Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My uncle found a red bellied mud snake in our yard and was going to kill it, so i took it, and have him safly in my house.. I need any info that anyone can offer on these guys.. I've never seen one before, nor can i find any information locally on them. I am in louisiana, near baton rouge. We are like 6-7 miles from any water sorce, so its weird to see one this far away from water in my opinion... I'm sure they eat fish, but i'm also sure they like a certain type.

What you found was a western mud snake.. easterns dont range that far i dont think, unless you have amphumias or sirens.. its gonna die lol.. thats the only things they eat.. or american eels. but other then that getting one to eat is very difficult...

what about local fish? i heard that they might eat them. whats a siren? LOL

They dont eat fish at all... siren is like a long salamander.. here is a link to what one looks like ..

http://coolsprings.org/siren.jpg

there you go can u post a pic of the mud snake and how big is it??

if you are intent on keeping it, then shoot me an e-mail, but I would highly recomend letting it go soon in a well suited place in a swampy area. They will only eat sirens, amphiumas, and other slimy aquatic amphibian like animals such as large waterdogs. They are difficult captives and have put off getting one unitl I can get a good food source.
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Justin

Hello
I currently have two mud snakes, both will eat tadpoles, sirens and amphumas. I know they will both take sented rodents of the appropriate size....no hair. Pinky mice or rat pups.
I have lost several mud snakes to skin blisters, the key is to keep them on dry cypress mulch.
Simple setups, small cage, dry mulch a small water dish and hide.
Mud Snakes Rule!
Good Luck!
Mike

jjjj

where would you guy such foods? i live in louisiana, so not any sirens that i know of..

Check the amphibian classifieds.
I am sure you could find them locally, try a bait shop.
Mike