Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello
I live in unbuilt up area of Miami infact farm across the street. I have seen a black snake roughly 3 feet long (not ringneck and not garter) flash out of my yards pond and through the fence now and than. Moves very fast
My pond has hundreds of swordtails-platys . Could it be a racer or coachwhip? Its welcomed to eat as many fish as it wants but curious as to what type snake it could be .

I have only seen it early evening granted that means nothing .

I have been living here for less than yr lived in NY before no expert on native snakes.

Thanks

My guess would be black racer, by the speed you describe. I would like to rule out Eastern indigo but they are known to feed on fish. was the snake thick bodied or slender? If its an indigo leave it alone as its illegal to even hold them in florida. Eastern Coachwhips from down south can be dark in the front half but tend to lighten to a khaki color the rest of the way.
Get a pic!
Nate

I would bet it's a black racer too. I have had babies that ate fish out of a water bowl, so I wouldn't doubt a wild adult would too. There are also some dark colored watersnakes which would also relish fish. But they are heavy bodied and keeled scaled.

I wish my pond would attract such things...

Thank you both very much for the info. Its slender and super fast.
When I get to within 15 feet of the pond it soars out like a bullet and flys through the fence into the field by the farm.
I know its not an Indigo not a water snake . Narrowed it down to large black ringneck with no ring (if thats possible) or ofcourse some type black native slender snake.

I have never seen it eat fish but considering I have seen it by the pond or on the edge (only on hottest days) I imagine its eating them as several local canals thus would get his/her water there.

I have zillion platys now and mosquito fish so it can take whatever it wants . I have gone out in yard with cell phone to take pic of it when I go feed the fish but see it once in blue moon than its greased lightning.

Thanks

Posted by: canderson at Fri Apr 11 17:33:23 2008 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

I would bet it's a black racer too. I have had babies that ate fish out of a water bowl, so I wouldn't doubt a wild adult would too. There are also some dark colored watersnakes which would also relish fish. But they are heavy bodied and keeled scaled.

I wish my pond would attract such things...

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Little snakes are neat but some of the things around here will completely remove everything from your pond. Bufo toads magicly appear come June to August in huge numbers and huge toads.
I put chicken wire small mesh type around the pond or they will pour into a pond knock over every planted potted plant-water lilly,etc and lay billions of eggs .
Herons will wipe out a pond in one day but since my pond is next to patio screen door they have never come they fear humans but they wiped out a neighbors pond of small koi .
Overall the wildlife was here before us and most I will ever do is use chicken wire around the pond during toad season .
The snakes I do like and just as well as no way to stop them from coming but I genuinly enjoy the times I have seen them .

Nice story thanks!...if you ever do get that photo please put it up!!

Paul

I used to herp in Central Fla. many year ago. Back then the tall grass around lakes were full of larg black racers.