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Rhombic Egg-Eater
Dasypeltis scabra
The 'Rhombic Egg-Eater'. An absurd and toothless African snake (31 inches)! Totally harmless and devoid of fangs or venom, it has evolved to feed solely on whole bird eggs, which it swallows incredibly deforming its jaws to then crush them with bony vertebral spikes in the neck, later spitting out the crumpled shell.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Colubridae
Subfamily:Colubrinae
Genus:Dasypeltis
Species:Dasypeltis scabra
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
40 - 60 %
Day temperature
26 - 30 °C
Night temperature
20 - 24 °C
Adult size
116 cm
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Open savannas, thorny scrublands and woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Excellent nocturnal climbers looking for nests. This colubrid snake is found across a wide variety of African habitats, from dry savannas to open woodlands and rocky areas.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Colubridae (Subfamily Colubrinae). Extreme mimicry: they faithfully imitate the highly venomous and deadly Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus) and puff adders to terrify predators. Its taxonomy highlights atrophied teeth and specialized vertebrae with bony hypapophyses to crush swallowed eggshells.
Behavior and Habits: Dramatic actors without bullets. If approached or frightened, they rub their keeled scales together (stridulation) producing an atrocious viper 'sizzle', snap open their black mouth and pretend to deliver multiple venomous bites. In reality, they are literally toothless and if they hit you at most they give you a 'headbutt'. Nocturnal and semi-arboreal habits; it spends the day hidden under bark or rocks, climbing trees at night to search for bird nests.
Morphology: Very thin but with infinitely elastic necks (24-31 inches / 60-80 cm). Brown/sand with dark diamonds ('Rhombuses') on the back. The jaws are joined by extensible ligaments that allow them to swallow objects 4-5 times wider than their head. Its morphology features strongly keeled scales and a brown rhombic dorsal pattern that mimics the appearance of venomous vipers.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Medium/Small Vertical Terrarium (24x18x24h inches). MANDATORY very densely crossed branches and hides (fake 'bird houses' high up). The terrarium must be dry and have vertical space, furnished with sturdy climbing branches and multiple dry hiding spots.
Lighting and Heating: Basking (High branch) at 89-91°F (32-33°C). Ambient at 80°F (27°C). Night 75°F (24°C). Provide a warm spot of 28-30°C and a cool zone of 22-24°C using regulated heating mats or panels connected to thermostats.
Humidity and Hydration: Medium-Low Arid (40-60%). Low humidity levels, around 40-50%, misting lightly only during sheds and always offering a clean water bowl for drinking.
Feeding and Supplementation: THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE OF BREEDING. These animals NEVER EAT rodents or meat. They demand raw bird eggs. Adults eat fresh unfertilized quail eggs from the supermarket. The TRUE NIGHTMARE are the babies: they demand tiny finch or zebra finch eggs impossible to find, forcing breeders to feed them with syringes and egg yolk until they grow. Highly specialized diet consisting exclusively of fresh, unfertilized bird eggs of the correct size (finch or quail eggs).
Compatibility: Totally Harmless. Handled without any danger, but they tend to get very frightened if taken out of the terrarium. Entirely harmless and non-venomous species, best housed individually to avoid stress and feeding complications.
Health and Common Diseases: Neonates dying of extreme starvation due to lack of eggs of the correct size. They can fast brutally for 6-8 months during the season when there are no nesting birds. Monitor shedding cycles to prevent retained skin and ensure that offered eggs are not too large, avoiding blockages.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Open savannas, thorny scrublands and woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Excellent nocturnal climbers looking for nests. This colubrid snake is found across a wide variety of African habitats, from dry savannas to open woodlands and rocky areas.
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 116 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 116 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 116 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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