Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These photos were sent to me through e-mail which I have since accidently deleted, along with the owner's name. If the sender is lurking here, please post here to tell us more about your plans with breeding this color phase!

Here's a little background on the red phase Nerodia floridana for those that aren't aware. This color phase turns up with some regularity in otherwise normal looking populations in south Florida. They may range from a yellowy tan to copper to reddish orange.

I really would like to see these established in captivity as they are unbelievably gorgeous IMO.

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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

Wow! I love the head structure!!!
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

Yes, the red phase is a real jewel. It's quite a contrast to the "normal" green! Interesting that the ground colour presents this variation while the barring pattern remains consistent.
As for the head configuration, if the eyes were any more forward they'd be in their nose ... this skull shape appears to me, to allow them to consume big food items, fast! Compared to the slimmer, spear shaped Mangrove's head while feeding, Mangroves swallow where Greens engulf!

Thanks for sharing with us Dan!
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

Just to clear and issues, Fran is my wife not my nickname. That orange green will be bred in a year or two. I cannot wait until it is 5 feet and fat as an anaconda. It eats and eats and eats me out of house and home. Sucks down smelt and frogs like no tomorrow. They are locale specific to south florida I believe. I have seen about six in the wild. Their color may have something to do with why this is the only place where orange everglades rat snakes are common. Must be something in their diet or water? I just cannot wait to see babies but now I need an orange male. I will get one next spring for sure.

I have seen this snake in person and I have to say the picture does not do it justice. Awsome snake!

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

My green Greens will also eat until they can no longer fit into their hide, occasionally puke and often go back for more. In fact, the female will eat until everything is gone, retreat to rest and then rush back to consume the male's food before he can even get to the dish! On top of this, when I provide two feeding pools loaded with fish, the male will usually not enter the water until the female is done for good. He just assumes the "classic Green, raised forebody pose and watches her eat!

Yea I noticed when I had another orange in there that one would shake its head when the other climbed over it and then when the one on top saw the head shakes and he backed off. They have a lot more to them then we are told in books and they are more interesting than any corn or king I ever had. There are several different phases of the greens, to olive, to redsides, to hypo, to orange, and plain green. Most of the babies down here have some degree of orange to them on the lower flanks and chin. I think it fades a bit as they get older.

Mine have not even the slightest tinge of "red". Drab olive-green with tiger striping and spots only. Belly is a pale cream. The "plain green" you mentioned, are they spotless, so to speak?

Are they patternless? No, they have some degree of the stripes or spots and a tinge of red here and there, although it might not be a very uncommon thing to come upon a patternless one. Some of them are totally greenish with no red as adults. As they mature, I believe their color fades or skin gets tanned so to speak from the color of the swamp water. And I have not picked up many of the largest ones I see for an examination as they are usually gravid mothers that do not need to be bothered. I did notice however that a gravid green water snake does not bite as often as the males or when the female are not carrying babies. I guess they do not want to harm something and put their babies at risk.