Reptile & Amphibian Forums

brown snakes or redbelly snakes in a vivarium with frogs and lizards?

they can eat a frog...or be eaten by a big enough frog.

Not a good idea. It could work, but why try it?

1) What species of frogs... What species of lizards? Some frogs can get large enough to easily eat a brown snake. Lizards on the other hand, they can also get big enough, but they will also grab a snake thinking it's prey. Even if they don't eat it, they can injure the snake.

2) Different prey items to an extent...

Brown snakes and red belly snakes feed primarily on worms and slugs...

Frogs will eat anything they can fit into their mouths.

Lizards will eat any small insects.

How would you plan on feeding the frogs? What if you drop say, 5 crickets into the enclosure, and the frog eats 1. Crickets can cause a little damage to snakes, especially a small snake like a brown snake.

3) Differences in habitat conditions...

Most lizards stay in dry conditions. Frogs stay in wet conditions and more or less, need water. Brown snakes and red belly snakes stay in moist conditions a lot of the time, but if kept entirely moist they WILL get blisters. Lizards need a warm temperature and probably a basking lamp. A basking lamp will fry a frog.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

I have a 125 gal. (4x2x2') set up as a vivarium. I tried to consider every detail. I am keeping dendrobates azureus, and hyla leucophyllata?, and bark anoles. I also had green snakes in there but I removed them a year ago because they required larger crickets than I comftroble with.

There are numerous caves, plants, cork logs with holes and crevices. Ground cover is mostly oak, apple and hibiscus leaves. There is a large waterfall that comes to pond surrounding the island that my frogs call home. there are guppies, otocinclus and a pair of splashing tetras in the pond. 10 fish total in what measured out to be 30 gallons. Two years with no problems. Ammonia and nitrites are at 0 and Nitrates never gotten over 15 ppm. 25 water changes are done every two weeks. There are 2 drains one for water changes and the other for my fluval.

The temperature in the tank is around 75 degrees with slight fluctuations as the day progresses. There are hot spots (4 total)on the vertical logs and on a clif where the waterfall starts, temperature reaches 92 degrees, set on a thermostat to keep things stable.

I spend alot of time looking at the tank, and have seen springtails, fungus nats, sow bugs and some mites and red worms that havent caused a problem in the 2 yrs Ive had the tank. Plants include various bromeliads, ferns, airoids, wheat grass (unfortunately it has to be replaced every so often) and some flowering plants that I did not plan on having (gods blessing). There are some aquatic plants that I am clueless as to what they are.

I've been keeping reptiles for a while so i feel confident that in such a large tank I can provide for any species i wish; as long as I put everything into consideration, and ask questions.

From what Ive read on Browns and Redbellys they would be a perfect addition, that would add dynamics; not to mention keeping red worms in check.

So I am not looking for opinions, I have plenty. Has somebody tried it what were your experiences?

"Not a good idea. It could work, but why try it?"

Ive worked at petstores for since I was 13. Reptiles were always set up in sterile conditions and never behaved like a reptile should. Customers would see them and ask "Why keep them, they look depressed, whats the point."

My 4 yr old has seen breeding, territorial, feeding behavior. And she blows pet store owners away when they get into a convesation.

My neighbors come and see intellectual pets that seem to weigh pros and cons before going after prey, they are oviously judging distance and obstacles in their way.

So why do it? Its educational, Its fun, and when done properly is a total blessing for the animals in your care.

Learn all you can before mixing animals, make sure everything fits. Do not compromise the health of an animal, no matter what. And number one rule in life, Have Fun.

"Do what you will, HURT NO ONE"

Pseudo...go on with your bad self! Lol.
You have obviously given this a bit of thought, and have the animals best interest in mind. I say good luck and please post your results.

I have never done this exactly, but I have established a few multiple species habitats over the years. I have thought about using one of these species (or ringnecks) in a similar enclosure. I think you are on the right track with the large enclosure, and variety of micro habitats.

I did know a keeper that kept dekayi in a large habitat with toads succesfully.

I do see one 'problem' I doubt you will ever see them-lol.
Good luck!
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Ben Team
Mark Davis
New Paradigm Herpetoculture
Captive Bred Morelia
404-438-2135
chondro776@yahoo.com

i keep together a Blunt head snake (adult, 1.3 m/51" lenght )with an aligator lizard (juvenile 28cm/11" total lenght) in a bib enclosure.

the snake is arboreal and nocturnal, and the lizard is diurnal and terrestrial, so every body is hapy!! (althogh snake feed on lizards)

so i think you must not mix species in the same ecological place that will fight for food, place etc...

if you have checked it could work, go away...

post some pics...

i actually have a somewhat similar pairing of animals in the same enclosure. my juvie garter and my juvie five line co-habitate. with good effect too, they show no aggression towards eachother, and no feeding response either. hell, they bask together sometimes curling up together under their lamp. the only things i do as for feeding are make sure to feed the garter well (usually off of tongs), and throw in small enough crickets to not harm them the garter never shows interest in the crickets anyways, so i don't worry about them going after the same food item.
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0.0.1 wc eastern garter (slim)
0.0.1 five lined skink (alvin)
1.1 columban rainbow boas (dunno, lol)
0.1 wc girlfriend (wv mountain stock)