Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

I am essentially "just visiting" this forum, although who knows - maybe I could become a regular? I woke up this morning to find an interesting visitor to my north Phoenix apartment: a snake about 6 inches long wandering across the carpet.

After finally coaxing it into a peanut butter jar (empty, of course), I had a search around and I believe I've identified it as a young ground snake. I now have it sitting in the jar (lid off) under the one incandescent light in the apartment, such that part of the base of the jar is in light and the other shaded by the rim... and the apartment is at about 80-85 degrees. Now, my question is, I wouldn't mind having this little guy hang around for a few days before taking him out to the desert (besides which - it might be a few days before I have the time to get out to the desert)... but in the mean time, I want to make sure the snake is OK. Apart from moving it into a casserole dish (which is the best non-escapable open-topped container I can think of), what else should I look at doing for the temporary stay? I gather put some soil in there would be desirable... anything else? Source of water? How is it likely to do without food for a couple of days, and if the answer is "not good", then will it be able to handle crickets? It's certainly not very big... would have thought a cricket would present rather a challenge!

Anyhow, I'll post photos when I have a moment. In the mean time, any advice (assuming I've identified it correctly) would be welcome!

Cheers,
Robin

(I'll put the pictures at the link below when they're ready)
Pictures (will be 404 until I get them online)

Ground snake for sure...Pretty little guy. I would make sure there is a lid...any snake can be an escape artist at times. Put some loose soil or even aspen bedding in with him. Put a sunken water dish in. I would get him back as soon as possible if you are planning on releasing him(which is gathered you were). You do not have to feed if you are just keeping it until you get rid of it (which would be a couple of days). You could try pinhead crickets if you wanted or even small insects or inverts from outside if you are sure they did not come in contact with any contaminants. Good luck. 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