Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My daughter found 3 baby Queen snakes. They only eat shedding crayfish right? How do people keep them in captivity? She has lots of experience with snakes and all other exotics but I told her I don't think we can keep these. I then found on the net where others had kept them. How do they feed them? If anyone knows more about them and has a set up would you like to trade these 3 for something are more equipped for? We had 2 watersnakes that were just awesome and some idiot left the tank where they could get out. They ate great and LOVED to be help..thanks Richard ohiobound37@aol.com

Water snakes are chow hounds...I normally can't stop them from eating. On the other hand, Regina are a particularly troublesome genus to keep. Basically you need, as you stated, fresh molted crayfish. I do not remember the source, nor the specifics, but someone out there can probably drag up a link. There is a way to induce crayfish to shed, something that has to do with the water around them. I do not remember more than that, but there is a way. If you can find how to induce a shed and have a good amount of crayfish it might be worthwhile to keep them. I suppose you could also try frogs, fish, and possibly salamanders as other Regina will occasionally take them, though queens from what I have heard often are more picky. Good luck. Andy
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Andy Maddox
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains