African House Snakes
Despite their dull name, house snakes are incredibly underrated. African House Snakes, specifically Boaedon capensis (the Cape house snake or brown house snake), are one of my passion projects and it's my goal to make them a well-appreciated staple species for new and experienced keepers alike.
Similar in behavior and intelligence to some of the larger python species, these snakes are fun to interact with and are less flighty than some more common pet species. With the calm demeanor of a python packed into the body of a small-to-medium colubrid, their size is manageable for the average keeper with simple care requirements. They've been called "pocket pythons," and I find it to be a remarkably accurate nickname. Never owned one? You should give it a try! For more information check out our care & fact sheet.
Native to southern Africa, Cape house snakes got their name because they can commonly be found alongside people - in homes, gardens, backyards, and other populated areas. Similar to rat snakes in North America, house snakes are a primary predator of mice and other rodents near settlements, in addition to geckos and birds. Endemic everywhere from South Africa all the way up through Kenya, house snakes have adapted to many different habitats and can be found in forests, savannas, scrublands, and even mountains.
Cape house snakes grow to reach 3-4ft in length ( around 300-500g), with females growing generally larger while males stay around 1-2ft (150-250g). As mentioned, they primarily eat small rodents, along with geckos and birds, and in captivity do well on a rodent-only diet. They are known for their perfect "frozen yogurt" coils when they constrict prey. They will climb, burrow, hide, bask, and explore any environment they're given, and are personable and inquisitive.
