Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone.
I'm looking for a smaller snake that is relatively easy to care for and also does not need to eat small fuzzy animals of any kind. I am a rat breeder and would personally have a problem with this. I am ok feeding insects and things like that.

Thanks for your time,
LFR

Maybe a smooth green snake. They eat crickets and grasshoppers and the like. (as far as i know)

Rough greens, browns, ringnecks, garters, waters, ground snakes, rough earths, smooth greens, etc. All eat mostly inverts in the case of some of the species or fish in the case of waters/garters.
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There are exceptions but rough greens are hardier.Browns,earths and ringnecks will go for a diet of worms and salamanders.Garters and waters tend to favor fish and frogs.Try and decide the diet first,then choose the species.Also realize that these will almost certainly be wild caught from somewhere and some adults are more picky than others.Its always good to try and find local animals for this so if they dont eat for any reason you can release them and try another.Good luck,Jeff

>>Maybe a smooth green snake. They eat crickets and grasshoppers and the like. (as far as i know)

Smooth greens eat a variety of insects, caterpillars, and spiders for the most part. They need to eat frequently and don't brumate very well. I'd choose a Butler's garter snake which can be kept indefinately on earthworms and don't need to be brumated very long. They make great pets.

TC

Butler's are great snake but they are rare with a rather confined range. Here in Ontario they are protected but I don't know about the rest of their range. They aren't often seen in the pet trade and you will most likely get a WC. Ribbons eat mostly fish and also require short brumation. Be sure to do your research and you can decide for your self.

Cam Hanna
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson

>>Butler's are great snake but they are rare with a rather confined range. Here in Ontario they are protected but I don't know about the rest of their range. They aren't often seen in the pet trade and you will most likely get a WC. Ribbons eat mostly fish and also require short brumation. Be sure to do your research and you can decide for your self.
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>>Cam Hanna
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>>"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
>>-- Homer Simpson

I agree they aren't often seen in the pet trade. Always kind of amazed me. We have them locally in n.e. MI. I know they are protected in Ontario, Wisconsin, and Indiana. They are not protected in Michigan and Ohio. Their wetland habitat keeps shinking, but there are still quite a few populations here in Michigan. My question is about whether they hybridize with other snakes, like the Eastern garter or the Plains garter. There's also the question of whether their genetics differs within the species. I believe some of the pops. in Ontario are said to look like a cross bt. the Butler's and the short-headed garter. Do you know of any genetic testing in your province?

TC

They do hybidize with some frequency with radix in Wisconson. Harding (1997) suggested that the Ontario pops are similer to brachystoma, perhaps hybrid or even an intermediary species. I'm not aware of any testing that has been done but this summer I found a population of garters similer to butleri but exibiting sirtilis like traits. I found a guy who wanted some samples to test and sent tail clippings to him. Results come in late spring.

Cam Hanna
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson

>>They do hybidize with some frequency with radix in Wisconson. Harding (1997) suggested that the Ontario pops are similer to brachystoma, perhaps hybrid or even an intermediary species. I'm not aware of any testing that has been done but this summer I found a population of garters similer to butleri but exibiting sirtilis like traits. I found a guy who wanted some samples to test and sent tail clippings to him. Results come in late spring.
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>>Cam Hanna
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>>"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
>>-- Homer Simpson

Wow!! Fantastic. I'm going to e-mail you about what we're doing. Sounds like the project we're working on.

TC

I just got the results. DNA says their sirtalis.
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson

why are you breeding rats?

As pets...not for food.

I don't want this to turn into some kind fo stupid flame war. I am a rat breeder who cannot justify feeding the animals I breed to another animal.
On the other hand I would really like a snake. Hance my question.

If that's the problem, I suggest a garter snake. I just bought one, myself and I own 4 pet rats. Garters eat fish, frogs (though I don't recommend them), and worms. I know, fish are living beings, too, but snakes have to eat. It really doesn't bother me much. I'm very much for the idea that if the "feeder" animals are treated with love before fed to the other pet (aka, not bashing them on a table to make them slower for the snake to catch. You can just buy them frozen, in most cases.), it ought to be ok. I'm not keen on the idea of feeding mice and rats or any other animal, live to a snake, but some snakes won't eat them, otherwise. At least, that's what I've heard. I just couldn't do that. Hence why I got a snake that doesn't have to eat mice.