Introducing Caliborn

[Sophia'sSophia]

Picked up a new watersnake (plain bellied, red; Nerodia erythrogaster) from the last con I attended. He was one of those impulse buys, that are just too stunning to leave behind. He was shedding at the con, and the reds that peaked through the (terrible) shed were vibrant. Ill have to take some fresh shed pics someday for yall.

He's pretty skiddish, but nothing like the vendor described him as. Why do they always tell me their watersnakes are 'mean, nippy, aggressive' when the individual isnt?

[Concept9]

Very very nice snake, I REALLY like the red.

I just got two new snakes lately. The vendors told me they were very very nippy.

When I got them home and was putting them in their new home, each one nipped me. That was weeks ago and neither have even attempted to strike/bite since.

Personally I think it has to do with bad husbandry, housing and handling in general.

[sweatshirt]

Stunning snake =)

[smy_749]

Some species are more tolerant towards handling, less nippy species. Some species are not, but it doesn't mean that all of the individual snakes will be exactly the same.

Also, maybe how long they have been bred in captivity has a role in how nippy a species is.

[Sophia'sSophia]

You're all right (epsecially sweatshirt ;) ).
I just think its funny that I've never had a snake with good temperment according to the people selling them, yet I've also never had a snake prove them right. I'll blame handling/husbandry, yeah. Treat it like it'll bite, and it just might.

[GarterGirl]

Ooooh! Pretty... I love Nerodia, but so few people bother with them because of the 'temper.' True, my little girl is pretty grumpy, but she is getting better and has entire weeks where she doesn't try to eat my face!
Grats on the new snake!

[JoeJ]

they are beautiful. unfortunately all Nerodia are very rarely for sale here in the uk.