Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked up a mud at the expo in Toronto today. They said that they've had it for about 2 months and have it feeding on mice. They suggested keeping it on moist spagunum. It appears to be healthy, though it coud be heavier; it has no blisters. I'll be trying to feed it a rat fuzzy in the next week or so.

Has any one here had success with Farancia?
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson

Mice huh? I think they pulled one over on you. Mud Snakes generally accept nothing but large aquatic salamaders (Siren, Amphiuma, and Necturus) in captivity. It's possible that the rare individual would take a Siren-scented mouse but anything beyond that is unheard of.

If for some reason it does take rodents willingly, report back as there is a lot to be learned about Farancia in captivity.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

I'm a little scepticle of the mouse-eating claim myself, but I got it from 'Port Credit Pet Centre' which is a reputible and knowledgable reptile store in Toronto. I wouldn't expect them to just lie outright at a show which they helped organize so I figured I'd give the mud try.

As for pH; I'm using my tapwater which is unaltered well water with a pH of about 8.0, I lowered that to 6.6-6.8 with HCl. I used a minnow as a tester to make sure that the water was good and it died, so I guess HCl doesn't work well. I used 1 mL HCl to 500 mL water, though I don't know the concentration of my acid. What is a safer method of lowering pH? Is the optimum level around 6.6 or so?

My setup is an aquarium with 8 inches of water and a large floating platform. On the platform is a bowl of moist peat for burrowing and a dry hide bedded with newspaper. I will get plants in the aquarium once I get the water right. Does this seem acceptable? Any suggestions?

Thank You
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson

I lowered the pH with tea. I made the kind of tea you boil, diluted the water more, and then just used it when it cooled. It was suggested in a book on keeping snakes native to the US. Some mudsnakes will take mice, but I expect one that does would cost a pretty penny. I know there are people that have some large ones that take mice. Mine never fared well. Good luck. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

"Some things will never change. They just stand there looking backwards. Half-unconsious from the pain. They may seem rearranged. In the backwater swirling. There is something that'll never change-The Meat Puppets"

My pH problems fixed themselves... the mud dragged about half it's peat moss into the water and that seemes to have fixed it. I tried a frog and minnows last night but they weren't accepted, I have an amphiuma on order order and I will try scenting some stuff with it.

The mud spent most of the night burrowed in the peat pit, so hopefully I won't have to worry about blisters.

I'll keep you posted.

Cam Hanna
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"I'm tired of being a wannabe bowler! I wanna be a bowler!!"
-- Homer Simpson