Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After all these years I still don't have a camera, so I borrowed one and held my snakes at arm's length to try and document them. Most of these are from central VA. Enjoy!

My black rat is nearly 5'. For a long time he only ate pre-killed birds. Now he takes domestic rodents.


I chose this regular brown nerodia sipedon because of her colorful belly. She gave birth to 36 babies.

There is a strong population of red phase nerodias at one of my favorite herping spots. This is a young male.


Trying to get a shot of his orange belly.

I saw 11 high-black nerodias in a couple of hours in the Virginia Beach area, as well as some regular browns and a hybrid of the 2 phases. A ranger told me he saw a black phase mating with a brown phase and mistakenly concluded that color indicates sex. I've seen only one of this type in Richmond.

All of the "beach phase" snakes I handled were docile from day one, but this big girl wouldnt hold still for a belly shot.

On the same day I found this nearly patternless dark variant with traces of red on the sides. Doesn't he look like the Carolina subspecies?

His belly is 50% black.

Here with flash.

My 4 nerodias like to hide in the same spot. Until I disturb them!

My 10" ringneck.


His yellow belly.

My beautiful black hognose.


I call him the toadmaster.

This garter was found in the mountains.

With rough green snake.

That truly is a beautiful black hog.

Some non-natives (sorry!)

Emoryi and pewter corn.

Emory trying to climb the wall.


Pewter corn.



Puget sound garter about to shed.


My newest addition.


Did you know their bellies looked like this?

That toad was not long for this world.

Pewter corn's first meal!


Garter eating tadpole.

NWS eating carpsucker.

Black phase nerodia eating carpsucker.

The red one is a constant victim of other snakes stealing his food unless I separate them, but this time he had his revenge!

Cool, mostly local stuff. You really like those nerodia ssp. Great pics.

reako45