Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of mine brought me a neonate Nerodia fasciata fasciata, he thought it was a baby Copperhead. I am going to try and save it, as I know relocation would more than likely result in its demise. Anyone have any captive care info, especially for neonates? It is no more than 8 inches long. I know it is an aquatic or semi-aquatic species, but I have never really had any experience with water snakes of any kind. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Even though they are water snakes and live around water and are seen swimming in water, do not keep them in water. Keep them in simpel setups. Only use a waterbowl just big enough to soak in. Do not let its substrate (I would suggest either paper towel or newspaper) get wet. Feed it small minnows it's first few meals and then scent a f/t pinky and wiggle it around and let it eat it. Go to http://www.freewebs.com/mikesnake/garterswaters.htm for a more deatailed caresheet. If you have any more questions let me know. I find water snakes very intersting snakes and are just so cool!!
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Justin

Couldn't agree more! They make great pets, especially once you get things simplified and get them onto rodents, which is very simple. I've got a one year old N.f.fasciata that I converted and a baby N.e.erythrogaster that took unscented pinkies on its third feeding hasn't hesitated since.

It's sad that you're friend thought he had a copperhead...it's part of the reason especially in this area, that they are probably the most frequently killed snake due to misidentification as either a copperhead or cottonmouth. I've lost compeletly how many dead "cottonmouths" I've been brought that were bandeds. I've even chased people out of my house when I took one of my bandeds out...all I heard was,"Holy (insert expletive)!" as they run for the door...but very sad all-in-all...
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Conrad
Too Fast Reptiles
www.toofastreptiles.bravehost.com

Yea it realy ticks me off about that too. You try to explain to someone what it is and they think they know more about snakes becasue of some stupid reason or another. Every snake around the water in my area is either a cottonmouth, water maccasin, or copper head. I then tell them that the water maccosin and cotton mouth is the same and yet again they disagree. Theys ay something stupid like "oh no cttonmouths are real dark and will chase you". I am ready to hit them by that time. I tell over and over but no one listens!!! I then show them field guides and they then disagree witht htem and then I ask well where did you get your information from and they reply somehting stupid like "TV". I then go off again. Howevr some people actually try to learn but very few. In my area most people think all snakes will kill you and chase you down. I say that there are no snakes that actively pursue humans for any reason at all and they say somehting like "oh the snakes at my house are mean.. They are real mean" I say snakes are not mean. They are real good as they (then I explain what good they do for the environment) and they coem up with somethign else "smart". I am worked up now but I am just going to stop right there before I get ugly/uglier. Sorry I just had to vent.
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Justin