Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Complete newbie here...that being said:
On Monday, the 16th, a custodian brought me a baby(?)snake that was found in our library under a trashcan. I was told that it was a bullsnake, but after looking at pictures, it actually looks like a diamondback water snake(there is a canal nearby). Most of the online resources say that they are aggressive, but it isn't, at least not yet. Are they aggressive?
Also, I've been looking, but I can't seem to find any tips on care and feeding. I bought some feeder comets to try tomorrow. I did see him drinking water the first day. I bought some substrate, a hidey-cave for him and a water bowl big enough to curl up in.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I will try to get a pic so that maybe someone would be able to confirm the species for me.
*He did eat the 2 feeder comets. How many should I offer him?*
Thanks in advance,
The Jeni

Where do you live, and how big (long) is the snake?

Here's an adult female Nerodia Rhombifer (Diamondback Water Snake) from last year in central OK. The young that I've seen are quite similar in pattern. The dark markings are chain-like; if you use some imagination, they might resemble diamonds. (The slight bluish coloration is a byproduct of photo processing - the background color typically is greenish-brown.)

Youngsters can vary in disposition, but I assure you that the adults can be downright vicious when first caught in the wild. They're aggressive biters and muskers. They usually settle down after a time in captivity, but not always. You can try minnows from the local bait shop for food. They usually can be switched over to feeder mice at some point.

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MichaelB

MichaelB...Thanks, truly!
Is there a reliable source of info for the temp, humidity, etc. that I would need for Pepper (what can I say? the 4th graders named him!)? Also, how often do I feed him? I've heard everything from once a week to 2-3 times a week with as many fish as he'll eat!

I've been handling him for a few minutes several times a day. I didn't do it so much today because I fed him and I really don't have any idea of how long it had been since he'd eaten. Do you think that would be sufficient to maintain his currently docile temperament?
You ROCK, thanks again!
Jeni

OK...I'm a dork, I admit it. I completely forgot to answer a couple of your questions.
*I live in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas...if you aren't familiar with it, that is WAY down at the tip, about a hour and a half from South Padre Island and about 30 minutes from Mexico.
*Pepper is about 12-14 inches long or so. I haven't tried too hard to measure him. But that's a close estimate.
Jeni

I normally feed mine about 2 times a week and give it 3 or 4 smaller sized fish. Try not to handle it for a day or so after feeding to allow it to digest its food. Waters and garters/ribbons have a quicker metabolic rate than most other species and usually need a bit more food more often than some other species. Once, or if, you get it on mice, you can cut back to once a week. The valley would mean that it is a diamondback most likely, so no problem there. I don't add extra humidity, though I might mist the tank if the snake is about to shed. Just place a heat lamp over the water bowl. Aspen is the best substrate. These snakes will burrow frequently. I keep most of my tanks somewhat like what the snakes would experience in the wild temperature-wise. I have a basking spot in the 80's right over the water bowl and the side of the tank without the water bowl is a bit cooler, in the 70's.
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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

That is EXACTLY what I needed to know. Thanks so much!
But I'm a little confused. If I place a heat lamp over the water bowl, doesn't that raise the ambient temperature of the *whole* cage? What with heat radiation and all...or does the excess heat just rise out of the cage?
Jeni

Normally, if you put the water bowl on one side with a heat lamp above it, it will raise the whole tank's temp, but one side will be substantially hotter, especially under the lamp. I like to use a 20 gallon long at least for then. Sometimes they will also use a branch for basking if you place it near or over the water bowl. Good luck.
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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

That is a *very* nice looking snake. You can't beat Nerodia.

Joe