It prefers deeper forested areas, particularly rainforest on mountain slopes, however it can show up in suburbs near waterways and moist environments with ground cover and shelter.

[5] Cacophis squamulosus is only mildly venomous; however, it will bluff and mock bite if threatened, rearing into an S-shape to display the bright orange ventral pigmentation.

Bites from larger individuals may present a health risk; however, it is more likely to attempt to intimidate those it feels threatened by.

The diet of the golden-crowned snake consists mostly of skinks and other small lizards which they hunt at night; they may also take frogs and tadpoles.

[citation needed] Cacophis squamulosus is localised to eastern Australia, from Canberra, ACT, to Cairns, QLD.