Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Actually anery mud snake I found. Thought I drove past a cal king in south fla.

Dan

Do those bite??? I found a huge DOR once and it was a bit intimidating looking...well it woulda been if it were alive LOL
Thanks for sharing Tom Stevens

No they do not bite, however their tails is hard and is like a spike at the tip and they push it against your hand and arm sometimes but it does not hurt or break the skin. The spike is used to pin its usual slippery prey of sirens when they feed. It is quite amazing how with 10 fingers we cannot hold a siren however the mud snake with its body and spiked tail can subdue one in seconds.

Dan

Did you keep it?I love the belley pattern. The red ones are killer too, I have never seen a captive one Tom Stevens

Here is a normal red eastern.

Dan

That's an amazing snake. Mud snakes have been favorites of mine since I was a kid, but I have yet to see one in person. Are they as convertible to rodents as some of the other amphibian/reptile eating snakes like eastern hogs or longnoses? Will you be selling hatchlings if you get a clutch from this one?

Steve

They eat defrosted rodent pinks scented with siren. I do not sell reptiles however will consider to trade them. I do insist the person acquire the scenting source (siren) as many broken promises have led to starved mud snakes.

I'm pleasantly surprised that they'll take scented rodents. I understand your care at ensuring they end up with people who are equipped to get them to feed; I imagine it's easy for people to think 'ah, something will work out' and to assume that an Ambystoma's as good as a siren, etc. I'll be interested to hear whether you end up with hatchlings or not. Good luck!

Steve

Very cool animal you have there. I find RBM's atleast once a month. . .althought 90% of them are DOR. Matter of fact I just set one's skin on a board to start the curing process. Took awhile for the epidermal to slough. . .that and I've been busy with life. But anyways cool snake and best of luck. . .by the way, male or female?

peace,
Ian Daviss

Its a female. That big belly is bursting with eggs as its about to drop a load of em. They lay up to 104 eggs. This one will lay about 30.

Dan

dan,
have you maintained them in captivity for any duration, or just collected gravid females that lay? if you've kept them for a while, what are their maintenance requirements--is acquatic housing essential?
and since you've apparently observed a number of them, do you find king-like characteristics in their appearance, behavior, body shape, etc?
lastly, are there sources for sirens? i assume you somehow get them & then freeze them for scenting purposes.
beautiful animals, both of them.
peace
terry