Elaphe dione is a small to medium sized snake, heavily built. Adult size is on average from 70 to 80 cm, sometimes up to 120 cm. Females are longer and bigger than males. The head is elongated, not clearly set-off from the neck. The snout is rounded.
The coloration is as variable as the distrubution area is large; background color can vary from grey or brownish-grey to yellowish, yellow or even reddish. Pattern consists of paired dorsal spots or lines, generaly bordered with black. Each side is also marked with smaller spots. The middle of the back and the sides present a clearer line, more or less marked according to the populations. The spotted pattern is sometimes little or not visible.
The head is marked with a U or W shape which extends towards the neck and can touch the first row of dorsal spots. A strip of the same color connects eyes via the prefrontal scales, and extends behind these by lining supralabiales up to the corner of the mouth. It may be difficult to distinguish the populations of China from those of Elaphe bimaculata (Cf. Differences between E. dione and E. bimaculata).

Scale count :
- Postoculars : 2 to 3.
- Temporals : 2+3 or 2+4 (seldom 3+3 or 3+4)
- Supralabials : 8 (7 to 9). The 4th and 5th or 5th et 6th bordering eyes.
- Subocular : 1 small, behind the preocular. In rare cases preocular is absent.
- Infralabials : 10 to 12.
- Dorsals : 23 to 27 at midbody, weakly keeled.
- Ventrals : 170 to 214.
- subcaudals : 55 to 80.
- Anal plate divided .

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E. dione has the wider natural range among Elaphe. This species can be seen from the Black Sea to South Korea.

E. Dione is a common colubrid snake on its area of distribution. It 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 60x40x40 cm (Length x width x height) is sufficient to accommodate a specimen or even a couple in good conditions.
A moderate heating is enough for obtaining 27-28°C (80-83°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).
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.
Hiding places are arranged in warm and in cold zones. Ideally a cool hiding place will be maintained slightly wet. Even if the specie rarely climbs, some branches will allow it to take some exercice.
A water bowl should be placed in the cool area. E. dione seldom lie in water, more often when temperature exceeds 30°C (86°F).

Example of housing for keeping E. dione

Feeding
In its natural environment E. dione consume mainly rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs, more rarely frogs or snakes, or even insects. In captivity mices are taken without difficulties, otherwise obligingly. E. Dione is capable of mastering and of swallowing rather wide preys (grown-up mice), but it is advised to offer food items of adapted size, preferentially died. We can also propose it eggs (of parakeets or quails) from time to time. The shell is broken by a twisting of the neck or by rubbing itself on an element of the decoration, but is not regurgitated as it is the case of egg-eaters snakes (Daypeltis sp.). Females consume generally more food than males.

E. dione (Kazakhstan) avalant un oeuf de caille.

Breeding
The Steppe Ratsnake breed easily in captivity. A rest period is strongly recommended, even if some breeders obtained eggs without any cool period.
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).
Animals shed generally 2 to 3 weeks after the end of this period, and mate in the continuation. Matings occur in a regular manner during the following weeks. When sexes are not separated matings can take place until autumn, but in most of these cases the eggs are laid the next spring. The duration of gestation is long but is not exactly known because of repeated matings.
Three to 8 (average 6) elongated, almost cylindrical eggs are laid. The dimensions of eggs depend on the size of the female and may vary from 50 to 80 mm long for 20 in 30 mm wide. The mass of eggs can represent up to a third of the mass of the female before laying. Incubation of eggs is identical to that of the other related colubrids snake: 25-28 even 30°C (77-86°F) and 80 to 90 % of relative humidity. It is possible to use various substrates of incubation with success: vermiculite, peat, natural moss, perlite, pieces of foam etc.
E. dione is a well-known species for the short incubation of its eggs. It varies from 13 to 34 days only according to the temperature.
Hatchings measure 25 to 34 cm (9.85 to 13.40 in.) for a nearby weight of 12g. It is interesting to notice the size and the corpulence of the young of this small specie with regard to other bigger species as Pantherophis guttatus.
Rearing of the juveniles is identical to that of other ratsnakes. A small zone kept slightly moist would be of great help for juveniles, as they are sensitive to dehydratation during the first weeks of life. First food item, in the form of mouse foetus presented after the first sloughing, is usually taken without reluctance. The juveniles will benefit of a rest period within their first year. The sexual maturity is achieved in the second year, sometimes earlier: it is advised to maintain the females alone until they reach a reasonable size for the reproduction (75 cm and more).

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