Elaphe bimaculata is an elongated, small to medium size snake. Total length is 60 to 80 cm, seldom 120 cm. Females are clearly bigger and longer than males.
Head is fine, slightly set off from the neck. Snout is large and rounded. Color and pattern are highly variable. There is a blotched morph (the more typical and widely seen), and a striped morph, as well as nuanced patterns between them, where strips are not clearly defined. Background color vary from yellow to light brownish, grey or olive. Brown to orange, black bordered dorsal blotches form two disctincts rows, or are partially fused to create a dumb-bell shape. Each row of spots can overlap a darker lateral line, sometimes until merge in the case of striped morph. Smaller spots decorate sides. Towards the tail the rows of spots merge generally in a continuous stripe. Head is marked with a characteristic V-shape , extending in strips over the neck to join the first rows of dorsal spots. A band of the same color connects eyes via the prefrontal scales, another finer band connects nostrils. A generally darker band extends from eye to the corner of the mouth.
E. bimaculata can easily be confused with E. dione (Cf.: Differences between E. dione and E. bimaculata) and sometimes with Oocatochus (formely. Elaphe) rufodorsatus. This last species has a much shorter head and has neither the same food nor the same reproductive pattern ("ovoviviparous" specie).

Scale count :
- Postoculars : 2.
- Temporals : 2+2 or 2+3.
- Supralabials : 8 to 9 (seldom 10). 4th and 5th in contact with eye.
- Subocular : 1 smal behind the preocular.
- Infralabials : 8 to 10, seldom 11 .
- Dorsals : 23 to 25 at midbody. Scales are smooth or weakly keeled.
- Ventrals : 177 to 207.
- subcaudals : 67 to 78.
- Anal plat divided.

Distribution of E. bimaculata is limited to the East China, North of Jangtze River : in the south part of Anhui, Hubei and Jiangsu provinces and in the North part of Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces. Exact range is not clearly known as there is possible confusions with E. dione.

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E. bimaculata benefits from no particular status of conservation. Its keeping in France is free within the framework of a hobbyist facility, except when the total number of specimens exceeds 25.

Terrarium
The modest size of this snake allows to accommodate it in a terrarium of average dimensions. A tank of 60x30x40 cm (Length x width x height) is sufficient to accommodate a specimen or even a couple in good conditions except if big females are concerned.
A moderate heating is enough for obtaining 25-27°C (77-81°F) on a third of the total surface. This heating is turned off at night to let the temperature fall between 17 and 20°C (63-68°F). E. bimaculata is more sensitive to heat than E. dione, temperature above 29-30°C for a long while should be avoided.
The soil will remain dry. It is possible to use successfully mulch of none-coniferous white wood (beech, poplar), aspen bed, dust-free wood shavings for rodents, for example. This species sometimes like to burrow in the substrate, therefore it is disadvised to use sand or gravel, abrasive and susceptible to be ingested.
Numerous hiding places are arranged in warm and cool zones. In a general way E. bimaculata is a shy species, and it is necessary to take this fact into account when arranging the terrarium. Ideally a partially cool hiding place will be maintained slightly wet. This species climbs easily, some branches and foliages will allow it to devote ocasionnellement in this activity..
A water bowl will be placed in the cool zone. E. Bimaculata bathes only rarely. Some tepid water can be sprayed in small quantity at regular intervals as they need more humidty than E. dione.

Feeding
In its natural environment E. bimaculata mainly feed on rodents. In captivity small-sized mice are taken without difficulties. This snake consumes occasionally eggs, but this tendency is sharply less marked than with E. dione.

Breeding
A rest period is advised to bring to a successful conclusion the captive reproduction of this species, even if it is not as important as for E. dione.
The rest period is a cooler period of 2 months at least, which takes place according to the possibilities of the facilities and the outside climate, generally between November and February. Temperature is gradually lowered until achieve 10 to 15°C (50 -59°F), the lighting is turned off (no artificial lighting).
After the end of ths period, animals shed within 10 to 30 days. Copulations take place after this shed, especially after the female's one. When both sexes are kept year-round together matings can take place during the acive season (from March to November), but clutches are almost always laid in the end of spring. In every case it is advisable to leave constantly at disposal a wet shelter wet which can serve of laying box.
Clutch is composed of 3 to 12 large eggs when compared to the female (average 50 x 20 mm). Standard incubation on a wet substrat (peat, vermiculite etc.) lasts 35 to 45 days for a temperature included between 25 and 28°C. Hatchings measures 25 to 30 cms and feed on young mice after their first slough. SCHULZ advises to offer them preferentially dead preys: movements seem to frighten juveniles.
The yearlings can follow the same wintry rest as the adults, their appetite and their growth are often much better than specimens maintained in conditions of activity all year long. In good conditions the sexual maturity is achieve early, sometimes as soon as 15 months old. It is nevertheless preferable to wait that the female is older before letting them copulate.

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