Leucistic Puff Faced Water Snake

Leucistic Puff Faced Water Snake for sale

Leucistic Puff-faced Water Snake is a visually striking variant of the Puff-faced Water Snake (Homalopsis buccata), known for its unique lack of pigmentation that results in a white or pale appearance. Here’s a detailed description of this interesting snake:

Physical Description

• Coloration: Leucistic Puff-faced Water Snakes exhibit a uniform white or pale cream coloration due to their leucistic condition, which involves a partial loss of pigmentation. Unlike albinism, leucism does not affect the eyes, so they retain their normal coloration, typically dark brown or black.
• Size: These snakes can grow to lengths of 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet), with females generally being larger than males.
• Build: They have a robust, somewhat flattened body adapted to their semi-aquatic lifestyle, with a wide head and large, expressive eyes.

Habitat and Distribution

• Habitat: Puff-faced Water Snakes are typically found in freshwater environments such as rivers, swamps, rice paddies, and mangroves. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of aquatic habitats.
• Geographic Range: The natural range of Homalopsis buccata includes Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Behavior and Diet

• Behavior: These snakes are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night and spending the day hidden in vegetation or burrows near water. They are excellent swimmers and often found submerged or at the water’s edge.
• Diet: Their diet mainly consists of fish and amphibians. They are ambush predators, relying on stealth and their quick striking ability to capture prey.

Reproduction

• Breeding: Puff-faced Water Snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Females typically give birth to a small litter of fully-formed young after a gestation period of several months.
• Development: Newborn snakes are independent from birth and start hunting small fish and amphibians immediately.

Captive Care

• Enclosure: In captivity, these snakes require an enclosure that provides both aquatic and terrestrial environments. A large, secure tank with a water area for swimming and a dry area for basking and hiding is essential.
• Temperature and Humidity: Maintain a temperature gradient with a basking spot around 28-30°C (82-86°F) and a cooler area around 24-26°C (75-79°F). Humidity should be kept high, around 70-80%, to mimic their natural habitat.
• Feeding: In captivity, they can be fed a diet of appropriately sized fish and amphibians. Some individuals may also accept thawed, frozen rodents.

Conservation

• Status: The conservation status of the Puff-faced Water Snake is not well-documented, but habitat destruction and pollution are potential threats. The leucistic variant is primarily found in captivity and bred by enthusiasts.

Popularity in Captivity

• Leucistic Puff-faced Water Snakes are highly prized in the pet trade for their unique appearance and interesting behavior. They are suitable for experienced keepers due to their specific care requirements and semi-aquatic nature.

Interesting Facts

• Adaptations: Their flattened body and strong swimming ability make them well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
• Rarity: The leucistic morph is rare in the wild and typically results from selective breeding in captivity.