Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son recently aquired a green snake. Someone caught it in their yard and asked him if he wanted it - what 11 year old boy wouldn't? Anyway, I have read some on web, and here at Kingsnake. I know they are not the best pets for several reasons, including the fact they don't eat well in captivity. I told him we'd give it a try, but if it doesn't eat we will let it go.

Any suggestions on feeding? We put a couple of crickets in it's cage, and it seemed pretty interested, but hasn't eaten them yet. (I am correct in thinking they are insectivores?).

Thanks for any help!
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0.1 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
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a rough/smooth green will not survive on insects alone. do some searches on google and get yourself more info on it.. try feeding pinky mice, but the methods used to get the snake to eat the pinky mice may not be too appetizing for an 11 yr old. id let that snake go and get him a corn or somethin ($25 tops)
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

i agree, corns are great. and i dont know what your sons are like, but these snakes are very delicate even as adults since they are so slinder, so if you think that your son my squeeze or be rough, this isnt a good snake for you. i would suggest a good old classic corn or a good old classic kingsnake. im only 13 myself, but i would just say that i think you would fair better with a king or corn. the only reason i didnt get a corn snake was because where i live, you can get fined for owning one, and im not talking $100, im talking $10,000, so look into the laws of your community also before you even think about purchasing a snake for your son.
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i have one Brooks Kingsnake, hopefully breeding in the next couple of years! yaaahhhh, only if i can find a male though lol, but im still looking for a male lol

they are supposed to be insectivores, also. They can be delicate in captivity, so keep that in mind. I also heard that you are not supposed to handle them very much. Provide lots of foliage for them to hide in.
green snakes

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phflame

thats another reason why they are hard to keep, because what kid owning a snake doesnt want to hold it, i like to hold mine daily, and im sure that your son would too, and rough greens just couldnt take that
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i have one Brooks Kingsnake, hopefully breeding in the next couple of years! yaaahhhh, only if i can find a male though lol, but im still looking for a male lol

Thanks for the advice.
He does have a california king - had it a month now. He's doing well with handling him. The greensnake is eating crickets, but we'll probably let him go anyway.

Thanks again for the advice.
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0.1 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
2.0 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
1.0 Blizzard Leopard Geckos
0.2 Toy Poodles
0.1 Jack Russell

green snakes ARE insect eaters but cant be sustained completely on just insects. you mention a king and a green in the same room... if you handle the king after the green make sure you wash EVERY PART of EVERYTHING that the green snake crawled over, or the king will be eating you... literally. check out this thread theres some interesting pics of a cali king eating this lady lol...
http://www.reptileforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20760
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Chondros and colubrids... my 2 favorite types of snakes!

"Life is hard. Life is harder if you're stupid." - John Wayne

Wow, that's something!
No prolem, what I've read about greens is that they are delicate, so we won't be handling him. Probably let him go this summer.
Thanks.
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0.1 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
2.0 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
1.0 Blizzard Leopard Geckos
0.2 Toy Poodles
0.1 Jack Russell