Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
Wanted to know if anyone keeps or kept red belly snakes. Interested in what they eat think earthworms but not sure and can several be housed together if tank large enough ?

Thanks

I have two Florida Redbellies housed in a 10 gal vivarium. They do great. I have only been able to get mine to eat slugs. They prefer the brown garden slugs, but will eat black ones if I cut them up. I have had one about 3 years, and the other about 2 mths.

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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
0:0:5 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Thanks for the info. Your set up looks great very natural woodland type enviroment.
I am glad you told me slugs is their main food and thats all you got yours to eat as thats what I thought but wanted to ask.
I only have access to regular garden slugs but considering everyone around here uses some type slug killer as gardens are "important" in this town not going to risk getting any.

Thanks again

Hey guys,

I'm planning for getting some redbellied snakes, so I've been thinking a lot about slug supplies. First, I have found lots of slugs under logs in the woods when out herping. I assume that most of these are not carrying pesticides.

Have you tried freezing slugs? I'm thinking I might try to collect a bunch and freeze them.

Last, does anyone know how hard it is to breed slugs? Are they like worms? Is it enough to give them a pile of lettuce and a moist box?

Cheers,
Billy
Phillyherping

The only problems with feeding them f/t slugs...

1) The slugs are like toads... You try and freeze them, they shrink drastically.

2) Some storeria are inclined to follow the slime trail... Almost impossible to do with f/t slugs.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

Posted by: HerperHelmz at Wed Apr 19 13:28:06 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

The only problems with feeding them f/t slugs...

1) The slugs are like toads... You try and freeze them, they shrink drastically.

2) Some storeria are inclined to follow the slime trail... Almost impossible to do with f/t slugs.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

Oh that makes sense what about freezing them in in water in ice cube trays .

Might work... I know people that do that with the toads...

Be the guinea pig here and give it a shot.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

Speaking of freezing things - do worms work the same way? I've always assumed they'd liquify or really deflate when thawed out.

Thanks,
Billy
Phillyherping

I usually put them in a container with nothing else and throw it in the freezer. An hour later I take it out, let it thaw(takes 5 minutes) then feed it to a snake (usually baby garters). Nothing really happens to them.. They don't shrink but they fall apart a heck of alot easier.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

What it the purpose of freezing for an hour? An hour will not kill parasites? That takes a minium of 30 days according to all the information I have read.
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Doesn't matter to me. Takes that long for the worm to die... There are parasite risks in keeping snakes, period, no matter what you keep, what you feed it, how protective you are.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

My plan is to freeze them in times of worm plenty (wet, warm weather) so that I'll have them when it's drier out. I just went out after work yesterday to get worms at some usually reliable spots, but the ground was really dry and I didn't find very many where, in better weather, they're there in piles under logs.

Cheers,
Billy
Phillyherping

It's pretty easy to breed slugs, but there's quite a bit of variety in reproductive rates among species. Just set them up like a garden snail colony. There's lots of info online for doing this for edible snails (escargot)