Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired a baby northern water snake. He's about 11" long. I had him on reptile carpet with a basking light and he wouldn't eat. He's in cypress mulch now, with a basking light. The warm side of the 10 gal tank is 82 F and the cool side is about 78 F. I've tried to get him to eat earthworms, crickets, and guppies. I've had no luck as of yet. It's been about two and a half weeks since his last meal, although he shed the first week that I had him. Any advice? He seems a lot happier since the mulch. He's a lot more active and what not. But he still hasn't eaten. Anyone got any ideas to try? I've stopped handling him too, as that's likely to cause a great deal of stress. Please help if you can.
-- Branson

I would offer a modest size dish a couple of inches deep, filled with tepid (warm to the touch) water. This should enduce him to have a bowl movement. As for food, I would provide goldfish. These can be gold or the more natural brown, either way, they're more plump than guppies and much slower. These I would offer in his regular (shallow) feeding dish. The "hot" side of the tank can be increased to provide mid 90's on a raised perch.
Michael