Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. We recently found 2 tiny snakes, we were not sure what kind because of the resemblance to rattlesnakes. ( vertical pupils, diamond head) It was obvious that the tail came to a fine point. After researching, I now am convinced they are night snakes. We are in California, low desert area. If this is accurate I'm not sure what the best thing is to do with them. They are only 4"-5" long and much thinner than a pencil. Should we try to care for them or release them and hope for the best?

Me, personally, I would never keep a w/c snake. It would be better to release them away from city/suburbia. I don't know what kind you have, but they, and you would be better off releasing them. Also, be wary, if you suspect a venomous snake then by all means STAY AWAY. Rattlers aren't born with rattles, they form bit by bit as they shed, besides, all vipers are not rattlers. And even if they are just hatchlings they are still venomous.

If you truly want a snake, decide on what kind and get captive born and bred snakes. They come with a much greater reduced risk of diseases and parasites plus you can pretty much get what ever kind you want. Domestic, tropical, inexpensive, expensive, docile, aggressive, any color imaginable, so on and so forth.

But that is just MHO.
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~redmom~
My Email

>> Rattlers aren't born with rattles, they form bit by bit as they shed, besides, all vipers are not rattlers. And even if they are just hatchlings they are still venomous.

Rattlers aren't born with a full 'rattle', but they are born with a small 'button' on the end of their tail, so it's not completely normal at birth.
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-audri
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It is certainly true that not all vipers are rattlesnakes. But isn't it also true that the only venomous snakes in North America are rattlers? (With the notable exception of Coral Snakes...which are easily distinguished.)

I'm still learning, so if I'm wrong, please educate me!

Judy
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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

You're forgetting our good friends the copperhead and the cottonmouth. Both are pit vipers in the genus Agkistrodon, but neither are rattlesnakes. So to simplify things there are four genera of venomous snakes in the US- big rattlers, little rattlers, copperheads/cottonmouths, and coral snakes (Crotalus, Sisturus, Agkistrodon, Micurus).

Why did you even bring them home with you if you weren't sure what they were?

First check your local laws on the collection and keeping/trade those species of night snake. That and check with Snakemastermyke. He has a post above about the night snakes. Look there.