Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

The Superintendant of my school district arrived at my classroom with a little surprise for me this week. He brought me a hatchling albino N. ringneck snake and a normal possible sibling, which he encountered with the albino. He found the babies inside his hunting cabin near the western NY/PA border. Both babies are fresh hatchlings, as they both still have their waxy skins, although they are due to shed in a day or two. Currently they are being housed in a plastic container with sphagnum moss and a water dish. Relative humidity is pretty high (some condensation on the sides) but the substrate is dry. Temp is in the mid-seventies. They seem very comfortable.

I have seen the food suggestions previously posted in this forum and think my best option is tiny earthworms. If any of you have any other suggestions on establishing such small snakes, please share. I have many, many years experience keeping and breeding a variety of herps, however, I have never tried to tackle anything so tiny before. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Will Still

PS - I'll post pics as soon as the albino sheds

A have read in this forum that ringnecks possess rear fangs and a mild venom. I also remember reading that they also have the ability to constrict prey. Is this accurate, or am I thinking of another species? Thanks.

Will

Personally, I would contact a local university or institution and get it to them. You can try earthworms. Babies are not too easy to care for. They are "rearfanged" like many of the other small snakes in the US but they really can not do anything. Even if they bite you, nothing would happen. Much like a garter or ribbon snake bite. Most colubrids can be called "venomous" anyway, technically, so I would not worry about it. 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 have never heard of an albino ringneck that must be great looking how neat.Maybe you might be able to breed it.Either way they eat small earthworms and even live guppies dropped infront of them.
You dont want them to humid though they can get blisters.I keep mine in a 20 gallon long with damp moss on one side and reg potting soil as substrate and flat cork bark and few slate rocks.Screen top and small water dish.An albino ringneck is very rare I never heard of one.
Bianca

Hi Bianca,

Thank you for your reply and valuable tips. The animals have shown no interest in little worms, I'll give guppies a try. If I figure out my problem with my ks photo account, I'll post pictures of this tiny beauty. Thanks again.

Will

Will,
I have successfully kept Ringneck snakes over the years. I have bred them, fed them, hatched laid eggs and had many many specimens. I have had a Albino Ringneck Snake, it was easier to care for than yours because it was an adult. I have 2 baby Northern Ringnecks right now, I have had them both eat earthworms on many occaisions, the female ate 3 within 4 days last week. I can easily tell you how to take care of your snakes, alot of people after talking to me decide it would be good if I had them because my knowledge of these. I know alot about Diadophis punctatus and I want you to email me at Helmz614@aol.com
Michael Fedzen
Herpetologist