Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am in Lawrenceville, Ga and found a baby snake in my basement today. The coloring is a lot like a copperhead but by the head shape (much like a rat snake) and the eye shape (round eye and pupil) it is quite obviously not poisonous (unless it has me fooled). Also the contrast is not as severe as it is in the cooperhead between the dark and lighter brown/darker brown coloring.
By shape alone I would say it is a rat, except that the nose isn't quite that pointed. I just have never seen any Ga juvenile ratsnakes and don't know if their coloring as juvies would be consistent with what I have. I thought possibly a cornsnake as well, some darker morph perhaps? Any ideas? I'll try to get a pic soon.
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

Upon further examination I have also noticed that it has the large scales on its head. That is pretty indicative of it being a rat right?
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

Without seeing the snake I would not trust your statement about the head scales. Look at the belly of the snake. Is it white with black checks (rectangles?).

From your discription it could also be a water snake.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

>>Without seeing the snake I would not trust your statement about the head scales. Look at the belly of the snake. Is it white with black checks (rectangles?).

No, the belly is light colored with the tips of the scales darker so it appears striped.
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

Sounds like a water snake to me. Rearfang is a snake identifying genius. I like the questions you ask. Stuff I'd never think to ask. No joking around here.

Does it sound like a plainbelly to you fang? I've seen intergrades here in KY matching the same ventral patterning. Some plainbellies (N. erythrogaster) have plenty of dorsal patterning as well in some parts of their range. Those here in KY are usually really black that it almost hides the patterning. However in Texas (DFW) they were highly patterned. I dunno. I'm rambling. Time for sleep or a no doze! Later.
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14 Leopard Geckos 5.9.0
2 Tokay Geckos 2.0.0
1 Graybanded Kingsnake 1.0.0 (on vacation in my house)
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0
1.0 Ambystoma sp. "Axolotl"

Without a photo I am still not certain...but erthogaster is a possibility.

A few questions please...

Do you live near water?

Are the scales keeled (rough feeling) or smooth? VERY IMPORTANT!

How large is this snake?

Are the eyes large or small...and do they sit high on the head or more to the sides?

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

>>Do you live near water?
There is a creek within a mile of here

>>>>Are the scales keeled (rough feeling) or smooth? VERY IMPORTANT!

I have not actually held the snake. Though it doesn't appear to be poisonous it is fiesty and has tried to strike a couple times.

I can say though that the scales do not appear shiny at all but do look smooth.

>>
>>How large is this snake?

Very small... 6 inches tops

>>Are the eyes large or small...and do they sit high on the head or more to the sides?

Seem to be more on the sides and appear fairly normal sized

>>Frank
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>>"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

>>>>Do you live near water?
>>There is a creek within a mile of here
>>
>>>>>>Are the scales keeled (rough feeling) or smooth? VERY IMPORTANT!
>>
>>I have not actually held the snake. Though it doesn't appear to be poisonous it is fiesty and has tried to strike a couple times.
>>
>>I can say though that the scales do not appear shiny at all but do look smooth.
>>
>>>>
>>>>How large is this snake?
>>
>>Very small... 6 inches tops
>>
>>
>>>>Are the eyes large or small...and do they sit high on the head or more to the sides?
>>
>>Seem to be more on the sides and appear fairly normal sized
>>
>>
>>>>Frank
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>>>>"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
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>>All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

Sorry so blurry.... my camera sucks for close shots.
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

np
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Andy Maddox
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The Reptizone

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The bad news is that the picture is inconclusive. It could easily be any of three different species of Nerodia (sipedon, fasciata or erythogaster. At this point it is best to check the range maps against the possibilities. I am inclined to doubt that it is erythrogaster based on the belly color and the way the bands extend down the sides....more later.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I am leaning toward erythrogaster at this point. The specimen of sipedon I have found has way too much pattern on the stomach, and the head was wrong on the fasciata though I found adult pics and not hatchling which is what I am sure I have.

>>The bad news is that the picture is inconclusive. It could easily be any of three different species of Nerodia (sipedon, fasciata or erythogaster. At this point it is best to check the range maps against the possibilities. I am inclined to doubt that it is erythrogaster based on the belly color and the way the bands extend down the sides....more later.
>>
>>Frank
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>>"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
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All my Children: 0.2 female humans (1 is 10 and the other is a 6 month old hatchling), 1 Saint Bernard, 2 maine coons, 15 leopard geckos, 1 pacman frog, 1 oscar, 1 jack dempsey, 1.1 ball pythons, and "Lilith" the black meowing kitty

I checked the range maps vs the location of your home. Easy for me because I used to live in Norcross. Two watersnakes (of the three) are found there. The Midland; Nerodia sipidon ssp. and The Yellow belly: Nerodia erthrogaster flavigaster.

From what I can see and compare on your photo I would have to go with the yellow belly.

As there is a possibility of intergradiation it will be interesting to see how much of the pattern it retains as it grows up.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."