Reptile & Amphibian Forums

At NoBeBoSco Boy scout camp in Blairstown New Jersey, some of my fellow scouts gave me a baby water snake. He has a broken back, and has been in my care now for 2 weeks, I had to go camping he week after I found him so he came with me. Pics to come.

He had no use of his body after the obvious nearly compud break about 2 inches below his head. I think he is a hatchling by his size. I have been massaging his body below the break, and he now has some use of that area! I was worried about his health, but he has so far eaten 2 spring peepers in New Jersey and 2 redback salamders I found while camping in Vermont. After massaging, he has pooped 3 times in the last 2 weeks. One from his meal beofere I got him, 1 of spring peepers and 1 of redbacls. His poo is flouresant green/ yellow, with clear stuff as well. He has been in a fairly large rubbermaid, now that I am home, I need help setting up an inclosure. Of the subtrastes I have tried while camping, his favorite has been a think layer of soil with leaf litter and bark/flat rock hiding spots with a small water dish.

Any tips or hints in rehabilitating him would be wonderful! Thanks!
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos

I would not keep him in to big a container. 12 X 12 X 4 inches would be more than enough for a neonate. Try to avoid feeding frogs and sallies. To many parisites. try fish. Kepp only a small water bowl in there. If it is realy broken I owuld never return it back to the wild.
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Justin

Right now hes in a 12x6x8 rubbermade, onlything i Had campin
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos

First let me say that I'm impressed that you've gotten him to do so well, and I hope his recovery contiues.

Soil looks nice and will make the snake feel cumfortable, but I would use something like cypress mulch instead. Too many little bugs in the soil that may give him problems, especially if he has an open wound.

Luckily he has no open wound, ALMOST a compound

And thanks, I think it is his will to live that is really strong, not me. Do I need a basking light? What temps? UV? I have a 50watt night bulb, or should I buy a new one?

Also, should I take him to a vet for parasites, or wait till he gets better?
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos

Don't need UV. I keep my water snakes with a heat bulb just so they can bask in their bowl or near it. I know people that have kept them without any extra heat and they have done fine as well. Mine always seem to bask though, so I set up the tank accordingly.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

np
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake

I have one on my site listed below. It is probably horribly outdated. Most snakes receive all they need from their food, unlike lizards. It is uncertain whether or not some snakes such as rough greens actually benifit from UV or not, but water snakes will do fine without it, much like rats, corns, bulls, etc.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika. Nothin' proper about ya propaganda. Fools follow rules when the set commands ya. Said it was blue when ya blood was red. That's how ya got a bullet blasted through ya head"- Rage Against the Machine

np
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake