Description
- Common Name: Arabian Cat Snake pr African Cat Snake
- Scientific Name: Telescopus dhara
- Locality/Morph: Wild type
- Sex: Mixed
- Age: Mixed
- Source: Wild Caught
- Native Range: North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of East Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Arabia)
- Natural Habitat: Dry savannah, rocky outcrops, scrubland, and semi-desert environments
- Diet: Small lizards, birds, frogs, and rodents
- Basking Temperature: ~30°C hotspot
- Ambient Temperature: 22–26°C (night drop to ~18°C)
- Average Adult Size: 70–100 cm
The Arabian or African Cat Snake (Telescopus dhara) is a slender, mildly venomous colubrid named for its large, cat-like eyes with vertical pupils. This nocturnal species is adapted to arid and semi-arid regions across Africa and Arabia, where it hunts under the cover of darkness for small reptiles, mammals, and other prey.
In the wild, T. dhara is an ambush predator, using its cryptic sandy brown colouring to blend into rocky terrain and scrub. Although rear-fanged and venomous, it poses little danger to humans, with its venom specialised for subduing small vertebrates. Nonetheless, bites can cause localised pain and swelling, so they should be handled with care, and only if strictly necessary.
In captivity, African Cat Snakes require a secure, well-ventilated enclosure with plenty of climbing opportunities, rocky hides, and naturalistic décor. A sandy-soil mix works well as substrate, with branches and crevices for security. They thrive with a gentle thermal gradient, with a hotspot around 30°C and cooler areas in the low 20s. UVB is not strictly necessary due to their nocturnal habits, but a low-level UV source can still be beneficial.
Their diet in captivity should consist of appropriately sized rodents, though juveniles and fresh imports may need lizards or small birds initially before switching to mice.
Telescopus dhara is a fascinating, beautiful, and relatively uncommon species in captivity. With their striking eyes and intriguing behaviour, they are best suited to experienced keepers with an interest in rear-fanged colubrids.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
