Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My albino male just switched over to f/t pinkies. I Have him set up just like a gartersnake or kingsnake, nothing fancy, just a slightly bigger bowl. I don't think many people know that they can be kept that way. Alot of people shy away from water snakes cause they think feeding means fish or frogs or tadpoles, and that housing means water and filters and dirty cages. They couldn't be more wrong. I highly recommend to anyone to get a baby and raise it to adulthood feeding mice and keeping the setup simple. These guys are interesting to say the least.

Congratulations on switching your snake to pinkies! It certainly makes feeding them easier. Most of my larger Nerodia are currently on rodent diets.

As far as keeping Nerodia like ratsnakes or kingsnakes, there are some important differences that need to be kept in mind. For instance, Nerodia are diurnal basking snakes and so do very poorly in a 'sweaterbox' setup. They almost always benefit immensely from an overhead heat lamp and need a good amount of ventilation to avoid skin blisters. Furthermore, Nerodia are active snakes in the wild and thus they enjoy a bit larger enclosure than a similarly sized kingsnake.

Keep the pictures of that amel coming! I'm interested in seeing its color changes as it ages.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

You are correct. I should have pointed out the fact that all my animals are kept that way. All my animals weather breeders or pets are kept displayed, not warehoused in racks. Watersnakes wouldn't do well like that. Thanks for clearing that up. Take care.

Yea, Like you I would like to make it known how easy waters are to keep and I am looking for an albino pair right now for future breeding. I read one of your posts on how you were going to get the albino waters goign. Well, I have been wanting to do the same for a while now. Now wher was it you got yours? How much was it? I am not going to get the pair from prehistoric pets. That is to much. I saw some earlier this year for like $75. Sure wish I would have taken advantage of the opportunity.
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Justin

I got mine from ben siegel. He has a female he's keeping her though. Now I it may seem crazy to some what I paid for it, but I'm not a fool so, no I wouldn't buy them from prehistoric pets either. As I said earlier these are the begining. Breeder stock. They won't be that expensive when they are ready for the pet trade Although they will bring a nice price compared to a $5 regular watersnake. So, Although it is more than I would pay, I will still stand by the fact that they will pay for themselves even purchased at that price. ONly way your gonna lose money by buying those guys is if they die or you never breed them. Someone will buy them for that price. Let's hope they breed them. Thanks.

Well, I saw just saw in the classifieds that he has what I would guess to be the female you were talking about. $500. I am not saying it is a bad price or anythign and if I had it I would buy it. But seeing as I am only 16 I'lll have to hold off for about another year or 2 on them. Who knows, I might buy one from you in a few years if you could make me a deal.
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Justin

I'll tell you what. If you remember me and see them being sold by me speak up. We'll see what we can do.

How long is he? Did he eat the pinkie voluntarily? Mine will only eat minnows out of his his (wc)
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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

He can't be more than a few inches. I washed the pinkie under warm water for a few minutes to remove the smell then to get him in a feeding mood I tossed in the smallest fish possible. Big enough to be eaten, but so small it does nothing for filling him. Next I snipped off a tail fin of a golfish and draped it over the head of the pinky It sticks like a second skin essentially turning it into a goldfish to the snake. I put the pinky and the tiny fish in at the same time. That way once he catches the little fish and is in fool hunt mode he doesn't hesitate when he bumps into the pinky smelling like fish. Little at a time lose the goldfish smell, then allow more pinky smell to remain. You got yourself a rodent feeding watersnake. Not only do they grow bigger and stronger and faster on a diet of rodent, it's easier. Good luck.