I just brought home a pair of Western Ribbon snakes. I was told they are about 3 months old and have been fed pinhead crickets. They are both well tempered (really tiny, so what do I expect at this point) and active. I usually do a better job of researching before I bring any animal home, but I'm sorry to say that this time I didn't. I can't seem to find a great source on raising ribbons. Most sites say Garter/Ribbon and then are heavy Garter and keep noting that Ribbons are different with some things, but never go on to explain what is best for them specifically.
I was able to find some small rosies at a local pet store and both ate 3 this afternoon (their first fish!). Most of the minnows are too big yet and there aren't any feeder guppies around here as an alternative. Can I keep giving them dusted crickets (alternating with the fish) or wax worms, decapitated mealworms to help give them more variety, or should I avoid all or only some insects in general?
I am not looking to breed, I just want them to have a healthy and happy life. Right now they are in a 20 gallon aquarium until I am sure they are both healthy and ok, then I have a 40br for them to move into.
I will take any and all advice you all have to give. I have read that they a diet of only fish isn't healthy for them. And have been told worms and insects are ok too. They are too small for pinkies at this point (which I also read they may not eat anyway). Their enclosure has an undertank heater (covers less than half of the bottom), and their temps are about 85 on one side and 74 on the other (with everything on). Am I supposed to treat their water. I have been letting it sit out overnight to try to dissipate the chlorine to change their water, but should I be treating it or using spring water?
I tried getting a few extra minnows to keep for their next feeding, but they all died about an hour after I brought them home. I'm not sure what I did there - the water had sat out overnight for the snakes and was room temperature, but it wasn't aerated, which I read may have been a problem. Ideas on that would be great too.
I'm sorry this is so long, I have successfully kept several species of herps as pets for years, but it has been about 4 years since my last lizard died and 20 years since I helped care for a snake, so I feel like a beginner all over again. Thanks for any help!
