The large, flat skull of the Elephant Trunk Snake is home to the nostrils on top of its snout. Compared to men, women are more prominent. The snake’s body has a light yellow ventral side and a brown dorsal side. The slack and sagging skin makes the animal appear larger than it is. There are tiny, scratchy scales next to the skin. The tannery business also uses the skin. Small, granular scales cover the top of the skull instead of massive shields. The ventral scales are absent. Around the body, there are around 120 rows of body scales. The tail is short and prehensile, and the body is robust.
Care for Elephant Trunk Snakes
Elephant trunk snakes are challenging to maintain. Stress and health problems, particularly white spot fungus, are common in these snakes. Elephant trunk snakes used for trade are primarily wild-caught. Thus, they have difficulty adapting to life in captivity. Elephant trunk snakes like a blackwater habitat with plenty of shelter and hiding places. An elephant trunk snake’s food consists of frogs and live fish. It would be best if you didn’t handle these snakes. Handling may result in harm or stress.
Typical Health Concerns
Elephant trunk snakes may have several health problems. A large number of snakes die in captivity. The white spot fungus, which causes tiny white spots on the snake’s skin, is the most prevalent health problem affecting elephant trunk snakes.
Not every commercial fungal medication can successfully combat this particular kind of fungus. The most dependable long-term therapy is to maintain steady and suitable water conditions. Elephant trunk snakes shouldn’t be in stressful environments since stress may also lead to the development of white spot fungus. After the elephant trunk snake sheds, the white spot fungus will vanish. Proper care and therapy are essential to stop the white spots from returning.
Procreation
A. javanicus is an ovoviviparous aquatic snake, meaning that the female expels 6–17 offspring after an incubation period of 5–6 months.
Regional scope
Southeast Asia, west of the Wallace Line, comprises Borneo (Kalimantan, Sarawak), southern Thailand, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and several Indonesian islands, including Java, Sumatra, and (possibly) Bali. It may also reach Cambodia and Vietnam, though the IUCN has yet to recognize them.
Residence
Rivers, estuaries, and lagoons are examples of the coastal habitats that Acrochordus javanicus inhabits. However, it favors brackish and freshwater habitats.
Consuming
Ambush predator Acrochordus javanicus feeds on fish and amphibians. It often captures its meal by tightly encircling the animal with its body. Because fish, in particular, have bodies coated in a sticky, protective mucus, their loose, saggy skin and sharp scales minimize any chance of escape for the prey.
Actions
By night, Acrochordus javanicus is active. It seldom visits land and spends most of its life underwater. It has a maximum submersion time of forty minutes.
Source
Asia and Australia are the natural habitats of the elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus). Living along the shore, this aquatic snake prefers warm, salty water. Blackwater habitats are often home to elephant trunk snakes, which thrive in shallow water where it is easier for them to obtain food and shelter. These snakes can dive for up to 40 minutes, although they seldom go into deep water. Hunters in the wild target elephant trunk snakes. Their flesh and skin make them desirable. The population of the snake has decreased due to habitat destruction. Wild elephant trunk snakes are still common, nevertheless. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these snakes are not endangered.
Visuals and Actions
Elephant trunk snakes have a pale yellow ventral (belly) and a tan coloration. Elephant trunk snakes have wrinkled, loose, and fluffy skin. The scales are tiny and jagged. There is a triangle ridge on every scale. Elephant trunk snakes are short-tailed and have a robust body. Their head is large and snub, the same breadth as their body. Perched atop the snake’s head are its eyes and nostrils. The elephant trunk snake’s body resembles an elephant trunk, thus its popular name.
Snakes with elephant trunks exhibit sexual dimorphism. Elephant trunk snakes are more significant and longer in females than in males. Men are notably less muscular and thinner. Elephant trunk snakes are almost exclusively wild-caught, and their skin often has white spot fungus. After shedding, the fungus will disappear if the water conditions are suitable and the snake is not under stress. Snakes with elephant trunks shed once every several months. With further acclimation to their surroundings, the snakes shed less regularly.
Lifespan and Size
Elephant trunk snake males may reach lengths of up to five feet. Trunk snakes may grow to eight feet long, with females often twice as large as males. In the wild, these snakes typically survive four years, but in captivity, they may live up to five years. Elephant trunk snakes often weigh six to twenty-two pounds.
Mentality
Elephant trunk snakes are timid creatures that seldom bite people. Stress is every day in these snakes. Avoid touching elephant trunk snakes and make as little noise as possible. Keep elephant trunk snakes apart in your home. Each snake will feel safer and more at ease while eating. The loose skin of an elephant trunk snake enables it to navigate through the water and capture prey swiftly. These snakes only feed at night.
Elephant trunk snakes are also known to ambush hunters and supply. An elephant trunk snake has a 40-minute underwater lifespan. When it wants to breathe, it will come to the surface and hold its nose in the air for 15 to 20 seconds. Steer clear of these snakes. Because handling involves a lot of stress, it may harm the health and well-being of the elephant trunk snake. When agitated, elephant trunk snakes will bite. Bites from snakes may be devastating because their fangs can break off and lodge in human tissue.
Elephant trunk snake housing
Elephant trunk snakes live in the wild around coastal regions. Brackish blackwater with plenty of flora and hiding places is ideal for these snakes. A snake’s housing should resemble its natural environment. Fish tanks are necessary for elephant trunk snakes. Being an aquatic animal, they cannot endure extended periods without water. The aquarium should have greenery, leaf litter, and hiding places. Elephant trunk snakes will attempt to escape. Thus, the tank requires a tight-fitting cover.
Size of enclosure
Elephant trunk snakes in adulthood need aquariums that hold at least 150 gallons. The snake has plenty of room to spread out and swim about at this size. Keep juvenile elephant trunk snakes in a 15–30 gallon tank, up to 20 inches long. Water should fill the tank to halfway.
Looking
Excessive exposure to light might make these snakes tired or anxious. Elephant trunk snakes are nocturnal animals that hide most of the day. To assist these snakes in maintaining their circadian rhythm, a low-level UV light that simulates a natural day-night cycle is necessary. It is best to get 12 hours of light every day. The proper time of year and place may make indirect natural sunlight effective.
Water Quality and Temperature
The ideal temperature range for elephant trunk snakes is 84 to 86°F. To keep the temperature constant, use a heater. These snakes are susceptible to illness and stress due to temperature fluctuations.
Make sure the water maintains the proper temperature by checking it every day. Snake keepers should put a hotter basking region in the tank to keep a thermogradient. The best temperature range for basking is between 88 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal pH range for brackish water for elephant trunk snakes is between 5 and 7.0. To generate an environment similar to blackwater, use dried leaf litter. The tannins released by these leaves will color and acidify the water. Every two weeks, replace the leaf litter.
Decoration and Substance
Elephant trunk snakes are solitary creatures that need hiding places to feel comfortable. Place different hiding places all across the aquarium. To create hideouts, use driftwood, logs, caverns, greenery, and ceramic pots. A weighted foundation or a knotted substantial ornamentation is a must. Because of their strength, elephant trunk snakes may readily knock down lightweight ornaments. Mopani wood is reliable. This wood emits tannins into the water, is heavy, and is not floatable.
Use cork bark to create a basking area in the hotter zone. The bark will float, allowing the snake to lounge and enjoy the sun. In addition to providing protection, cork bark will release tannins into the water. Additionally effective for top covering is floating hornwort. Venomous snakes will uproot living vegetation. Plants need tethering or binding. No substratum is necessary. Soft sand substrates are ideal for elephant trunk snakes. However, they may be challenging to keep clean. The aquarium needs a secure screen top. Elephant trunk snakes are nimble, well-known evaders.
Conclusion
The Elephant Trunk Snake favors women over males and has a broad, flat skull with nostrils on top of its snout. The animal seems more prominent than its actual size due to its loose and drooping skin on its brown dorsal and pale yellow ventral side of the body. Frogs and live fish are the snake’s diet. It is advisable to avoid handling these snakes since holding them might injure or stress you out.
Elephant trunk snakes may be challenging to care for because of stress and health issues, especially white spot fungus. Their primary source is the wild, and they struggle to adjust to life in captivity. They eat live fish and frogs and choose a habitat in blackwater with plenty of hiding spots and cover. Proper treatment and maintenance are necessary to stop white spot fungus from growing.
