Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any info on how best to keep these little guys. I was catching fince lizzards when I came across a shed skin that I thought was from a ring neck and did some digging around since the skin wasn't there the day before and found the crowned snake. Info I have found says to keep them in a dry forest type enclosure and that they feed on small soft insects and worms.

They usually feed on termite larvae. I've never heard of one eating a worm.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
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I'd recommend setting him up in a very small tank, ~2.5 gallons or less and keep it simply furnished. Put in a layer of soil he can burrow in, a flat piece of bark for a hide and a shallow water dish. Introduce a variety of prey items: try the worms, but also try things like wax worms, mealworms, and crickets with their hoppers removed. Here on the west coast the similar black-headed snakes are often centipede specialists so you may want to try these too. Make sure all are of appropriate size. Count out how many of each you put in. Let a week go by, then see how many and of what you can find. If you try centipedes introduce them alone because they may eat your other insects and then you wouldn't be able to tell who was eating what. Also try the termites Mike recommended. If nothing seems to have disappeared, seriously consider releasing him. If the only things that disappear are things like the termites and centipedes, you'll need to carefully consider how much time you're willing to devote to procuring these items and whether or not you'll be able to find a sufficient amount to keep him well fed. If this is going to be hard to do, releasing him would again be the best option. It is also importnt to keep handling to a minimum during this period.

Good luck!
Alice

Thanks for the advice. I do have him in even a smaller set up than 2 1/2. I have found a source for centipedes on the internet and it shouldn't be too much of a problem keeping them a live between feeding. You were right about them eating centipedes, I found a site on the internet as well that showed a juv. crowned snake chowing down on a small centipede. As for releasing him I have already made up my mind to do just that if he doesn't eat any of what I give him. Some wildlife publications I have read say that they will also eat slugs. Ever heard of this...thanks to both for the responses.

I've never heard of one eating slugs, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I had a friend who tried to keep one of the California species at one point, he found that not only would it only eat centipedes, it would only eat a certain species of centipede. Hopefully yours won't be as picky. Try a broad variety of prey items, you might get lucky and have him like something convenient.

-Alice