Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went herping in North-Central Ohio today and saw something I haven't seen in quite awhile: A baby Eastern Fox Snake.
Saw a lot of Eastern Garters and Northern Water Snakes too.

Tim

Third Eye

Awesome find Tim!! I havent seen anything on fox snakes posted in the forums or adds in quite awhile.

Thanks Kevin! Here's another photo of the same snake:

Cool! Nice little guy, you must have had a great day.

Matthew

I live near western fox territory, always cool to find a foxie.
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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

Yep. For me, finding any of the larger snakes is always cause for celebration. I love Garters & Greenies, don't get me wrong. But a big Rat, Gopher, Pine, or Indigo gets my blood racing!

Matthew

Absolutely AWESOME DUDE!!

...and a less common Eastern no less!......a big congrats on that one Tim!

Are you going to hold onto that one?

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

No, the ODNR requires PIT tagging, annual fees, inspections anytime, etc. to keep native reptiles and amphibians. It's not work the hassle to keep herps native to my state. Even common reptiles, morphs and hybrids are regulated.

Tim

I forgot what a hassle Ohio was about herps..LOL!

As I recall, Pennsylvania is the same way,isn't it?

Sure am glad to be in Florida, sometimes I tend to overlook those things as I have lived here all of my life, and tend to take for granted the ability to own just about anything herp-wise.

But Florida could quickly follow suite too one day soon,........dread the thought!

Not long ago, a buddy of mine was just about to get a pair of sticticeps at a show from the same friend I got mine from, and as he had them in hand, and was just about to pay for them,....he thought to himself..."D'HO!!, nope!, can't own those in my state!!..LOL!

Glad I legally walked away with a few to bring home though..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>No, the ODNR requires PIT tagging, annual fees, inspections anytime, etc. to keep native reptiles and amphibians. It's not work the hassle to keep herps native to my state. Even common reptiles, morphs and hybrids are regulated.
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>>Tim

One of many reasons I no longer live in Ohio...
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Conserving reptiles by helping to protect habitat...
www.ratsnakehaven.com
www.scenicsantaritas.org

I've always like those, but I have never kept one. How do they fare in captivity?

They never "caught on" in the pet trade, so there's not many people who have long-term experience keeping and breeding them. The Western Fox Snake seems to be more commonly kept.

There used to be a rumor that they needed voles in their diet, otherwise they'd perish after a few years. I have no idea if there's any truth to that - it seems kind of silly.

Years ago I know a dude who had a pair of them and all they did was actively patrol the cage and try to bite whenever a hand came near them.

As a kid I kept a few (all wild-caught). They seemed to be more like corn snakes than rat snakes (tended not to climb and not to be nippy).

Tim

Have 2.0 westerns. WC in 2006 as babies. 4 feet now, eat f/t mice. gentlest, most tolerant serpents i ever seen. However, all WC adults I have come across refused to eat.
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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

"There used to be a rumor that they needed voles in their diet, otherwise they'd perish after a few years."
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I heard this too, Tim, at the show in Cleveland in '92 and '93.
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I could imagine WC adults being scripted to Voles, but I think they could be changed.
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In captive born, my E Foxes eat small to medium rats and thrive.
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Regards, Bill McGighan

>>I've always like those, but I have never kept one. How do they fare in captivity?

Nice find, Tim.

I've always liked them too, and have kept a few when I lived in MI, with a DNR permit. Captive raised babies are a lot easier to acclimate than adults; but they can be good captives. They aren't for everyone obviously, not popular like corns, nor do they have the tremendous variation in color/pattern or locales. They have pros and cons. Also, I believe they are protected in every state and province, and you would have to get legal babies from a breeder.

Cheers...TC

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Conserving reptiles by helping to protect habitat...
www.ratsnakehaven.com
www.scenicsantaritas.org

Sounds like a good trip, Tim...
Especially after this winter...
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Good find...
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Regards, Bill McGighan

I love my pair of Westerns, got em as babies this fall for 11$ and they are THE most active snakes in my collection and piggy eaters to boot. A lot of fun for sure and can't wait till they grow up!

Nice find, I plan to hit the northwestern part of the state early next month. Been a while and have the itch to see some melanistic garters, hogs, and some of those guys right there. I am always stunned at how naturally docile they are.