What is a krait? Why do kraits often crawl into houses?

Kraits are known to be highly neurotoxic and often enter homes. So why do Kraits often enter homes? Let's find out together!

What is a krait?

The Bungarus fasciatus is a species of cobra endemic to Asia, from the Indian subcontinent through Southeast Asia to southern China. Although it is generally considered shy and docile, like other members of its genus, it has extremely toxic venom that is capable of causing death to humans. Although the toxicity of the Bungarus fasciatus based on experiments on mice is lower than that of many other kraits, its venom yield is the highest due to its size.

Identification characteristics of the krait

1. Kraits have alternating black and white stripes that cover their body.
2. The head is broad and concave and indistinguishable from the neck.
3. Black eyes.
4. It has yellow arrowhead-like markings on its black head and has yellow lips, eyes, chin and throat.
5. The tail is relatively small, about one-tenth the length of the snake.

The longest banded krait measured was 2.25 m, but the usual length encountered is 1.8 m.

Living environment

The krait has been recorded east from central India through Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and southern China (including Hainan and Hong Kong), Malaysia and the main Indonesian islands of Borneo (Java and Sumatra), as well as Singapore.

Kraits can be found in a wide range of habitats, from forests to farmland. They live in termite mounds, rodent burrows near water, and are often found near human settlements, especially villages, where there are plenty of rodents and water. They prefer the open plains of the countryside.

Behavioral characteristics of kraits

Banded kraits are very shy, being mainly nocturnal. When disturbed they will usually hide their heads under their coils and will not usually attempt to bite, although they are more active at night and are considered much more dangerous.

During the day, they lie in grass, holes or drains. These snakes are very slow and lethargic even when provoked. They are most often seen during rainy weather.

Food of the krait

Kraits primarily feed on other snakes, but have also been known to eat fish, frogs, lizards, and snake eggs. Among the snakes that kraits catch are:

1. Sunbeam Snake Xenopeltis unicolor
2. Rainbow Water Snake Enhydris enhydris
3. Red-tailed pipe snake Cylindrophis ruffus
4. Fowlea piscator square keelback snake
5. Yellow-banded keelback snake Amphiesma stolatum
6. Rat snake or dhaman Ptyas mucosus
7. Indo-Chinese Rat Snake Ptyas korros
8. Boiga trigonata cat snake.
9. Russell's viper (Daboia russelii)
10. Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus)

Why do kraits often crawl into houses?

Find food

Kraits are carnivorous predators that prey on insects and small animals such as rats, mice, frogs and lizards. Garbage, bird seed or even pet food left outside can attract rats, insects and other pests.

The presence of these creatures can attract snakes looking for a meal in your home.

Search for water or moisture

All animals need water to survive and kraits are no exception. These snakes often slither into people's homes in search of water or moisture.

They may look for leaky pipes or other wet areas such as sinks, toilets or bathrooms.

Seeking shelter

Like all reptiles, kraits are cold-blooded (ectothermic). This means they cannot regulate their own body temperature. Instead, their body temperature changes with the temperature around them.

On the other hand, the environment is the main factor that affects their body temperature. As the temperature changes at different times of the day and night, they move around the environment to regulate their body temperature.

When body temperature is low, they move out into the sun to warm up, when temperature is high, they move into the shade to cool down.

On hot days, kraits may be attracted to the cool shade in your home and may seek out damp or cool places to hide.

Habitat disruption

Sometimes kraits may wander into your home because their habitat has been disrupted. For example, in areas that have been flooded, snakes often move to higher ground and may be forced into homes for safety.

Additionally, human destruction of forest areas can also cause these snakes to enter nearby homes in search of new shelters.

Safe place to give birth

Snakes often enter homes looking for warm, dry, predator-free places to nest and breed. Snakes often nest in dark areas of the home, so a dark basement or crawl space may be used as a nesting space.

Accidental intrusion

Kraits can also enter your home by accident. If you leave a window or door open, the snake can easily slither inside.

How to prevent kraits from entering the house

Once you know the cause, it is easy to prevent cobras from entering your home, specifically:

1. Rat extermination - Snakes' favorite food source.
2. Block any cracks where snakes can crawl.
3. Clean living space regularly.
4. Use repellents such as planting plants with scents that snakes do not like, such as lemongrass, snake tongue, or snake repellent powders such as sulfur and realgar powder.

Lesley Montoya

Update 19 June 2025