Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So far this year on the mountain bike i've only encountered 2 snakes but they were both spotted yesterday so things are picking up.

2 juvenile green snakes, rough I guess..
(Rowlett Creek Park)
2 toads
(My apt. complex, Frankford and the tollway)

My dog had fun chasing the toads, which were the smaller variety bufo, unsure of sub species. Good hognose food if you need it.

Let me throw a couple questions at you N Texas herpers.
Last year I saw some incredible blue/green racers at Arbor Hills nature preserve that blew me away. I'm aware they dont make good captives but would love to catch and admire one for a couple weeks, esp. the juveniles that were a beautiful spotted black and white.

So will the racers eat in captivity?
Will the rough greens eat in captivity?

Last year I had a green captive for about 2 weeks just to watch him. I put a dozen small crickets in there that disappeared but never saw him eat. Upon releasing he was in good health and spirits. I misted his cage daily and the plants he lived in as well as provided a water source.
Anyways I have a digital camera now so I hope to snap some pics of the usual Texas rats and maybe a racer if I can catch one.

Now, you asked your question specifically to texas herpers although i am not from texas, i may be able to help. As I know for the most part, wild caught racers do not make the hardiest captives, not to say they will not eventually acclimate after time andmuch work and experience with the species. I would personally recommend taking a bunch of pictures and obseriving them, not the snake. If you really want to try and get it to feed and keep it permanently but I do not really agree with keeping for a couple weeks and than letting it go. epending on what size and sex it is, it cold be already gravid and you could alter the reproductive cycle and if it was a male, well he could be out "throwin it in" tons of females Ha Ha Ha. I have also heard of the rough greens being harty but again after much work with the particular snake. Do not get me wrong, some animals do so great as captives but others (i.e.) racers especially need a lot of room and to my knowledge are very "messy" and require a lot more care than it would seem. i have seen racers (mainly coachwips) as captives and i have yet to see one look as good as many of the wild specimans i have had the pleasure of seeing. Again, i am not saying that many people do not have racers as captives, i just think there are may other snakes, just as beautiful in there own way that would make better captives than rough greens or racers per say. well, i hope i helped at all, any luck in identiying your bufo? you may try the autubon field guide, good luck, JON

Not sure if they appear that far north in Texas, but we have some really nice blue to blue green eastern yellowbelly racers that pop up from time to time. Racers can make fair captives. I have had some that fed mainly on frogs, but some will take mice. A friend and I caught a coachwhip that he had for a while that did fair. It ate so that was a plus. It never really needed to calm down as it never bit or thrashed from the start. As for rough greens, they make fair captives depending on the snake itself. Many will take softbodied insects (mine relished caterpillars). They need lots of cover (such as vines (artificial or live)) to hide in and stress fairly easily. They are quite secretive as well. Mine did fine though. I would not suggest either species, however, to someone that doesn't have much experience (which I don't know if you do or do not have). I like Dallas. I was up there last week visiting some friends. Happy herping.
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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

Thank you for the replies. I have at least ten years experience with snakes and lizards, although I have not kept anything for a couple years. My last snake was a wc pyro from Tucson, AZ. An absolute thrill to find in the wild. I was considering setting up a terrarium with plants and a water source and considered the greens as they seem to be a non aggresive species and are easily released back into the wild.
The green I briefly kept last year was a fascinating captive. I never attempted to hold or tame him, I just liked to watch him and try to find him in the plant where he liked to hide. The racer catch will probably never happen b/c its so hard to catch one. I've seen tons of them up here but the closest i've been was a couple feet and that was because I was on bike. It was definitely a racer and there are quite a few in the Arbor Hills park in Plano and I remember them from the NW Houston area(spring/klein) Its amazing how fast they are. The greens on the other hand are rather slow and calm when held. They are also easy to catch.
For those who have had captive, where would I find caterpillars and will they feed on crickets or meal worms?
BTW I now have a digital camera so pics will be coming.

Mealworms probably aren't big on their list (hardbodied...lots of chiton). Crickets work. Waxworms/silkworms would probably work. I am sure most WC grubs and caterpillars would be fine (as long as you can be sure there are no pesticides in the area).

Racers can be hard to catch when you are running flat out after them through brush or grass, but if you happen to find one 1)crossing a stream 2)crossing a road or 3) under a board, it shouldn't be too hard. You might have to do some diving for them. Finding them under debris is probably the easiest way to catch 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