Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Your setup sounds like a good start I've got a few suggestions. You may need to use water with tannic acid eventually if the snakes develop skin blisters. Brewed tea works well for this purpose. Also, I'd provide a 60 watt dome basking lamp over one end of the cage in order to create a vertical temperature gradient. The snake may never come out and bask but it will need to travel up and down the substrate column to properly thermoregulate. I'd give the snake access to a completely dry area of the cage so it can escape wet substrate should it choose to. Also, a deep water container with constantly clean water wouldn't be a bad idea and it could double as a feeding container.

The seller's claim that the snakes are eating minnows is dubious. The two hatchling Muds I've kept would only take small Hylids or Ranid tadpoles. Good luck finding food for them after they hit the 20" mark. I hope you've got a good supply of Amphiumas and Sirens.

Let us know how they do for you. There is still a lot to be learned about Farancia in captivity.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

>>Your setup sounds like a good start I've got a few suggestions. You may need to use water with tannic acid eventually if the snakes develop skin blisters. Brewed tea works well for this purpose. Also, I'd provide a 60 watt dome basking lamp over one end of the cage in order to create a vertical temperature gradient. The snake may never come out and bask but it will need to travel up and down the substrate column to properly thermoregulate. I'd give the snake access to a completely dry area of the cage so it can escape wet substrate should it choose to. Also, a deep water container with constantly clean water wouldn't be a bad idea and it could double as a feeding container.
>>
>>The seller's claim that the snakes are eating minnows is dubious. The two hatchling Muds I've kept would only take small Hylids or Ranid tadpoles. Good luck finding food for them after they hit the 20" mark. I hope you've got a good supply of Amphiumas and Sirens.
>>
>>Let us know how they do for you. There is still a lot to be learned about Farancia in captivity.
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>>Pierson Hill
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>>Herpetology and Herpetoculture

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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

Hi there:

Thanks for the info. Hey, you never know. These guys may take minnows. I also read in one of my snake books that the young accept earthworms as well. It also said that some took eel pieces, available at my local gourmet store. (Hey, I like them too!) No, I would never dream of feeding any herptile to another herptile. I love them all too much. However, I was wondering if scenting would work. I have a pet caecilian (close enough to an amphiuma or siren) and was thinking of scenting prey items with it.
I am really up to this challenge. I was told that rough green snakes would never feed. I have no clue why anyone said that because all of the ones that I have kept, and that my friends have kept, ate fine. Feeding is hardly as terrible as everyone says it is with those guys. My Pygmy leaf chameleons also bred. I am just really excited about this, and hope that the mud snake enjoys its new home. I like keeping "tricky pets".
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DAVE

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green Anole
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