Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

Northern watersnakes basking in the reed

Herparazzi May 24, 2012 08:52 AM

I took a quick trip this weekend to a location I was told was loaded with Storeria dekayi ... didn't find a single one (of course hehehe ... although I will be heading back to try again) but did come across an adult and juvenile Nerodia sipedon basking the reeds together.

Candace

Replies (6)

wolfpackh May 25, 2012 09:44 AM

I find dekayi in the woods and under debris. Look for them crossing roads at dusk and at night. I have found a dozen in a half hours time working the roads. Nice watersnake pics.
-----
2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

Herparazzi May 25, 2012 10:58 AM

That's exactly what I was doing but absolutely nothing that day in that location. I've found quite a few in other places like you said but there no luck. Area was perfect for them so I'll head back again in a bit and see what's there.

Thanks though for the compliments on the watersnake photos!
-----
The Sticky Tongue Project : Addressing biodiversity, conservation and wildlife news & issues. Home of The Herparazzi: a wildlife documentary video series featuring reptiles and amphibians.

tspuckler May 25, 2012 02:36 PM

Nice pics. I've only seen a few DeKay's out in the open. Most are seen under rocks in open fields or around man-made structures like barns - under boards, metal, etc. on the ground around abandoned buildings.

Tim
Image

Herparazzi May 26, 2012 10:28 AM

Thanks Tim!

And wow ... great photo of a Storeria!!!

That describes the area I was in ... hence my shock when there seemed to be nothing around ... could have just been a bad day.

I'm usually finding them, as everyone else typically does, under pieces of wood, metal, discarded tires etc ...
-----
The Sticky Tongue Project : Addressing biodiversity, conservation and wildlife news & issues. Home of The Herparazzi: a wildlife documentary video series featuring reptiles and amphibians.

tspuckler May 26, 2012 11:21 AM

It could be too warm/dry for them. Around here we've been having a lack of rain and temperatures in the 80s. Small snakes are prone to dehydration and also need a certain degree of mositure to find slugs and earthworms to eat. I've seen a few in March around here, but none in the month of May. Though I wasn't specifically looking for them.

Tim

Herparazzi May 27, 2012 05:04 AM

That's exactly the problem around here - without rain lately everything is really drying up fast. The ground is bone dry even in the forests. Marshland is drying up at a rapid rate as well.

The last Storeria that I came across was back in March as well ... nothing since then (although like you I wasn't specifically looking for them ... just herps in general to film).
-----
The Sticky Tongue Project : Addressing biodiversity, conservation and wildlife news & issues. Home of The Herparazzi: a wildlife documentary video series featuring reptiles and amphibians.

Site Tools