Care Sheet for Water SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/12/2009 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Water Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Manofsnakes |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Northern Water Snake |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Eastern Garter Snake
Eastern Ribbon Snake |
Sexing and Characteristics: | For females, the tail is slightly more slim and longer then the males. Although the most accurate way is to get it probed by a professional. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Provide a very big water dish. Just big enough that the snake should be able to submerge it’s whole body underwater. I use Repti-Bark for mine but aspen or paper towels/ newspaper will just do. NEVER USE PINE OR CEDAR!!!!! Pine is really ok but the chemicals used to treat it are very very harmful to snakes, and you really never know whether it’s been treated with those chemicals. Cedar produces very toxic dust which if inhaled by your snakes can kill them. |
Lighting and UVB: | No UVB required. A light is optional. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | About 30-40% humidity will work. If you get it too humid then your snake will develop the fatal water blisters. Keep your temperature within range of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Heating and Equipment: | Just use a heating pad/ mat and a rheostat or thermostat is optional. If you do use a rheostat or thermostat set it to low in the winter and high in the summer. |
Caging Provided: | For babies a 5 gallon tank will do. For adults use a 20-30 gallon tank. Just make sure that it has a screen top and cage clips are important. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | It will eat goldfish just fine. Some can be trained to eat pre-killed mice but it is very rare so unless you are an expert do not try it. It may also eat Earthworms, Meal worms, Crickets, Newts/Salamanders, Frogs and Toads. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | None needed. |
Maintenance: | Very easy snakes to keep as babies. |
Some Words on this Species: | This is a very aggressive species of snake. Try to train it only when it is a baby. The older the harder. |
How Members Rated
This Care Sheet | Rate This Care Sheet
Please keep all comments constructive to Northern Water Snake husbandry methods and care. Any degrading, sarcastic, or disrespectful comments will be removed. |
Total Members Rating: 4
| 1 |  ( 1 ) |
| 2 |  ( 0 ) |
| 3 | ( 1 ) |
| 4 | ( 2 ) |
| 5 | ( 0 ) |
|
|
