Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found a baby snake in my yard (central iowa) the other day. Doesn't look like the your common garder snake (all brown, white spot on either side of head) so I decided to bring it inside.

I'm wondering what a good item to feed it would be. I've tossed in a few tiny crickets, but it's not eaten any of them yet. It's only about 3-4" long, so I'm not sure of anything else that would even fit other than maybe some small pill bugs. Any suggestions?

Can you post a pic? We can help you better if we can see what you're talking about.
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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
2.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cats - Robert Bob & Pirate

Your describing a young Northern Brown Snake(Storeria d. dekayi). They typically eat slugs, snails, and earthworms.

They need a small soil/leaflitter habitat with plenty of places to hide, and a temp in the high seventies.

However, it would probably be best if it was let go where it was found.

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

Yes it sounds like a Dekay's snake, and the advice is good. They don't get more than 8-12 inches long and usually do not do well ni captivity, as they are secretive snakes that like to hide in leaf litter. I would second the "turn it loose" suggestion. If you are looking for a snake for a pet, check out the classifieds here for a corn or rate snake, or maybe a ball python, all fairly easy keepers.

Does it look like this?

If so, they require specialized care, and it would probably be best for the snake to return it to where you found it.

Dances With Reptiles

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1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
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More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.