The African House Snake Will Love You for a Humid Home

Although African house snakes are solitary creatures, they are not territorial and can be housed together in captivity if given enough space. Michele DAmico supersky77 / Getty Images

The African house snake is a small, nonvenomous snake native to southern Africa, often kept as pets due to its docile nature and ease of care. If you're into reptiles, you may have heard of them, but if not, you're in for a treat!

Unlike some of their larger cousins, African house snakes are relatively small and well-adapted to living in close proximity to humans. They’re excellent hunters, keeping local rodent populations in check, and they’re even a popular species for captive breeding.

Characteristics and Subspecies of African House Snakes

The African house snake comes in a variety of colors and patterns depending on the specific subspecies. Typically, they’re slender snakes with smooth scales and grow to be about 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) long. Their color ranges from brown to black, making them excellent at blending into their surroundings.

The African house snake family includes a variety of subspecies, all within the genus Boaedon, with Boaedon fuliginosus being one of the most common. Here are just a few subspecies of African house snakes:

The brown house snake, aka Cape house snake, is commonly found in a rich brown color.
The black African house snake (sometimes just called a black house snake) is, as the name suggests, a deep, glossy black.
Some subspecies, like the aurora house snake, have bright yellow or green stripes running along their bodies. These color variations help them adapt to different environments.
The swazi rock snakes are another example of regional variation, showing just how diverse this species can be.
Some of the more popular subspecies include the aurora house snake, which is known for its bright coloration, and the fisk's house snake, which has a lighter, more muted color pattern.

Each subspecies has slight differences in size, color and habitat preference, but they all share similar behavior and diets.

Social Habits

African house snakes are solitary creatures, much like other snakes. They prefer to live and hunt alone, but they are not territorial and can be housed together in captivity as long as they have enough space.

These snakes are nocturnal, so they’re most active at night, hunting for small prey like rodents and other reptiles.

In captivity, they are known for being relatively docile and easy to handle, making them a favorite among snake enthusiasts. Unlike wild-caught snakes, captive-born African house snakes are especially calm and tend to thrive in human care. They require a humid hide to help with shedding and maintaining proper skin hydration, which is key to their well-being.

African House Snake Diet

In the wild, African house snakes primarily feed on small rodents, birds and occasionally other reptiles. Their role in controlling rodent populations makes them valuable to the ecosystem, especially in agricultural areas.

In captivity, these snakes are typically fed weekly with appropriately sized prey, such as mice.

Their strong appetite and willingness to eat regularly make them an easy species to care for. They’re great feeders, compared to some other reptiles that might be picky eaters. Just make sure their diet matches their size, and they’ll thrive.

Environment

Wild African house snakes can be found throughout southern Africa in a variety of environments. They are commonly found near human settlements where they help control rodent populations.

Their ability to adapt to a range of environments, from savannas to urban areas, makes them quite versatile. They often hide in small crevices, under logs or even in human-made structures.

For those kept in captivity, creating an enclosure that mimics their natural environment is important. Maintaining proper temperature and humidity levels will help keep them healthy and comfortable.

Life Cycle

The female house snakes lay eggs, typically producing clutches of six to 13 eggs. The eggs take about two months to hatch, depending on the temperature.

Once the young snakes hatch, they are immediately independent and start hunting small prey on their own. Captive breeding has become common, with breeders carefully monitoring the conditions to ensure the health and survival of the young.

Captive-born snakes tend to be hardier and better suited to life as pets, compared to wild-caught specimens. With proper care, these snakes can live for over 15 years in captivity, making them a long-term commitment for reptile lovers.

Conservation Status

Currently, African house snakes are not considered endangered, and they have stable populations in their natural habitats. Their adaptability to various environments, including urban areas, has helped them maintain healthy populations.

However, like many other snakes, habitat destruction and human encroachment could pose future threats.

The practice of captive breeding has reduced the demand for wild-caught specimens, which is a positive development for the species. Conservation groups help raise awareness about the importance of protecting native species in the wild while supporting responsible pet trade for reptiles like the African house snake.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.