Care Sheet for Water SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.50 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 06/19/2005 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Water Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Reptifan |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Banded Water Snakes |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Most all banded water snakes local to the South East. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | If the tail remains thick past the vent and begins to taper about 1/4 way down the tail it’s a male, if the tale begins to taper quickly just past the vent then it’s a female.
Probe for most accurate results. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Prefer semi aquatic enclosure. (do not set up like a aquatic turtle). Paper towel and newspaper are the best all around substrates for all species of reptiles. A large bowl that allows snake to swim (not just soak) is needed in the enclosure. |
Lighting and UVB: | 12 hours daylight, 12 hours nightlight. UVB should be available for basking purposes, but not required. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Overall temp should be between 85-90 degrees, with the 90 degree occurring over a basking area, usually above the water bowl to simulate basking on the branch of a tree over a pond or river as they would do in the wild. Humidity should be at least 50-60%. |
Heating and Equipment: | An adequate ceramic heater should be provided for 24 hour heat source. |
Caging Provided: | 55 gallon with filtered pool at one end, adequate sized branch over the pool. Heat source and UVB light over pool area, with hiding areas on cool side. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Fish, Anurans.
Most efficient way to feed is to purchase fresh fish fillets from grocery store. make sure it is a fresh water fish, and that no salt has been added to the meat.
I have two ponds on my property that gather rain minnows, I capture several large minnows and freeze them for 25 hours to kill any parasites they may be carrying, i then thaw and feed them to my snakes. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Calcium and Vitamins should be dusted on to the fish fillet. |
Maintenance: | Clean pool once a week if filtered, every day if not. Take to herp vet for regular check ups. Get pet dewormed at least 3 times a year if eating live food. |
Some Words on this Species: | Although this species is non-venomous their saliva contains an anticoagulant that makes bleeding hard to stop if bitten by an adult specimen. |
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