Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm trying to find out how to properly care for a Southern Water Snake but am having trouble finding websites with care sheets. I've tried doing online searches and can find out info on the animals in the wild, but not in captivity. I've tried doing the forum search but wasn't able to pull up any old posts regarding care. I have not seen the snake I am considering getting, hoping to get pics of it this weekend. I'm told it is small and on the thin side, about the width of a large earth worm. It is feeding on frozen/thawed minnows. I do not know what size enclosure it's in or what substrate it has. I'm told it likes to hide and likes to soak. It's shy but has not bitten anybody yet. It was wild caught, unsure how long ago or how old the snake is. I would be starting it out in a 20 gallon tank, moving up to a larger size when it gets bigger. Any info on successfully keeping this species would be most helpful. I normally bed my snakes in Aspen, would that be ok or would another substrate be better? I was planning a large water bowl over the UTH with frequent water changes if he is soaking. Does everyone keep their water snakes in a dry enclosure with just a bowl to soak, or could you do a semi aquatic setup with heated/filtered water, enough for it to actually swim a little (like in a 55 long with a water side and a land side?). What is the best type of fish to feed to a Water snake? Do you supplement the fish with Calcium and/or Vitamins? Sorry for all the questions. Just want to be sure I can provide properly for this little guy before deciding whether to get him. Thanks in advance!
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www.LynsLair.com
0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Ratsnake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
1.0 Albino American Bullfrog (Prince)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.9 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess Leo, Twister)

20 gallon should be fine to start. Aspen shavings. Heat lamp is the best way to go. Put it over the water bowl. Put in a hidebox, though my broad bandeds always just make a burrow under their bowl. I have always fed my waters fish and mice, though mine would also take nightcrawlers. Frogs can be used, but they are just full of parasites, so I wouldn't suggest them.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
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

Thanks. I've decided to get the snake. I'm hoping to see some pics of it this weekend or early next week. They are going to treat it for internal parasites just to be on the safe side since it's a little thin, so I have to wait at least 2 weeks before he/she can come home. I'm hoping it's a girl so I can name her Ripley. I'll post pics when I get them!
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www.LynsLair.com
0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Ratsnake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
1.0 Albino American Bullfrog (Prince)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.9 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess Leo, Twister)

I'm probably missing something here, but I don't think there's such a thing as a "Southern Water snake," at least not in terms of formal taxonomy. Conant and Collins don't list one, except for a map of "southern water snakes" showing ranges of the three members of the "banded" water snake group (ssp. of the species fasciata). They are the Banded Water snake (f. fasciata), Florida Water snake (f. pictiventris), and Broad-banded Water snake (f. confluens). You may have better luck finding care sheets and other info by searching these names.
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MichaelB

I was just told it is a Southern Water Snake so I don't know what one of the 3 it could be. I'm hoping to get a picture soon, if I post it would you be able to tell me which type it is? I found lots of sites on Southern Water Snakes, and they did mention the different types, but only had information about them in the wild, not in captivity. I'll post the pic as soon as I get it. My friend was going to try to take pics today for me. Not sure when he'll get time to download them and send them though.

Here is a snake I got from the same friend last month. He's a Yellow Rat with some Everglades influence. He's about 12 years old and was owned by a guy who hardly ever fed him or handled him or cleaned his cage. My friend rescued him last fall and has gotten him in great shape considering how he was when he got him. He was only getting 1 or 2 live mice per month. Now he's on 1 to 2 rats per week. He's a bit nervous but considering the life he's had he's very good. I love him to pieces.

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www.LynsLair.com
Western New York Herpetological Society
0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Ratsnake (Pumpkin)
0.0.1 Southern Water Snake (Ripley) coming soon!
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
1.0 Albino American Bullfrog (Prince)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.9 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess Leo, Twister)

...if I can't. The aptly-named Broad-banded Water snake is easy to distinguish from the other two, but the Banded and Florida Water snakes are closer in general appearance, and thus it's not quite as easy to specify which is which. Both can be highly variable in coloration and pattern. You might need to look at the belly pattern: Banded will have squarish markings, mainly at the sides of the belly, while the Florida will have wavy reddish or blackish markings running across the entire belly. All three have a dark stripe from behind the eye to the angle of the jaw.

Nice rat snake, nice pic. Good rescue!
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MichaelB

Go to my site, Houston Herp Key, listed below and click on the snake section. there is a picture of one on there.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
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

&
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Tim

Yeah, that sounds right. Probably like erythrogasters usually being referred to as "plainbellies."
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MichaelB

Southerns are all of fasciata.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
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

The water snake has an eye injury. I guess he had a blister over his eye that popped. They are treating him and trying to save the eye. They didn't want to further stress him trying to take pics. Cross fingers for a full and speedy recovery. After being medicated for his eye injury he did eat which I think is a good sign.

This begs a question. Have any of you had problems with your waters getting blisters? If so, what is the best way to prevent blisters, and the best way to treat them if you do get them?

I have two frogs who poop in their water, requiring constant washing of the bowls and filling with fresh water. I use Reptisafe in their bowls since straight tap can be dangerous. I figure I'll have to add in cleaning the water snake's bowl daily too if he's soaking alot. Would that prevent the blisters or is there more I'll need to do?

"Prince" baby Albino Bullfrog

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www.LynsLair.com
Western New York Herpetological Society
0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Ratsnake (Pumpkin)
0.0.1 Southern Water Snake (Ripley) coming soon!
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
1.0 Albino American Bullfrog (Prince)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.9 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Buttercup, Nala, Mystique, Jewel, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Princess Leo, Twister)

Blisters are a common problem in Nerodias, both in the wild and in captivity. They usually arise due to excessive moisture/humidity. Old feces and/or wet substrate provide a medium in which the bacteria that cause the problem can develop and flourish.

Move the snake to a clean, dry enclosure with clean, dry substrate or other ground medium (or thoroughly clean/disinfect/dry the current enclosure). Replace the water bowl (temporarily) with a smaller water dish - small enough to prevent the snake from soaking in it. Wipe down the snake with a warm, wet cloth to remove any dirt or other foreign substance. If the infection is mild and not widespread, the next shed should take care of it. More severe cases may require a trip to the vet, and possibly antibiotics. Daily application of Betadine solution to the skin, using a cloth, also might be a good idea.

The eye problem may be due to a retained ocular scale (eye cap that didn't come off in the last shed), another common problem. It can result in infection if not dealt with in time. It looks like you're already doing all you can on that.

BTW, go down a ways on this forum and check out the post by pulatus from March 20. Very nice pic of a very nice Banded Water Snake!
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MichaelB