Care Sheet for *Snakes in GeneralAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.50 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/04/2006 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | *Snakes in General |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Black Racer |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Brown Snake |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | All North American Brown snake ssp., redbelly snake, ringneck snake, other small snakes. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | This is a small species that is very adaptable. Ground color will vary; it can be different shades of brown, olive, grayish, or copper. There are rows of black spots down the animal’s back, and the belly is usually white and unmarked. Average overall length is about 14 inches. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Brown snakes can live in almost any substrate. I prefer to keep mine in a 80/20 soil/sand mix. This allows these snakes to burrow as they would naturally. You may wish to use peat moss or leaves to simulate the forest floor. Provide a small dish for water, and you may wish to mist the cage on occasion. |
Lighting and UVB: | If needed, brown snakes can survive with only sunlight. Otherwise, use a heat lamp. But, don’t use to powerful of a bulb, since the small cages these snakes are usually kept in will heat up too quickly. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Brown snakes should be kept at room temperature during the day, and shouldn’t drop below 50* at night. Humidity levels should be normal, at around 50 or 60. |
Heating and Equipment: | No special equipment is required for keeping brown snakes. |
Caging Provided: | I keep my brown snakes in 10 gallon tanks with sand/soil substrate. I covered this with wet leaves to give the animals some foraging opportunities as well as to make the enclosure look more natural. I also provided a small water dish and some rocks for basking and hiding. There some sticks and branches in the tank, as brown snakes will commonly climb. As they aren’t territorial at all, brown snakes can be kept 4 adults to a 10-gallon tank, as long as adequate care is provided. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Brown snakes will eat a variety of insects, arthropods, and invertebrates, and will even take small amphibians. They are also very fond of slugs and earthworms, and sometimes crickets. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | None of this is required for brown snakes. |
Maintenance: | Same as for any other small snake. |
Some Words on this Species: | Years ago, brown snakes could be found under every piece of discarded debris on city streets. Now, due to pollution and other things, brown snakes aren’t as common in the cities. Being highly adaptable, they are now found in a variety of habitats, from moist woodland to marshland, but are still common in many urban/suburban habitats. They are particularly fond of vacant lots and backyards, where they seem to be more common than anywhere else. However, brown snakes often go undetected in these environments, due to their size and ability to travel underground. They will often travel in subterranean earthworm burrows, searching for prey and shelter. Overall, they are an interesting and intriguing little snake that is quite easy to keep. |
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