Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm interested in mud snakes. Usually I don't keep anything unless I am breeding it but I have put some thought into it and decided I would like to keep a mud snake. I am prepared to feed it salamanders/newts/sirens it is all available to me. Does anyone know of anybody selling these guys? Does anyone have tips on what time of day/year, what temeratures, and where to look? I live in Central Florida, and a friend that lives less than 2 blocks away found one while mowing his lawn which sounded unusual to me but he is reputable. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

G
Click on the link "The Mud Hole!" for basic husbandry of these awesome snakes!
As for buying some, there was a guy recently selling babies for $25 plus shipping.

Mine (6 of them) are all doing great and feeding readily on bullfrog tads and guppies.
Mike
The Mud Hole!

Thankyou. I am debating whether or not it is worth the money to purchase a baby because after shipping it will be upwards of fifty dollars. If the place was closer I would pick one up but unfortunately it isn't. Do you think it is too cold this time of year to find any and does anyone have suggestions on where to look?

Gman2
I will be in FLA in December. I plan on going to as many canals, marshes and so that I find, and using a large net to pull in as much vegatation and bottom muck till I stink with it. All in hopes of catching an adult or two.
They are awesome snakes!
Mike

Mike, are you the monitor guy. Send me an email. You will drown before catching one in the canals. I find some often and can you one for nothing. You need to get a big siren to scent rat pups and you can keep one for years on dry much, a water bowl, and hidebox. When they are big, they do not need to be secure in water and can live fine with a water bowl and will eat right from your fingers.

Whoa wait, is someone givin out mudsnakes? I have heard that in late feb, early mar, they can be found crossing dikes and canals in the late afternoon.

Dan
That would be GREAT!!
A 1.1 pair would even be GREATER!!
I will be in central FLA December 16 thru 25th.
Do you live close enough to meet?
Mike

Has this method been proven? If so I'll be doin the same thing.

Yep, I've kept them on rat pups for years without a problem and then ran out of room and let them go. I see them crossing the roads at night but they will bask during the day in the afternoon after several days of rain. You just have to road cruise a lot and get lucky or get ahold of Ray at HBR and he will get you one for almost nothing. If you get a big one and allow it to settle itself in one of those rock dens for bearded dragons, they adjust fine. They coil up and will stick their heads out and learn to feed once you open the lid and all you have to do is hand them a pup, and after a while they will take unsented defrosted pups or defrosted pups dipped in siren water. Sometimes they go off the unscented pups and you have to scent them again or give them at least a big siren here or there just to make sure they are getting the right diet because they do not eat rodents in the wild and perhaps their muscle and organs rely on siren meat? One time a mud escaped in my reptile room and I thought it was long gone but it was in my caiman enclosure and was in there for 2 years eating nothing but air and then one day it emerged from the mulch and shed and I got it before the caiman chewed it up. They do stress easy so if your looking for an animal to hold and show to friends, then forget the mud snake as it will go off feed if it is held too often. If I see any and pick them up before you come down I will let you know. If not, then I might be able to send you one in the spring when they show up more often. Mike helped me with my monitors years ago and maybe does not remember. I have a V. s. nuchalis and orange spot V. doreansus and other monitors that are pretty cool if you want to check them out when you come to florida. I just gave away my cb V. cummingi as a friend offered to give it much needed vet care. It was the pretties cummingi ever produced but I could not keep it with my nuchalis and longer as it kept hurting itself trying to mate. I am surprised that you are not going to drive to south florida to check out all the monitor dealers down here.

Glad I could be of some assistance!
Letting your Cummingi go had to be difficult!! It was a sad day when mine went as well.

Shoot me an email for further conversation about South FLA.

Where are you located?
If you could keep your eyes open for me I would appreciate it! These hatchlings are great..BUT.. I really would like to have adults as well.

We, my Wife and 8 children are comming down for a MUCH needed vacation.
Perhaps we could hook up one day.
Mike