Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought two green snakes from a pet store. I chose the green snakes because they were mellow and friendly. However after researching them online, I have learned that green snakes should be very active and shy, which mine are not. Also they dont adapt well to confinment, rarely eating. This caused me much concern because my green snakes are slow and lethargic. They won't eat. Rather than returning them to the pet store and chance them not being cared for properly, I am considering letting them go free. I live in North Eastern US and my back yard extends to undeveloped woods, steams and nature. I want to do what is best for the snakes and I am looking for advice.

I'm afraid it might not be that easy. First you need to know which species you have, smooth or rough. Fairly simple, one's smooth and the other's rough. Smooth would be the one native to the northeast. But then you need to know the subspecies, eastern or western, and as far as I know the only way to do that is to count scales, not easy or fun. Then assuming you have the Eastern Smooth Green snake, you have to find a suitable spot to release them. The only real way to know if it is a suitable spot would be to find that particular species there. If there is no green snakes in your back yard, there is a reason and and your snakes will fare no better.
So, you need to know the exact species and subspecies and find a wild population of green snakes to release them into. A lot of people would even disagree with releasing them at all and for good reason. Personally, I would try everything I could to take good care of them or, if it got too bad, euthanize them.
I know this is a real bummer of an answer but next time you'll do the research first. Unfortunately there are plenty of other people that won't and the pet-stores can push green snakes off on them.
Bottom line: Pet stores are evil...generally.

-----
Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

Thanks for your reply. I believe they are smooth green snakes. Yes, next time I will research fully before buying. I've learned my lesson. Although maybe it is good that this happened because I will do all I can for them, including finding a professional that may be able to help. Unfortunately that will have to wait til pay day. In the meantime, any suggestions? I have tried to create for them a habitat that is conducive to green snakes, with plenty of greenery and hiding areas. I have a heat light, which was suggested by the pet store. Is there a better way to provide heat? I am open to any suggestions and helpful ideas in the caring of these snakes. I don't trust any of the advice the pet store gave me. Thanks!

Do not assume it is a smooth greensnake simply because you bought it from a petshop in the Northeast. Many petshops get rough greens in from the southern states quite often as not as well. I definitely agree based on lack of knowledge about where they were collected to NOT RELEASE them back into the wild. Another aspect about greens I have read is that they need space. Probably a bigger cage then you would anticipate for a snake that size. Also, I have read that you should mist the vegetation in the cages and the snakes several times a week as that is how they drink. They do not drink standing water from dishes. Think about their care as being similar to an anole or a chameleon. Vertically oriented spacious cages with lots of vegetation and hides/frequent mistings. I kept a few WC roughs from time to time, but with no luck. Fortunately I knew where they were captured and was able to release them. Of course, this was several years ago when their husbandry was unknown or not available. Good luck. Try setting up the best habitat possible and offer various insects. Especially try crickets, grasshoppers, and possibly small feeder roaches. I also heard they love smooth hairless catepillars.

Another issue is legality. Probably not legal to let the snakes go, or it isn't in many states. What if the snakes had some sort of pathogen or parasite that is not found in that exact area? I wouldn't have bought them in the first place. Now the pet store will just buy more to fill their spots, and more after that. What are the temps and set up?
-----
Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

If you steal in hunger, I will kick you when you try. These stand for me. Name your god and bleed the freak. I'd like to see. How you all would bleed for me.-Alice In Chains

I have not kept smooth greens so I can only speculate based on my heavy experience with roughs.

I would lose the heat lamp. The bright light is probably distressing them and also a bit dehydrating.

According to my books, Smooth Greens live in MOIST grassy meadows and fields.

Roughs love to be misted at least once a day. I would imagine it is the same or even more so for the smooths. I have kept the giant Chinese green (which is very similar except much bigger) and that is the case with them.

Also I would supply the habitay with lots of twigs and also some bark to hide under.

My sources indicate that they feed on insects, slugs spiders and small salamanders. I would suggest trying earthworms too.

Good luck,

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