Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This has got to be the prettiest little snake ever. Its colors are very vivid and bright red, white and black. I noticed one of my cats playing with something and rescued it from the cat. It doesn't appear to be injured. It is smaller than an earthworm and so bright and pretty like a little beaded bracelet. I had trouble hanging onto it while walking back to the house to find a container to put it in. Very squirmy. So small I can barely see its eyes. I know I should release it right away, but would like to see if it will eat something while in captivity. Any ideas what to feed it? Small pieces of worms, ants?

Amy C.

I have kept Scarletts sucessfully in the past so I will tell you....Best to release it. They are notoriously poor feeders. Mine succeeded only because I had a good supply of mole skinks and baby blue tails. Thye also fed on small Dekay brown snakes.

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

Are you 100% sure of its ID? Anyway, if it is a FL. scarlet snake, it may be difficult. I have had many and bred them too. Most prefer the eggs of anoles, skinks, and such. It's sometimes hard to find them but if you can, then it should take them as long as they're not too big. As you said--probably best to release in the area you found it.
:Mark

It died after a couple of days. I could then see bite marks from the cat. It is so pretty, I froze it. Yes, it is a Fla. Scarlet.