Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that ribbon snakes are gluttonous, and the one I have is no exception. He's about 10 inches long right now and feeding on guppies. How often should he be fed? He eagerly ate 3 guppies yesterday and snatched up another one today. However this seems to be a bit much. I'm used to snakes eating once a week.

Also how old would a 10 inch Eastern ribbon snake be? This would help me to keep up with his age and possibly pinpoint his "birth month."

Thanks for any help you can offer.

hello ... Ribbons & Garters have a very high metabolism and fish is generally a "light" diet. I would feed the ribbon once a week, as many fish as it wants. As for 10" that depends upon whether that measurement is total length, nose to vent and whether it's male or female. Males are smaller. In any event it probably won't get too much longer, just thicker

best of luck to you,
mt

In reference to a ribbon snake's diet, I heard that feeding them goldfish wasn't a good idea (something about hindering calcium absorption?) and that once in a while their food needs to be dusted with calcium? Another source recommended feeding larger ribbon snakes mice once or twice a month to supply the deficient calcium. I'm not sure if all of this is true.

The snake is about 10 inches from nose to tip of tail and is a little over a 1/4 inch thick but still under 1/2 inch thick. Today I tried to have him sexed at the local pet store, but the employee that I trust to do that sort of thing wasn't there. Next week when we purchase another fuzzy for our boa, I'll see if I can get the snake sexed then. This snake was purchased in another town and the local pet store doesn't carry this species.

hello sesha ... I now have Garters exclusively but I did have a Ribbon as my first snake. At the time there was little info on Ribbons but some kind soul on this forum guided me. I did get my Ribbon to eat a pink or two for the 2 years I had her but it was an *accidental* feeding as the f/t pink was thawed in fish water w/fish. I was unable to get her to repeat it more then twice in 2 years.

_ instead of goldfish get Rosey Red feeder fish from your local pet store. These are also referred to as Fat Head Minnows. There are no dietary concerns with these. If you can pull off a pink, GREAT, do it ! Personally I would try a SMALL pinky.

_ have not heard of dusting or any other supplements for these animals.

_ sexing is not all that important IMO ... 10" nose to tail I would guess to be a yearling give or take a month or two.

Here's a link/address to the guy who shared alot of info about Ribbons with me years ago ... like 10 years ago It's a great website.

http://www.mcwetboy.com/reptiles/

best of luck to you !
mt