Help with water snake.

[Ian.swanson]

So i have a new baby norther water snake. My question is in regards to temperature. What kind of bulb should i get and when should it be warm and cool. I have been told that a "Night time" bulb would be plenty of heat for it, but i want to get some other advice from people who have had them or currently have them. Any other help you can offer would be appreciated as well.

Right now he is living in a lowes bucket with a large basking rock, a upside down soap dish for a water dish/tub, a bear cozy to hid in and i have a thermostat and a humidity gage in there as well. I am currently waiting on the epoxy (yes the aquarium type) to set in his 30g tank, then it will be set up as a 1/2 water 1/2 land thing.

Somethings i am wondering about is keeping the water side at the correct temperature, and keeping the humidity down. The light i have is a 75w "night bulb" in a dome light that sits on the screen lid to his tank. I am also wondering what i should do about creating a day/night cycle (for both visible light and heat).

Again if anyone could give any USEFUL advice as to keeping him (not telling me to release him) it would be gladly appreciated.

And now time for a couple pictures.

Side shot
29619
Back side
29620

Once he calms down a bit ill try to get one of his under side its very pretty.

[Ian.swanson]

Sorry the pictures came out so bigO.o

[wrecker45]

What state are you in. That does not look like a northern water snake.

[Ian.swanson]

I'm in South Carolina.

[FWK]

What a little beauty! Northern Water Snakes are pretty variable in color and pattern but I don't think I've ever seen one with spots on the sides so well defined. I agree with Wrecker, it doesn't really look like a Northern Water Snake but that is the only thing it can be eh? It will probably darken quite a bit with age and the spots will disappear. As far as care Water Snakes can be kept much like most North American Colubrids. Find a good Rat, Corn, Milk or King care sheet and use it as a baseline. Personally I would go with belly heat and provide a larger than normal water bowl but I wouldn't worry with converting half the enclosure, sounds like a lot of work to clean. I've been looking into getting a newborn Water Snake this fall myself and from what I've been reading some can be picky and take some work to switch to rodents. I'd be interested in reading about this little guys progress if you'll keep us updated. Best of luck.

[Ian.swanson]

I sure will keep you updated. The big problem today has been trying to get this white film off the inside of the tank. Any tips? From what i have been researching this little guy should be pretty close to a Florida Banded Water Snake (same family.)

[FWK]

I'd try vinegar and baking soda.

[Ian.swanson]

I have been using apple cider vinegar and its not doing a thing.

[sharthun]

Oxyclean should work and is aquarium safe.

[Ian.swanson]

SO i have some more pictures my wife and I took while hold her today. Her name is Cubellios and here she is guys!

[sharthun]

Nice looking little guy!

[Jim Smith]

You also might try a Mr. Clean's Magic sponge to clean the white film off of the tank. Those sponges are amazing and I'm finding more and more uses for them where nothing else works. Please let us know if it works for you.

[Ian.swanson]

Oh i didn't even think of that Jim, i will defiantly give it a try tomorrow.