

Truly gorgeous snake, one that I'm thinking about getting or a Thai bamboo. But I'll definitely be doing research as you said. Ratsnakes are definitely the coolest of the species. There's just so much variety and different colours and patterns. Thank you Chaz. 👍

[@ShadowEtienne]

What a beautiful snake! The Mandarin Rat Snakes (along with the Beauty Rat Snakes and Bamboo Rat Snakes) are really high on my list of snakes I want to keep, and I really want to thank you for getting me more interested in the Rat Snakes. I'm hoping that you'll be able to cover the Bamboo Rat Snakes very soon because I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say about them.

[@kwdtas]

I love these beautiful snakes. Maybe one day I'll get one. Thank you so much for covering them.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

I sometimes wonder if there is a hidden taxonomist deep inside you - you seem to enjoy giving us an exhaustive history! Re Reptoboost: One of my carpet pythons had been on antibiotics at the dealer before I brought her home. Broad spectrum antibiotics decimate the gut microbiome, which is so crucial for health (in all animals and humans too), so I used Reptoboost, injected into the prey items. The quantity of powder to make up 5ml is minute, so I bought a micro scale. The snake looked very healthy, but I did it for the first few feeds anyhow. That is some snake, even though I’m a boa and python guy.

[@EquitySolutionRayRaz]

Definitely the Mandirin’s and 100 flowers I adore , I just picked up a female Mandirin , she’s a wiggle worm atm , but I hear most ratsnakes do better in a cage rather then a tub so I put her in a 5 gallon atm since she’s about 10G , amazing specimen and appreciate the knowledge

[@meowpurrr]

I'm not big into colubrids but these are one of the few that I really like

[@Melmac1756]

Great video as per usual! You keep making them I’ll keep watching them!! I’m glad I found your channel. Cheers! 🐍✊🤘🙏

[@mrcrawlingstv]

I flipping love this and the hundred flower. I will be keeping my eyes peeled at the Tinley show in Chicago. Thank you so much for this video. You know I love the off the charts colubrids or less know perhaps.

[@SouthpawSatch]

Wow what an incredible snake, never heard of them before this video. The colouration is amazing. I’m a python guy but I’d be tempted to get one some day

[@nathanielpatrick610]

I always enjoy watching your stuff. I appreciate the great knowledge!

[@meiguboshi]

I’m from China,this kind of snakes r easy to c,but hard to raise.thanks a lot.

[@carlsirotic4270]

Very good video. Thank you, appreciated!

[@ssserpentarium5968]

Very tempted on these

[@meiguboshi]

Thanks a lot,very useful,respect

[@BooksMusicMe17]

Re: them being found in Taiwan, they're predominantly a high-altitude snake over there, where it's cooler. They're number one on my list of snakes to see in the wild while I'm over there next year, but I doubt I'll spot any in the city visiting the in-laws. ;)

[@igemm78]

a species I've admired for years, I will get round to keeping them one day!...great video as always.

[@adameverett7882]

I’m in a subscriber do your channel I really enjoy your videos

[@kevinoats6634]

as always chaz and paul a fantastic vid, what a beautiful species if my bucket list gets any bigger from watching your channel going to have to call it a barrel list lol. keep up the good work guys. im really looking forward to getting hold of your book when you get the time to finish it !

[@user-em6zu4it8e]

It's so beautiful snake 🐍🐍💞💞💞

[@jasonlongton1876]

I have a few pythons and boas but have been looking for something different. My big problem is that I live in New England and struggle to keep high temps for those animals. These might be exactly what I've been looking for. I could have a full on rack system in my basement and have a complete collection of these. Love it! Than ks for the info, and I'm off to do much, much, more research.

[@EquitySolutionRayRaz]

I appreciate this video , I will be picking up my Mandirin Female in 2 weeks along with a 100 flower , very excited but what a difference between them and all my Pythons and Boas , wonderful

[@avidshooter132]

Great video! I just picked up a Yunnan mountain bamboo rat and would love to pick up a mandarin rat as well. I passed one up at and expo two months ago because I didn't know much about them, but probably should have got him/her.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

I still can’t break the habit of “Elaphe”… lol

[@richardcarchia7037]

Ok need some help because I got one of these snakes, it's a male. I bought it 2 weeks ago at the expo in New Hampshire . It won't eat and the temperature and humidity is correct. I tried putting a live pinkie in its cave overnight and I tried washing a pinky and squeezed its brain out literally overnight and still nothing! Any tips with these spices would be greatly appreciated. My next step I'm thinking to assist feed it ?

[@Blue_Lugia]

But a snake going whitout food for 2 weeks is nothing! Especially if it's not used to it's new environment. I hope your snake is eating now, since your comment is over a year old.

[@sycoflair4472]

What was the deal with saying scientific names for the longest time in the beginning, felt like I was listening to that for hours

[@nwnw1006]

When you say max temp 26C what do you do when we have hot summers, do you cool them?

[@SnakesNAdders]

Move them to a cellar or similar until it passes.

[@matsumoto5006]

タカサゴナメラ！