Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hopefully this is the proper forum for a night snake question. My nephew brought home a juvenile night snake he found crossing the road the other night. (fyi, we are located in Utah) I keep boas and so have little knowledge on these snakes. We have tried feeding it crickets and a small pinkie but with no success. We are thinking of trying a lizard or small frog/toad but have no idea what kind of lizard/toad or where we can get them. Like I said this is a juvenile most likely a hatchling at about 6 inches and very small around. Any help or tips on feeding would be helpful. Thanks.

Josh

That is not a hatchling. Adults average 10-14" with the record at 20-24" (my sources vary). They have venom but the dentation is too poor for it to pose any real threat at all. The one I kept lived for 6 mo. on anoles (before I gave it away). Try geckos and small lizards. There are records of snakes, worms and insects consumed. I kept mine on sand which seemed to be ok. There are three species of Hypsiglena, the spotted is a desert form (which I had)... Good luck with it.
Frank

Mine do well on rosy red minnows, that you can get from any petstore. They don't normally eat fish in the wild, but like many frog eating snakes, they will take a flopping fish because the movements are very frog like.

i tryed that when i got mine and it didn't work if that doesn't work a itsy bitsy gecko should do the trick. Oh yeah rick thanks for that feeding tip when i first got mine. i wish mine liked rosy reds.