Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anybody knew of anyone who has had success in switching Ringneck Snakes onto rodents. I know they typically eat earthworms and amphibians, but their diet is not too different from Garter Snakes, Nerodia and Hognoses, all of which are commonly converted onto rodents.

I personally think Ringnecks are among the coolest little snakes around, and would be very interested in starting a project with them to see if they could be switching onto rodents and made into a more accessible pet species.

Any insight or info you guys may have would be greatly appreciated!

check with Mike Fedzen....he has a lot of experience with them. scroll down thru the posts and find his name, youi should be able to contact him thru there.

Some ringneck snakes are easily switched onto rodents...
Some will never go for it...

Usually involves scenting.
If you feed them on a routine, to the point where they anticipate food as soon as you open the container, they may take a unscented pinky then just because they think it's food.

I had a really large northern ringneck maybe like five years ago that was around 26", she ate live unscented fuzzies I left in the enclosure.

The ringnecks that go for salamanders seem easier to get onto mice. Salamander slime must be really yummy.

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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

Thanks for the info Mike.

Are the Ringnecks I find in Kentucky going to be salamander eaters? Is the size of the animal relevant to the ease of switching them over?

Is there any special tricks to scenting them or is it pretty straght-forward?

The Kentucky ones are Northerns right?
Those are salamander eaters.... And half the time Northerns are easy to get on mice.
You just either have to have a really big Northern, or a really small pinky mouse.
Just completely cover a pinky with salamander slime, and hope the ringneck is hungry enough to eat what smells like food.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

Yes, we have Northerns.

Are they fond of any specific type of Salamanders? I could just catch a couple of them, freeze them and use them multiple times for scenting, don't you think?

That's the easiest way to do it...
I'd also suggest maybe feeding the snake a small salamander... So it's still hungry, but wants salamander, then offer it the salamander slime covered pinky.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

Gotcha....I've done the same thing when switching snakes from mice to rats.