Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i remember seeing some type of captive bred snake in a dry tank, with a water dish with a few gold fish in it. the tag said "will eat fish" and i was captivated by the idea. i didnt get a good look at the snake, who was hiding, i think i just saw the head.

any idea what species this would be and more importantly, any fish eating snakes? not just because im taken by a cool eater, but also because fish are cheaper and i assume safer(live) than store mice. any information would be great!

Many of the Natricines (watersnakes, gartersnakes, etc) will eat fish. Some of them will eat nothing else. There are a variety of other types of snakes that will eat fish as well.

not just because im taken by a cool eater, but also because fish are cheaper and i assume safer(live) than store mice. any information would be great!

I don't know that feeding fish is a better alternative to feeding mice. Feeder fish are bred in large outdoor ponds and these feeders often have pretty high parasite loads due to the overcrowded conditions of their ponds. Lab rodents are bred in much more hygenic conditions with less exposure to environmental contaminants and parasites.

You can feed frozen fillets or whole fish of certain species except that some species produce an enzyme called thiaminase which breaks down the vitamin B in the fish. Therefore the snakes could get a vitamin B deficiency. Some species of fish don't have this problem. Do some research online and you should be able to find out which species of fish are OK.

The other thing about feeding fish is the smell. There is nothing more putrid than the smell of snake feces from a fish eating snake!

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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

thanks for all the info. because of the garter snakes more disgusting defenses against being handled(feces), which ive expereienced in live ones, i probably wouldnt be interested in owning them. very cool animals nonetheless.

unless there is a pretty good natured -as far as handling is concerned- fish-eater thats only partially aquatic. is there?

otherwise ill stick to ground dwelling mammal eating snakes i suppose.

Try mangrove water snakes. Calm, small, semi-aquatic, arboreal, and cool.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

a few....

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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

is this the scientific name: Nerodia clarkii compressicauda? sometimes the mangrove salt marsh snake? also, ive been having a really hard time googling them. are there captive bred available from breeders? awesome snake...

Forkit, I believe the scientific name you put up is correct, although the way taxonomy is changing lately, please don't hold me to it.

Chris: I beg to differ, sir. The feces from a reptile that feeds exclusively on eggs is worse. Trust me.

~~Greg~~

>>Forkit, I believe the scientific name you put up is correct, although the way taxonomy is changing lately, please don't hold me to it.
>>
>>Chris: I beg to differ, sir. The feces from a reptile that feeds exclusively on eggs is worse. Trust me.
>>
>> ~~Greg~~
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

" The feces from a reptile that feeds exclusively on eggs is worse. Trust me."

Had a tegu once...liked eggs. Man, did it stick when it went!!!!

Also, curiously enough, Carpet pythons have been known to eat fish.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

...those are correct latin and common names. I have them each year in the early summer.
:Mark

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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com