Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked a lovely female mudsnake up at a recent reptile show. The fellow selling her said she has been eating tadpoles and eels. She is about 4' long. I have not yet fed her, but did purchase some frozen peacock eels from a local grocery.

I met a fellow on the way out who keeps one, and he said he feeds his green frogs, and it takes them readily. Has anyone here had luck keeping these lovely animals, and if no, how do you do it ? What cage set up would keepers who have worked with thse snakes before suggest ? mostly aquatic, with an area to bask, like a log or turtle dock, (what was suggested to me by the seller) or 50/50, half dry with a cat litter pan full of water in the other half to swim/soak in like I have done for nerodia water snakes before ? Suggested temps ? Anything different from the general care you would provide a water/garter, except in regards to dier ?

I am aware thier wild diet is largely amphiumas and sirens, and I may have a hard time with this animal.

Thanks in advance,

Alan -

mud snakes usualy pose no problems as far as care, you can give them a setup similar to a northern water snake of similar size, but with a larger water bowl. in old conant field guides, it is stated that they can be house in a fully aquatic setup-but i would be very cautious and moniter the mud snake closely. they usualy eat well on sirens, tadpole and long bodied fishes in captivity, i had a pair for two years kept this way, but they have LARGE clutches. good luck
justin