Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw one today that I thought about buying, but got a ball python instead (as a gift for my girlfriend). So I was wondering what type of caging would you use for a banded water snake? (I don't know anything more specific than that title for the snake) I was thinking a 20 gallon tank with 40% land, 60% water divided by glass (sealed) and have supported jungle jym type on the land perhaps of wood with fake leaves, a good hide spot over there. Does this sound okay? I have no clue what they prefer, but I do think it would be cool to stock the other side with fish and perhaps some locally caught bullfrog tadpoles that are pretty good sized now. My heads in the clouds, bring me down to reality.

P.S. I live in San Diego, I don't think there are any native watersnakes besides garter, but they may just be snakes that enjoy the water.

20 gallon isn't bad, though for large females I would use a larger tank. The set up should be like a corn snakes with a few modifications. A larger water bowl is needed, one that the snake can submerge itself in, and a heat lamp over the water bowl works well for basking. I use aspen as bedding as they like to burrow and tunnel some. If most of the tank is water, or even a large portion, the snake could develop blisters from the high humidity or dampness (see it all the time in WC's). Good luck.
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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

Is it possible to run a filtration system down from the top of the cage, or is there a system that works with long tubes outside the cage for the water portion to make it easier to keep clean? Wild caught tadpoles alright?

I just use a large water bowl and clean it out once a day. I am not a big fan of WC tadpoles. Carry a ton of parasites and amphibians have been suffering to a degree over the years, especially if you live out west. Andy
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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 was visiting a reptile place and outside was a turtle cage with a 4 inch divider sealed with silicon for a great price, so I bought it. It's 20 gallons long with about 65% on one side 35% on the other. I was going to make the 35% the water portion and the 65% the land portion. For the land I would have it go down deep, and was thinking of the raised jungle jym almost like a canopy of trees, lots of leaves and sticks (I thought I read on here somewhere that banded water snakes enjoy being above the ground). Also, I found a submersable filtration system to put in the water, and I was going to put like fake lily pad or something in there if they need to be hidden to feel secure, if they don't I'd prefer to keep the water clear so I could see better.

The raised canopy idea (hide spot up there and ground below is another) I would have to build myself. But could someone clear this up, do they enjoy being in trees?

Many nerodia bask on tree limbs, and contrary to what most people would think, are quite adept climbers. Down here you can be walking through a swampy area or ditch and have a water snake slither off a branch a fair distance above you and crash into the water below. I always like to stsicks above the water area of my Nerodia as they like to bask on objects above the water. Helps them make an easy escape from predators.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

And the sign says "No long hair freaky people need not apply." So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why. He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do. So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you."

Sweet! I thought I read that. I am thinking I can use him in the 20 long with my original idea, possibly some limbs overhanging the water. As I get more money and another snake that is small enough for this cage and likes water I'll get the water snake a 30 gallon tall or maybe even 40 gallon tall. Not so much for snake's necessity as for the coolness of how it would look. It would be like a work of art (and the 20 gal. good practice).