Oddball North American snakes?

[SerpentSteve]

Does any body keep any not-commonly-kept North American snakes? Just looking for something interesting and maybe a little more challenging as my next project.

[lady_bug87]

I have a bull snake. She's pretty alright

[reptiledude987]

The north american part is what makes this tricky. theres a ton of stuff uncommon in the pet trade but its from outside north america. the only thing I can think of thats not so common from north americe would be some of the crolatus stuff

[lady_bug87]

I missed the not commonly kept part. There aren't too many bulls out there but they're probably more common than you want.

[reptiledude987]

I have a bull snake. She's pretty alright
Just pretty alright?? I think my bull is pretty sweet. cant wait tillits big like ez's

[SerpentSteve]

Yeah. I've considered night snakes and maybe short tailed snakes. I plan on working with pygmy rattlesnakes later but as of now I have no place outside the house to keep them (I have a 2 month old daughter and I don't want to get them and them be in the house when she starts walking). I may have to just have to broaden my horizons and look into exotic stuff to. I just want something that won't get to big for the time being, as in under 4 or maybe 5ft, and a little bit different.

[RAD House]

I am assuming you are not looking for a hybrid, but just in case Imperial Pueblan milksnakes are pretty amazing.

[eminart]

Racers, coachwhips, pines, or nerodia.

[SerpentSteve]

Most of all of those genera are banned because they are native to the state of GA. The only snakes native to the state that I can keep are hots. As far as Nerodia, I have strongly considered N. rhombifer, but I'm not sure if they need a body of water or just a bowl large enough to soak in. My main issue is finding somebody that works with any of the snakes I'm interested in.

[SerpentSteve]

MesoCorny - I have nothing against hybrids, they just aren't my thing

[eminart]

Oh, you're in GA. Good luck.

[RAD House]

I figured as much. When I was looking for something different it was just what I found, so I figured I might as well suggest it. Also they are in no way a challenge to keep, so not really what you are looking for. I don't keep them but I have always found tri colored and certain eastern hog noses more interesting than westerns. In my opinion one of the most beautiful North American snakes are the buttermilk racers. You very rarely hear of anyone keeping them.

[PsychoSnake]

How about rubber boas?

[FWK]

I agree with MesoCorney on Eastern Hogs and Buttermilk Racers (any Racer really), though Eastern Hogs are said to be a pain because most refuse anything but toads. The only better looking Racer than Buttermilks are Speckled Racers, but their range in the US is limited range to deep south Texas and are illegal to collect. They are found as far south Columbia, maybe you could find an importer somewhere in between. Cat Eyed Snakes would be a similar situation. It would be very cool to see any Regina sp. in captivity but they eat only freshly molted crayfish in the wild. Mud Snakes would be cool as well but are also picky eaters. Night Snakes are interesting, as are Lyres and Patchnose. It would be great to see someone working with Eastern Coachwhips, there are breeders working with Westerns (mostly the Red Phase). Any of the Striped Whipsnakes would be great to see also. Nerodia can be kept much like any other colubrid. I bring up most of these critters because I'm interested in them myself. A few more:
Longnose Snake
Scarlet Snake
Glossy Snake

[SerpentSteve]

It'd be awesome to keep either Nerodia rhombifer or cyclopion, or even Regina grahamii if I can get my hands on them. I breed fish and crayfish so food wouldn't be an issue for any of them. The only problem is I could only keep those 3 species out of both of those genera because the rest are GA native and illegal. I found night snakes but they're from Underground Reptiles, and I haven't heard much good about them.

[FWK]

If you go with the Graham's you'd better post lots of pictures lol. As well as updates on how they eat and what not. I don't keep N. rhombifer (yet) but I do have a N. erythrogaster and once I got him switched to f/t rodents keeping him is just like any other colubrid. I do have an extra large water bowl available to him, but he doesn't seem to use it as much as I expected. I do see him in the water pretty often after dark though. Have you considered N. clarkii? I'm pretty sure their range ends well before the Georgia/Florida state line.

[SerpentSteve]

I actually have considered them as well. I like how variable they are, and they usually stay at or under 3ft which is nice. I've just gotta find a source to get any of these snakes haha.

[SerpentSteve]

There's also the western worm snake (Carphophis vermis), again, if I can find any

[Albert Clark]

Well, good luck choosing based on availability! Lots of choices.

[SerpentSteve]

Yeah I've narrowed it down to Regina grahamii and Nerodia clarkii compressicauda. I've found a source for the Nerodia so the decision might be just that easy. I'll look around in a couple months when I'm ready to buy and see what I can find. Thanks for all yall's input!

[Jrich]

I keep a northern ring neck snake. I've always read that they are hard to keep in captivity but I've had this guy for a few years now.

[Sasha2]

I think a big black coachwhip would be an impressive animal to keep, not for the faint of heart either. Ive seen them for sale on Kingsnake on occasion.
Also the indigos are always awesome and not common.
rough greensnakes and super cool and usually cheap.
And finally the best for last, mudsnakes (gorgeous)

[eminart]

Also the indigos are always awesome and not common.


He can't keep them in GA.

There really are probably more native snakes NOT commonly kept than native snakes that are. Everybody loves corn snakes, but lately I've been thinking it might be cool to have a massive gray or black rat snake. Might daughter and I caught one on a recent herping trip that was pushing six feet, and they can get a couple of feet longer, theoretically.

So, I don't know the GA laws that well. Do they also prohibit subspecies that aren't native to the state?

[SSSSnakes]

QUEEN SNAKE, REGINA SEPTEMVITTATA or Coral snakes.

[SerpentSteve]

Jrich - ringsnakes are native, therefore illegal

Sasha - everything you mentioned is illegal

Eminart - yes, all subspecies are included, which is rediculous. However, I think I've almost got my wife convinced to move the 30 minutes north up into SC, where they don't really care what you keep.

SSSSnakes - Queen snakes are native; coral snakes are a later project, since I can keep native hots. I've gotta get a good house snake colony though so I can feed the corals!

[RAD House]

Hmm so you need a more western species? Prairie milk snakes can be quite stunning and you rarely hear of people keeping them. Although they are considered child's play, there are a ton of garter snake species and morphs. I just picked up a California red sided garter and he gets more stunning by the day. I really like luecistic Texas rats but have heard they can be hell on wheels to handle. If you are looking for something viper esque you can't really beat nerodia.

[pet_snake_78]

The red mangrove water snakes... we would be fighting over those if not native, it's a grass is always greener thing. The crayfish snakes probably should not be kept as I have a feeling they will not be fed correctly, same with mudsnakes... these would be for people who are extremely dedicated. We have some amazing salamander diversity but largely ignored. Finally, our garters are amongst the most brightly colored snakes in the world too bad few appreciate what's in our own back yards and animal rights activists work night and day to prevent the few people who appreciate the hunt for the "the" best example of native species from doing so...guess these people believe if you take one fish no one ever gets to fish again lol

[SerpentSteve]

I could handle the crayfish snakes, since I breed crayfish and native fish, which grahamii eat both. But you're right, many native animals in general are under appreciated. I currently have all native animals (except my German Shepherd). I've kept almost exclusively native fish, several native salamanders, newts, frogs, and crayfish from my own back yard and bred them all for at least 2 generations. I'm a big supporter of native animal keeping mostly because it's uncommon, and it can also be used as a means of education.

[Sasha2]

That sucks that everything there is illegal. We can keep up to five non threatened species of any kind(even venomous depending on city ordinances). I think we still have to have a hunting license if your caught out gathering but really no one cares.
Ive still got my eye out for a juvi black rat or speckled king.

[SerpentSteve]

Yeah it sucks. But it is what it is. I can keep native venomous so at least I got that. And native fish, crayfish, frogs, turtles, salamanders and newts are all fair game, so long as they aren't threatened or endangered.

[D Grade]

Oh, you're in GA. Good luck.

I figured as much. When I was looking for something different it was just what I found, so I figured I might as well suggest it. Also they are in no way a challenge to keep, so not really what you are looking for. I don't keep them but I have always found tri colored and certain eastern hog noses more interesting than westerns. In my opinion one of the most beautiful North American snakes are the buttermilk racers. You very rarely hear of anyone keeping them.

I keep a northern ring neck snake. I've always read that they are hard to keep in captivity but I've had this guy for a few years now.

QUEEN SNAKE, REGINA SEPTEMVITTATA or Coral snakes.

I was going to mention Corals or Ring Necks but Jerry and Jrich beat me to it. What about Lyres Snakes? Not commonly kept, but beautiful. Also rear fanged venomous with very mild venom. Found a juvenile last weekend herping around Green Valley, AZ. Despite the picture, they are extremely well mannered and have excellent temperaments.

[SerpentSteve]

Lyresnakes would be awesome too. They're near looking and would be an interesting addition.

[D Grade]

I agree, couldn't tell ya how bad I wanted to take that juve home last week. Probably would have if I had a spare viv.