Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw at a local petsmart they had some absolutely AMAZING little snakes there. They're almost like a baby corn snake but with a ligt green body and a yellow underbelly(almost like a green tree python without the white marks). I'd never seen a snake that size or shape colored like that. Anyone have any experience with one of these snakes? I know since its a petsmart they're almost definitely wild caught but i think i could tame one. Anyone have any experience with one of these snakes? What do they eat? Do they usually have a good temperement?

They are probably Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys aestivus). These are widely collected for sale in stores like petsmart. They will survive in captivity and will eat crickets, but they don't tolerate handling very well. (they don't bite, but they don't like being handled)
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Chris Harrison
Central Texas

Do they eat mice? I've read alot online that they like lizards but i dont have a clue on mice.

About what size aquarium would they need? Would a 35 gallon tall size aquarium be big enough for one when it gets fully grown?

I'm supposed to find my science teacher a snake that gets about 3' but is a little exotic looking. These little snakes are perfect. I'm even considering getting one for myself for a birthday present to myself.

Well, looks more exotic than something common like a corn snake.

When you say you dont want to get something like a "common old corn snake", have you seen some of the corns that are being bred, these days. Corn snakes happen to be some of the most amazing looking snakes. Corn snakes will never become old in the herp scene in my opinion, and i bet many would agree with me aswell. I dont mean to sound rude but some people may take what you said wrong. Your best bet is to deal with your kingsnake like jayson said as well, and then to pick a snake you may be interested and spend a very long period of time researching its care, and such. Then go purchase it, but a rough green probably isnt your best bet.

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1.0 Albino Corn "Lucky"
1.0 Snow Corn "Snow"
0.0.4 Southern Ringneck "Collar", "Bc", "Lazy", "Biggie"
1.0 Green Amevia "Gizard"

LOL candb I'm sorry for saying that but I didn't want to offend the kingsnake people as well (I'm in the middle), Kings and Corns as long as herpetocultural community pays attention to these beautiful species then they will NEVER be "boring" or "regular" to the common herp owner. I just suggested that getting one would be the best bet, people wise and money wise. When you have a little pencil thin snake that looks like it can fly away if it wanted then that wont atract most people and will definatly turn most people that hated snakes even more hateful in some odd way. But if you have a beauty like a corn (as they grow even more docile) or king (mexican black and common california are GREAT!) in your hands just hanging out then most people will find it weird but undeniably interesting. Your classmates will wonder why the urban mythes they overheard aren't happening and why the snake is just being a snake rather than a mythical monster. All in all if the trustworthy people that have been doing this littirely before I was born then I'm going to go with what they say from now on, and they told me not to get that snake as a pet...So I didn't and 300x happy that I didn't!

I'd go with something like a male African house snake over a rough green. It will probably be easier to take care of and handle.

I had one of these snakes when I was a little kid. I kept it in a big jar with holes in the top, and I really didn't know what I was doing. It was a nice enough snake, and it wasn't at all aggressive. I put all kinds of little insects in the jar, but I don't know whether it ever ate. I don't think these snakes would ever get big enough to eat a mouse. My impression from reading books at the time was that they wouldn't get more than 2 or 3 feet long, and they are thin-bodied snakes.

I don't think you'd need a big aquarium to keep one. Mostly, you'd want to provide it with plenty of climbing vines and leafy cover. It would spend most of its time coiled in the vines somewhere. As a pet, I don't think it would be bad, but I don't think it would be good.

Bill

Shouldn't you be trying to feed your king? The one thats like 15 years old that you asked for cheap feeder snakes on the kingsnake forum? I don't know the situation and I don't mean to be an idiot (although I am most of the time) but instead of thinking about new snakes shouldn't you make sure he eats? Also I posted something like this awhile back on the "what kind of snake" forum and I explained a snake that turned out to be the rough green snake. They look amazing and there green is brilliant, but I got a few responses from very well educated people on this site and they said they DONT make good pets. They look cute but dont make good pets that you could put in a classroom and have "hold a snake days" (been there done that). The people at the petstore was feeding the snake little feeder fish and it was gulping them down. They aren't "exotic" although they look it, they are native to the certain places in the U.S. Just get a nice big ol' king or corn for the class. Many people will freak when the rough green is squirmy and tries to get away CONSTANTLY, a nice docile snake would be best.

I bought one and he ate for me a few times, but sadly, he was an import and he didnt fare well after a few months. If they are sitting in a Petsmart enclosure all in a bunch i will tell you that maybe one in 10 MAY have a chance. I am sure they are stressed, over heated and probably infested with parasites.
They need alot of space to climb and lots of places to hide. They also need quite a thermal gradient. I cant imagine one doing well at all in anuthing smaller than a 40g breeder. 55 would be even better, and thats for one. Theyare very active and they also require a uvb light. That is essential to their well being. For what they need for a setup you could probably invest in a decent king or milk and have way less trouble.
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"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 red blood python-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho......MIA
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
0.1 partial stripe ghost corn- Raven
1.0 Sunglow motley corn-Ernie
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.2 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.0.1 crested gecko- Jubeh
0.1 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
1.0 mentally retarted whites tree frog- Sifaka
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.0 bettas
0.0.1 goldfish-fishwad
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )

I think you meant to post this comment to someone else. None of the statements in the first part of your message rang a bell with me. I'm certainly not looking for cheap feeder snakes as my California Kingsnake is taking food nicely. I'm still too new to keeping reptiles to feel confident about my snakes, but they are eating well so far.

I agree that a rough green snake is not likely to be a good pet, but I disagree about their lack of educational value. I think there is value in professionals keeping a few museum or nature center type settings to teach young people about the diversity in the snake world. I wouldn't get a rough green snake out of its cage for kids to hold, but I'd want them to see the snake inside the cage and see how different kinds of snakes are made and how they live.

As much as most of us would like to see these green snakes rescued from a pet store that shouldn't be trying to sell this kind of snake, I also agree that it would be best not to buy one. If they pet store sells the ones they have, they'll see it as a success. It's better if they just can't move these snakes and decide against trying to sell any more of them.

Bill

Bill, jayson wasnt talking to you when he said that, he was talking to the starter of this post (desertkingsnake), not you.
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1.0 Albino Corn "Lucky"
1.0 Snow Corn "Snow"
0.0.4 Southern Ringneck "Collar", "Bc", "Lazy", "Biggie"
1.0 Green Amevia "Gizard"

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Ive seen your posts and not one that I could remember ever sounded missleading or anything of that nature. I actually (secretly ofcourse hehe) hold quite a few people highly on website including you which doesn't really matter lol. Its nice to come here after a long day and talk about a killer hobby such as snake keeping. And yes that post was to dessertking who will probably not show up after I said that. But it is true.... I hope he wont buy a rough green for his califorinia king to eat. If you go to the kingsnake forum and scroll down a few you will see that he infact asked this question and got a lot of posts saying (jokingly) to feed it hybrids which was HILARIOUS! Don't blame him though from what Ive read (if i could remember) he's 13 or something.

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Rough green snakes eat insects. They are easy to keep when setup right. They need full spectrum lighting or UVB, calcium,and vitamin suppliments, and do best when in a live plant vivarium.
Keep in mind that they are short lived animals 2-3 years. Basically there care and life span is similar to an Anole.

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