Anonymous - 2012-02-21 Hi, I was wondering if I could legally keep and breed wild NORTHERN water snakes. I would like to catch them in a trap (I was thinking a parcaly submerged minnow trap with 3 or 4 minnows) and keep them as pets andeventualy add them to the zoo I want to build(I am 13 and need to get that idea past my mom). I was thinking of setting traps out as soon as possible but I have no minnow traps so would appreciate it if you guys gave me some instructions on how to build one or a good place to buy one. I plan on keeping them in a 20 gallon aquarium until I get permition from my mom to let me build a large reptile encloser in the back yard. Also I want to start a pet store and I already have fish I can breed so I was thinking why not have a reptile part of the store.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-21 You would have to check with Fish and Game in your state. Some states it is legal and others not. Best to know rather than get all set up, have them removed and get fined.
Frank Weaver - 2014-09-19 Be careful and make sure not to get a cotton mouth!
tabitha - 2011-01-21 I've looked and can't find anything on it, but when I lived in chactaw oklahoma I saw a yellow black red brown banded snake about 10 ft long and it was pretty big around too. It came out of the pond toward me and then turned around and went back in, it was the coolest thing ever. What kind was it?
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JD - 2011-01-28 There's only a few snakes that get to 10ft+ and that's the python family and anacondas if someones given you an answer then please let me know.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-03-23 10 feet is very large. Maybe it was shorted then you thought?? Large corn snake maybe?
john - 2012-03-23 There is some kind of python in Arizona. It could of found its way there. There are also some boas in texas and its surrounding states.
BB - 2012-05-07 About 40 years ago I saw something that looked like a banded water snake in a pond in south Arkansas. The snake was at least twice as long and much bigger around than any water snake I have ever seen. I was nearly as long as the 8' homemade boat I was paddling and very aggressive. I only saw it once, but my aunt and uncle also saw it at a different time and confirmed the size.
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Clarice Brough - 2012-05-08 Wow! very cool... wonder what happened to it. Wonder if it had any kids too:)
pia - 2011-12-24 I've never thought that I would have a snake in my house as a pet. But I've had my snake for 2 days lol and I love it! My 1st one! Still learning on how to care for it and all, haven't touched it yet. Baby steps! If anyone can give me any pointers on things I shoul do, how to pick it up without him biting me. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks
Anonymous - 2009-04-12 Please do not feed these snakes goldfish! They contain an enzyme called thiaminase that blocks a snake's absorbtion of vitamin b1 (thiamine). Eventually after a long period of eating goldfish a snake WILL die of thiamine deficiency. It could take months, or even years, but goldfish in the diet WILL shorten the lifespan of a snake considerably. Catfish, smelt, rosy reds and carp also contain thiaminase and should not be fed. You can safely feed guppies, platies, mollies, or strips of salmon, tilapia, or trout from the grocery store with a calcium supplement added. You can also wean fish eating snakes onto a diet of rodents by scenting the dead mouse with the fish it likes to eat. Eating rodents is safe for them and will even reduce the amount of smelly runny poops! For more information, visit thamnophis . com
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christina stanley - 2011-08-28 Thanks for the info. My neighbor caught a banded water snake and she had had a bunch of babies the next day. He gave me three of them. Good to know now what fish to feed them.
Dawn Epstein - 2010-12-15 My son found a banded water snake, it is about 10 inches long and very docile. We have had him almost 2 weeks, have aquatic tank with heater etc. He will not eat. We have tried small feeder fish and crickets, any ideas? Thanks!
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Austin - 2010-12-28 If your tank is completely aquatic then you'll need to change that because it will cause blisters ..what you may want to try is putting the snake in a small container filled with a little bit of water and some guppies and put it in a dark area for a bit- this is how I have have gotten a lot of snakes to eat also if it's a water heater then that might be stressing him out they should have a warm and cool side so he can move if it gets too hot.. if he is in a completely aquatic heated tank that may be what is stressing him out if he still won't eat then try to feed him by hand- grab him behind the head and push the fish into the mouth and he should swallow it then you might try the other way again .. if this still doesn't work you may want to try worms ((preferably from a bait shop so you don't take risks of them having been exposed to yard chemicals)) or small frogs a cage filled with bark chips or dirt with a hide and a water bowl would suffice as long as it wont be getting too cold since they are a more temperate species.
Ryan - 2010-10-19 I am getting a snake witch is best a land or water snake?
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peter brower - 2010-10-21 I've had both land and water snakes. I prefer banded water snakes as they are inexpensive (mine were $6.99) and are very active. They are in and out of the water all day and night, and I love to watch them hunt.
bob - 2008-03-15 I've had my Florida Water Snake for more than 5 years, and it's an easy pet to care for - just 10 large comet goldfish every week to ten days, with bullfrog tadpoles for occasional treats.
Nerodia live for up to 30 years in captivity, but with the very low maintenance required, it's not as much of a commitment as, say, my Amazon parrot (had for 33 years so far).
ben - 2008-02-01 I have one banded water snake. He is about 8 inches long. Its a lot of fun to watch them hunt, however he is very aggressive towards me. He tends to strike at anybody who puts their hands in the cage, but as soon as he is in your hands he is very calm and pretty much just sits their. great snake, cost me 10 dollars at the pet store.
The Banded Water Snake as well as the common water snake are inexpensive and extremely hardy snakes.
Hi, I was wondering if I could legally keep and breed wild NORTHERN water snakes. I would like to catch them in a trap (I was thinking a parcaly submerged minnow trap with 3 or 4 minnows) and keep them as pets andeventualy add them to the zoo I want to build(I am 13 and need to get that idea past my mom). I was thinking of setting traps out as soon as possible but I have no minnow traps so would appreciate it if you guys gave me some instructions on how to build one or a good place to buy one. I plan on keeping them in a 20 gallon aquarium until I get permition from my mom to let me build a large reptile encloser in the back yard. Also I want to start a pet store and I already have fish I can breed so I was thinking why not have a reptile part of the store.
You would have to check with Fish and Game in your state. Some states it is legal and others not. Best to know rather than get all set up, have them removed and get fined.
Be careful and make sure not to get a cotton mouth!
I've looked and can't find anything on it, but when I lived in chactaw oklahoma I saw a yellow black red brown banded snake about 10 ft long and it was pretty big around too. It came out of the pond toward me and then turned around and went back in, it was the coolest thing ever. What kind was it?
There's only a few snakes that get to 10ft+ and that's the python family and anacondas if someones given you an answer then please let me know.
10 feet is very large. Maybe it was shorted then you thought?? Large corn snake maybe?
There is some kind of python in Arizona. It could of found its way there. There are also some boas in texas and its surrounding states.
I saw one in a pond
About 40 years ago I saw something that looked like a banded water snake in a pond in south Arkansas. The snake was at least twice as long and much bigger around than any water snake I have ever seen. I was nearly as long as the 8' homemade boat I was paddling and very aggressive. I only saw it once, but my aunt and uncle also saw it at a different time and confirmed the size.
Wow! very cool... wonder what happened to it. Wonder if it had any kids too:)
I've never thought that I would have a snake in my house as a pet. But I've had my snake for 2 days lol and I love it! My 1st one! Still learning on how to care for it and all, haven't touched it yet. Baby steps! If anyone can give me any pointers on things I shoul do, how to pick it up without him biting me. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks
Please do not feed these snakes goldfish! They contain an enzyme called thiaminase that blocks a snake's absorbtion of vitamin b1 (thiamine). Eventually after a long period of eating goldfish a snake WILL die of thiamine deficiency. It could take months, or even years, but goldfish in the diet WILL shorten the lifespan of a snake considerably. Catfish, smelt, rosy reds and carp also contain thiaminase and should not be fed. You can safely feed guppies, platies, mollies, or strips of salmon, tilapia, or trout from the grocery store with a calcium supplement added. You can also wean fish eating snakes onto a diet of rodents by scenting the dead mouse with the fish it likes to eat. Eating rodents is safe for them and will even reduce the amount of smelly runny poops! For more information, visit thamnophis . com
Thanks for the info. My neighbor caught a banded water snake and she had had a bunch of babies the next day. He gave me three of them. Good to know now what fish to feed them.
My son found a banded water snake, it is about 10 inches long and very docile. We have had him almost 2 weeks, have aquatic tank with heater etc. He will not eat. We have tried small feeder fish and crickets, any ideas? Thanks!
If your tank is completely aquatic then you'll need to change that because it will cause blisters ..what you may want to try is putting the snake in a small container filled with a little bit of water and some guppies and put it in a dark area for a bit- this is how I have have gotten a lot of snakes to eat also if it's a water heater then that might be stressing him out they should have a warm and cool side so he can move if it gets too hot.. if he is in a completely aquatic heated tank that may be what is stressing him out if he still won't eat then try to feed him by hand- grab him behind the head and push the fish into the mouth and he should swallow it then you might try the other way again .. if this still doesn't work you may want to try worms ((preferably from a bait shop so you don't take risks of them having been exposed to yard chemicals)) or small frogs a cage filled with bark chips or dirt with a hide and a water bowl would suffice as long as it wont be getting too cold since they are a more temperate species.
I am getting a snake witch is best a land or water snake?
I've had both land and water snakes. I prefer banded water snakes as they are inexpensive (mine were $6.99) and are very active. They are in and out of the water all day and night, and I love to watch them hunt.
I've had my Florida Water Snake for more than 5 years, and it's an easy pet to care for - just 10 large comet goldfish every week to ten days, with bullfrog tadpoles for occasional treats.
Nerodia live for up to 30 years in captivity, but with the very low maintenance required, it's not as much of a commitment as, say, my Amazon parrot (had for 33 years so far).
I have one banded water snake. He is about 8 inches long. Its a lot of fun to watch them hunt, however he is very aggressive towards me. He tends to strike at anybody who puts their hands in the cage, but as soon as he is in your hands he is very calm and pretty much just sits their. great snake, cost me 10 dollars at the pet store.