Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My eight year old was in our backyard this morning and found six little snakes. I have no clue what kind they are or how old. They are about the size of a large worm. There is one that is bigger but not much. Can anyone help me identify them and what we should do with them? We would like to keep at least one but I'm not sure if that is even legal. I know they need UV lite and a heat lamp. I have done some research on snakes in the past and know a little. Not sure what these little guys eat since they are so tiny. Any suggestions? Or would it be best to release them into a safe enviroment..not our backyard! Thanks for any help you guys can give me!

The quarter is for scale:

They will coil together like this:

Their belly looks very different:

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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
2 Finches
2 Betta
1 Cat

where were the snakes caught, what state?
Wayne

We are in Northern California. They were in our backyard under some rocks.
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
2 Finches
2 Betta
1 Cat

Im not really into those kinds of snakes, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say you have some kind of an earth snake or worm snake. These will typically not get too much bigger than they are right now, and they'll feed well on earthworms.
Someone else may be able to give you an exact species and common name, but the general appearance has me pretty convinced they're in that "group" of snakes. Totally harmless, and kinda neat.
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

I'm pretty sure this is the kind of snakes we have. We have been researching all day and I finally stumbled across someones post on this site and there it was! What do you all think? Thanks!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
2 Finches
2 Betta
1 Cat

That's exactly what they are. Contia tenuis. One of the keys is the belly marked with regular black crossbars.

~~Greg~~

You do not need UV lamps or heat lamps. They are a northern-temperate snake that does not need any special apparatus to keep. However, they are difficult to maintain in captivity as they primarily eat slugs, perhaps with an occasional slender salamander (Batrachoseps). I've tried before to keep them in captivity but it's just not woth it. I suggest you admire them for a day or two then release them where they were found. A gopher or king snake, which your kids will probably eventually turn up, will make a much better pet (if you want to keep a snake as a pet).
Cheers-
Eric

Thank you all for the info! We released the little ones today back where we found them. I'm sure they are very happy to be away from us! They sure are cute little guys. The kids begged to keep one but I don't want to be the one to do something wrong and end up killing it! I'm sure they will have a much better chance of living on there own. Thanks again!
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Becki

1 Husband
4 kids
2 Hermans
1 Dog
2 Finches
2 Betta
1 Cat

>>My eight year old was in our backyard this morning and found six little snakes. I have no clue what kind they are or how old. They are about the size of a large worm. There is one that is bigger but not much. Can anyone help me identify them and what we should do with them? We would like to keep at least one but I'm not sure if that is even legal. I know they need UV lite and a heat lamp. I have done some research on snakes in the past and know a little. Not sure what these little guys eat since they are so tiny. Any suggestions? Or would it be best to release them into a safe enviroment..not our backyard! Thanks for any help you guys can give me!
>>
>>The quarter is for scale:
>>
>>
>>They will coil together like this:
>>
>>
>>Their belly looks very different:
>>
>>-----
>>Becki
>>
>>1 Husband
>>4 kids
>>2 Hermans
>>1 Dog
>>2 Finches
>>2 Betta
>>1 Cat
-----

RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian