Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We found this snake in our backyard yesterday, and my girls have taken a real likin to him. I am curious to know what kind of snake he is, I know snakes look different when they are babies so it makes it harder for me to figure out. He is very tiny you can tell by the leaf beside him in the photo. We live in Central Florida, Orlando. Thanks in advance.

I believe what you have there is a beautiful Pinewoods snake. That is actually just about adult size. They only get about a foot long or so. Very nice find. The babies are really small(red wriggler earth worm small.) Google Pinewoods snake and you may find a care sheet as I am not a Pinewoods snake expert although I would not mind having a pair. I love all those small native snakes you do not see that often in captivity. Also I am up in N.Y.C. We have Dekays and Redbellied earth snakes here. Cheers Greg.

Also I believe they like to eat small amphibians and little snakes. They are mostly fossorial. You may get them to eat earthworms or slugs also. They are harmless to humans, but I think they have a mild toxic saliva. Set him up in a small enclosure with some soil and peat moss mixture. Also leaf litter to hidr under.

Looks like a pine woods snake. They are usually very docile but when excited and frightened(I can tell you from experience) can musk you and they have some of the most powerful smelling musk of any small snake.
Mine have all eaten live brown anoles of appropriate size.
It seems that their saliva "stuns" the prey item very well.
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Yes, like the others said, a Pine Woods Snake(Rhadinaea flavilata). I've also captured some of these on the east coast of central Florida.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks everyone! I found some pretty good info on him and now I am debating on whether to keep him or not. I am not experienced at keeping reptiles I would hate to kill him by ignorance. I am thinking about keeping him for a week or so, let the kids enjoy him and then release. If I kept him outside do you think he would be okay? If inside doesn't he need a heat lamp? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again.

~Kelly

If you keep it outdoors, do not allow the cage to be in direct sunlight for any length of time, especially if it is a glass tank. Glass magnifies the sun's temperature, & could kill the snake in minutes.
The attached website may be of some interest since you are in Florida.
~~Greg~~
Florida's Venomous Snakes

In all reality, since the poster really has no snake experience as he mentioned, it would really be in the snake's best interest to at best, be enjoyed visually for a day or two, and released back from where it came like he mentioned.

BTW, I fully agree, if the snake is left outside in ANY direct sunlight at all, it could be killed extremely fast. This would be a fairly common mistake made by many unfortunately.

take care Greg!, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

A strong "cold front" is making it's way through the cental Florida area tonight, and the next couple of days, it's going to get down to low 40's and maybe even cooler, so leaving the snake outside in a tank with no way to insulate himself from the sudden drop in temps, would NOT be a smart thing AT ALL!

So now it should really be let go NOW,..or brought indoors during this period.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"