Hello,
I am sure that you are correct about Southern ringnecks accepting nightcrawlers, adult rosies, and large goldfish, but for smaller specimens (5 in.) I am simply stating that smaller prey items such as red wrigglers or guppies may be easier to take down. Sure, if a ringneck wanted to eat a prey item that size it could... but In general I have had the best success using smaller prey items.
The issue reguarding newspaper as a sustrate does confuse me, as I read in two modern snake-care books that ringnecks require a moist substrate for burowing in captivity:
Philippe de Vosjoli- "Basic Care of Rough Green Snakes (Indcluding Notes on the Care of Brown Snakes and Ringneck Snakes)"- 1995
"The substrate should not be paper or artificial carpet, which will cause the snakes to dehydrate and die, but rather a peat-moss-based potting soil or a soil-and-peat-moss mixture. Adding a small amount (up to 20 percent) of mulch or small orchid bark or chopped green moss to the substrate will make it easier for the snakes to burrow; it will aslo help prevent soil compaction. Add a small amount of water to the mixture so that it feels just damp and remains flaky when allowed to fall through your hand. If it fels wet and muddy rather than damp and flaky, then the mixture is too wet. Place a 2-to-3-inch (5-to-7-cm) layer of this substrate at the bottom of the vivarium...
John V. Rossi-Snakes of The United States and Canada- Keeping them healthy in captivity (Volume 1-Eastern Area)-1992
"The substrate of choice is a peat moss/ soil mixture upon which bark strips or flat stones are laid in order to form surface refuges. The substrate should be no deeper than one quarter the length of the snake but one to two inches deep is satisfactory for most snakes. It should be misted ocassionally and stirred every few weeks. Change the substrate every two to four months..."
Now that I have brought up the topic of Rossi's work, I am interested in hearing what other snake keepers have to say about it. I was quite impresed at the useful information or care, feeding, and treatment for parasites.
I am simply stating what I have had success with, and what I have read is appropriate in several recent publications for the hobbyist. Newspaper may indeed be a suitable substrate for some specimens. After all, we know very little about these seldom-kept smaller snakes. Just my 2-cents worth. Just what has worked for me.
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DAVE
1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."
