| Common Name: | Spotted Mulga Snake |
| Scientific Name: | Pseudechis butleri |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Pseudechis |
| Status: | Secure – Category 5 |
| Size: | TL 1600mm |
If you are purchasing reptiles in Western Australia, you must hold the required Category license for the animals you are purchasing.
The Spotted Mulga snake has smooth scales that are black with groups of cream, brown, or yellow-centered scales providing a generally spotted pattern that varies considerably between individuals. Their head and throat is usually distinctly reddish-brown, their ventral scales cream to bright yellow, sometimes flecked with black and the base of each scale blackish.
The Spotted Mulga can be found on heavy soils dominated by mulga woodlands and shrublands. they can be found throughout the arid mind-west of western Australia.
Terrarium: Mulga snakes do not require an enclosure with very much height, however if given the correct environment with climbing enrichment they will explore their enclosure. The enclosure needs to be large enough to provide multiple hide rocks and maintain a thermal gradient, a terrarium that is 120x60x60cm (WxDxH) would be suitable to house a mature Mulga. Terrarium’s must be lockable and escape proof.
Lighting & heating: UVB lighting is not essential to Mulga snakes, however a low 2.0 spectrum fluorescent globe can be used for viewing purposes. Heating can be provided with a heat tile, mat or cord to maintain a ground surface temperature of 32°C in the hot spot. Ambient heat can be provided with an infrared heat globe to maintain a daytime temperature of 34°C in the warm end and 25°C in the cool end, on warmer days you may not need to turn on the heat globe as the ambient temperature of the enclosure may already be high enough. A thermometer should always be used to monitor the temperature within the enclosure.
Furnishings: It is important to provide your Mulga with a hide cave in the warm end, a water bowl at the cool end, and artificial plants will give coverage and decoration. Large Logs and vines can be used within the enclosure to provide climbing enrichment. A pet bedding wood chips such as Chipsi or Critter Crumble can be used as a substrate. It is important to keep the enclosure basic and easy to maintain, as a cluttered terrarium can make it very dangerous when you need to remove your venomous snake from the enclosure for any reason.
Food in captivity: All snakes in captivity must be fed dead food. A Mulga snake will eat a variety of frozen and thawed mice, rats and chickens of appropriate sizes. On average they will have 1-2 food items every 7-10 days.
The essentials:
