Gonyosoma prasinum Care Guide

Description
Non-venomous. Named after the Latin word prasinus = leek green, which refers to the yellow-green colour of the species. From North Vietnam some turquoise animals are known also, others show white spots between the scales. 
In the terrarium, this species is relatively quiet and lives as secretive as possible like in nature. Its small size is particularly pleasing and makes the green bush snake a perfect pet.

Adult Size
8"-10" when hatching, adult males 32"–36", adult females 40"-44"

Lifespan
about 15 years

Distribution
China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam

Environment
relatively cold rain forest areas, mostly from 500–2,000 m elevation, pre-dominantly caught on forest edges

Captive Care
Cage size about 36x18x36 WDH or more, include climbing branches, cork tubes and plants. Day temperature 72–50F, night temperature 62–72F , relative humidity 60–80 %, dry and humid retreats. Spray water is accepted as well as a drinking bowl. Unlike Rhadinophis frenatum this species doesn't get the typical skin blisters from too much humidity. A daylight fluorescent light or bulb often is enough heating, use LEDs alternatively. Peat or coconut humus as substrate.

Food
small rodents, feeds on reptiles, too, in nature, females are much better eaters than males, live food is preferred over dead, don't worry about long breaks in food intake, some specimens may stop feeding after spring until next year

Reproduction and Rearing
Only one male in a cage possible, males tend to bite themselves until severe injuries happen. Rear females at least two years before first mating. 2 months cool period of about 55–60F initiate mating. Often mating will take place in the cool period or even before already, when you place animals together which were kept apart before. Deposition of 3–11 eggs about 55 days after successful copulation. Incubate at 77–78F for about 65–80 days. Some of the male hatchlings don't accept food voluntarily, goad them until they bite into the feeder item, after which they normally swallow.

Distribution:

Gonyosoma prasinum (Blyth, 1854) (gbif.org)

Insitu Photos:

Photos of Green Bush Rat Snake (Gonyosoma prasinum) · iNaturalist

Protection

none

Literature:
Grossmann, Wolfgang (2002). Elaphe prasina (BLYTH). Sauria (Suppl.) 24 (3): 573–576. TGB, Berlin.
Gumprecht, Andreas (2006). Kurzmitteilung: Gonyosoma prasinum, Grüne Strauchnatter. Sauria 28 (1): 53. TGB, Berlin.
Schulz, Klaus-Dieter (1991). Die hinterasiatischen Kletternattem der Gattung Elaphe Teil XX Elaphe prasina (BLYTH 1854) und Elaphe frenata (GRAY 1853). Sauria 13 (2): 15-17
Schulz, Klaus-Dieter (1996). A monograph of the colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe Fitzinger. Koeltz Scientific Books, Königstein im Taunus.
Schulz, Klaus-Dieter (1996). Eine Monographie der Schlangengattung Elaphe Fitzinger. Bushmaster, Berg/CH.
Schulz, Klaus-Dieter & Grossmann, Wolfgang (2000). Pflege und Zucht von Elaphe prasina (BLYTH 1854). Sauria 22 (2): 31–36. TGB, Berlin.

Rhadinophis prasinum (reptile-care.de)