Chironius sp.

I would be interested by any experience related to the keeping of Chironius species.
Anything on cage size, diet in captivity, behaviour, etc. Anything is welcome really !

Thanks in advance.

Hello Johannes,

I just saw your post this morning. Well, i suppose that you have already some informations about the diet in the wild...
I kept some Chironius scurrulus and Chironius multiventris when i was in french guyana. I kept them in some big aviaries (about 10square meters) with 2.50 meters high and a lot of brushes. They were very nervous but ate well some Frogs, in particular some Leptodactylus species. In the litterature it is reported that they eat some rodents or birds, but i never tried it. I kept the scurrulus (2.2) for months but released the multiventris soon after the capture because they were too nervous and always rub there snouts along the nets. I saw the scurrulus were more often perching and the multiventris were more often on the ground. Anyway, i often saw some Chironius all around my house in the brushes around three or four meters high, and on the ground too...The only species i saw doing some sun-spotting was scurrulus. All the exoletus, multiventris and fuscus i found were in the forest, often active in the morning and afternoon when the weather was rainy, and often along forest streams.
So in Europe, i suppose that they need some big enclosures like for some Ratsnakes, they are very active and very shy snakes at least on the beginning. I think the temperatures doesn't need to be high (23-25°C), just let a hot-spot (30-35°C for scurrulus) upside some branches. You will see if they use it or not. A good ventilation is important. Looking there diet and activity i assume that they defecate all over your terras very often (lol) a species who give a lot of work...If you have any other question, feel free to ask.
Perhaps there is somebody here on the forum who has kept some in Europe? I will be interesting too for some advises as i like these snakes a lot. Very Happy