Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son found a ringneck snake badly tangled in masking tape. I used corn oil to break down the glue and the snake was able to free itself. No apparent skin damage. That was a week ago. The snake is behaving normally, both burrowing and basking, and I have seen it drinking, but can not confirm that it has eaten. We placed small earth worms and small meal worms in the cage as we are trying to handle it as little as possible.
My concern is that the snake moves in a manner that is not smooth. As if it is a bit stiff. It burrows, climbs and wraps itself around things, but looks "jerky" when moving across the soil. I have used 60% bed-a -beast and 40% natural sand for substrate with some leaf matter on top.
Any ringneck keepers out there who can advise me if his motion is indeed strained, or is this normal? I would like to release him soon. Thanks, Karen

What sub-species is it? If you want it to eat, you need to know. If you don't know, tell us what state you cuaght the snake or describe what it looks like. I can't really see the snake move so I can't really say if it is moving the wrong way or anything.
Michael
Michael's Place

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I personaly would not put meal worms in with it. I have made that mistake twice with lizards and the meal worms start to eat them. I have never ahd a snake to eat meal worms anyways.
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Justin

I'll remove the meal worms, this guy doesn't need more problems. It will give me a chance to count the red wigglers.
I don't know it's sex, I'll just refer to it as a he.
He's dark olive above, dark yellow belly with bright red under the tail. Yellow neckband, head is darker than the body. We live in Miami, Arizona and there are reptiles here that the field guides claim do not exist this far north, some Mexican species, etc. as well as what you would expect to find in central/eastern AZ. We are in a high desert mountain range. I have seen snakes like this in the yard, a few, every year. I thought he might eat small pill bugs or water beetles? I can tell he is getting stronger, and I think he needs to eat. Thank you for whatever suggestions you can offer. Karen

I also would not recommend feeding it pill bugs or water bugs. The pill bugs(rolly pollies) have a little bit of toxins in them. The water bugs can flat out put an injury on or in your snake. try feeding salamanders, small frogs, slugs and just about anything else that is slimy.
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Justin

Arizona, I don't know how many sub-species of ringneck snake are in Arizona, but I know my favorite one is. The regal ringneck snake, and that is most likely what you have. No bugs or salamanders or anything are gonna give this guy a feeding response, regals from AZ will often only eat other snakes and lizards. Good luck with it. I dedicated a little section of my website to regal ringneck snakes, you can check it out, I included the link below, it's in the Smaller Snakes category at the bottom of the page.
Michael
Michael's Place

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