Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed my midland water snake has an interesting way of killing prey and was wondering if this is a normal water snake trait. If the fish is kind of big, he will hold it out of the water for a few minutes than move it so the fish can be swallowed. Has anyone else seen their snake hold fish about water before eating?

Hello there,
My snakes generally remove their food from the water unless the fish is relatively small compared to the snake. The only exception has been the Brown water snakes which always swallow their live food underwater! If however,I offer them frozen, thawed trout on land, they will accept it and swallow it where they are. Notwithstanding, all the others if offered frozen, thawed will run about their cages, usually to high ground before swallowing.
Michael

Most of my Nerodia will remove their prey from the water if given the choice. They generally try to take their prey to a quiet corner of the aquarium for swallowing. If you think about Nerodia in the wild, this behavior makes sense. They are taking fish from the water so they'll quickly suffocate and the chances of them wiggling lose and escaping are diminished. They are also less vulnerable to predators if they are swallowing their prey while concealed on shore. Fascinating snakes, these are!
-----
Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

I have come across several watersnakes eating fish in the wild (rhombifer, fasciata, taxispilota, erythrogaster). In all these cases the snakes were up on the bank with their fish.

I have also found a large rainbow snake up on the bank swallowing an eel and a mudsnake on a bank eating a greater siren.
-----
Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham