Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Now I've heard they can be hard to work with(setting up the cage and such) but I would be willing to do it if anyone has any information on keeping these snakes or knows of anyone who is breeding them, or if anyone is selling them.

Thanks

I have one. HARD. You need a constant supply of siren/amphiumas and you need water with high acidity. Diluted tea water works somewhat well. Mine babies still have yet to eat, but are holding weight. They spend A TON of time in the water, so you have to watch for blisters. Personally, I wouldn't have kept them if they were native. But they are from a WC mud a friend got from Florida, so no way I am turning them back. Good luck...you will need it lol. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Sounds challenging, but I would be up for it. You said you have babies so I'm wondering if you are breeding and possibly selling them? I'm going to do more research on these guys before I would get one, but is there anything else I should know about them? Also could you feed them small feeder fish? I've heard they enjoy fish.

thanks so much for the info

-Joe

I have a 8" (w/c)mud which was almost newborn when I got it 4 months ago. It has been on Pinkie mice all this time. I learned this tecnique from a friend who has succeeeded with several (his oldest is on Rat Pups). My mud is kept (in a small cage so he has to keep running into the food animal. It is bedded in soaking wet spagnum with a rock for it to climb out on. The pinkies (live) are washed to get rid of the mouse scent. I then use dwarf siren to scent it. The pinkie is placed in the cage after dark. by morning it is gone. Eventually scenting becomes unnecessary.
Frank

Great, I'm glad people are being soo helpful. It seems like I could really handle this, I just need to find one(or a female and male pair) anyone breeding them? Has anyone had success breeding them??

Oh also could a diet of only rodents affect the health of the mud snake? Similar to how supposedly bringing up hognose(easterns mainly) on rodents can cause them to have early deaths. Also this leads me to another question, what is their average life-span?

funny you should mention that. I have two (eastern hogs) and know of two (from the same litter that have been on mice since birth. All are doing very well. I have had several thru the years and never had an "early" death. it is interesting to watch a hog take live (fuzzie) prey. They just swallow....
I have seen no ill effects on the Mudsnakes yet. I try to keep the feedings small as the animals are not used to such nutrient rich food...and I have concerns about obesity (none of the above are thin...just healthy)
Frank

Thanks....I still need to know where to get one haha..preferably cb and a hatchling...

The whole mice rumor for snakes that don't normally eat mice is normally just because the snake ends up dying the day after it is fed from mice due to stress. So then the people blame it on the mice instead of blaming it on the stress or parasites or disease. The whole problem is getting the sirens to scent as well. For the poster that has the dwarf siren, do you happen to have access to any more? I havn't been able to come across any and mine refuse fish, mice, and frogs. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

I got my dwarf's from Glades Herp. They also carry amphiuma and other sirens (when available). The good news is they don't have to be alive. I scented for two months of a frozen piece. I think the "stress thing" is really a result of people not knowing how to properly "assist feed" as well as the really stupid additude that you should not do it because it stresses the snake....My Hogs all had to be assist fed till they crossd to mice. now they hunt their own.
Frank

True...assist feeding is agood as a last resort. I still don't like to use it unless I have to, but it stresses a lot less than shoving the food down their throat. I keep toads around as pets as scenters, so I will probably do the same with the aquatic sals. I checked glades site a while back and they didn't have any, but they were one of the first places I tried. I guess I will have to to email them a request. Thanks for the help. Scenting is no big deal for me, just getting the salamanders to scent with. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry