Non-Venomous

Asian Pipe Snake For Sale

Cylindrophis ruffus

The Asian Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) is a secretive burrowing serpent of soft Thai soils that, when threatened, raises and curls its tail to flash a bright red underside as a decoy false head. Harmless and specialised on other elongate prey, it spends life underground and rewards patient keepers happy with a fossorial display.

Overview

Adult Length

30 – 75 cm

Venom

Non-venomous. Harmless. Raises and curls tail to display red underside as false-head defence when threatened.

In the Wild

Habitat

Fossorial. Soft-soil moist forest, agricultural land, rice paddies and lowland wetland margins. 0 – 500 m. Lowlands throughout Thailand.

Wild Diet

Other small snakes, caecilians, eels & elongated lizards. Specialised burrowing predator.

Captive Care

Captive Diet

Small pre-killed snakes or pinky mice with snake scent. Every 7 – 10 days. Specialised diet requires planning.

Temperature

24 – 28 °C ambient — 22 °C cool end

Humidity

75 – 85 %. Keep substrate consistently moist. Burrowing substrate essential.

UV Requirements

None required (fossorial). UVI 0.

Enclosure

Fossorial terrestrial. Min 60 × 45 × 30 cm. Deep damp coco-coir substrate 15 cm minimum.

Temperament

Secretive. Rarely seen. Performs tail-display threat response. Not suitable for regular handling.

Distribution in Thailand

Known regional occurrences across Thailand. Wild-source collection is regulated; all stock is supplied wholesale under CITES-compliant export.

Wholesale Only — Apply for Access

Medusa Reptile Co. supplies the Asian Pipe Snake to licensed wholesale buyers and importers via air cargo from Thailand. Minimum order quantities apply.

Apply for Wholesale Access

Export is conducted strictly under CITES permits and Thai wildlife law. We do not sell to the general public.