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StuDude
03-12-12, 10:01 AM
http://www.snaketracks.com/images/icons/icon4.png Feeding young Brown dekays snake!?!?!?!?

I joined this site because I NEED feeding advice. My 3 year old brother came in the house holding a little snake and threw it at someone. I ran into the room because I heard the word "snake" and I took it from him. Anyway, I have this young Storeria dekayi (probably 8 inches, I guess thats not THAT young, based on what I know about them) and I don't know how to feed it. I know WHAT to feed it, (worms, small slugs, little bugs) but I tried putting a bunch of worms in the cage right in front of him, but he didn't eat. Then I put him in a small tupperware container (no distractions) with a few worms, and he didn't eat there either.

HHEEELLP ME BEFORE IT DIES!
infernalis
03-12-12, 10:56 AM
My first recommendation would be to find a nice wooded place and release the snake.

If you do keep it, then it will need to calm down from the ordeal of being thrown before it will eat.

No bugs, Dekayi snakes do not eat bugs, they are a specialist feeder that eats only slugs/snail and worms.

they also prefer humidity and cool temperatures.
alessia55
03-12-12, 10:59 AM
Release it. It's obviously a wild snake that can care for itself in the wild. Being thrown, then grabbed, then put into a container, and surrounded with worms, is all very, VERY stressful for the snake.

If you're interested in having a snake, I recommend you buy a CBB one (captive bred and born).
infernalis
03-12-12, 11:17 AM
see the post I just made in his first thread..
alessia55
03-12-12, 11:19 AM
see the post I just made in his first thread..

I read it. I don't see anything wrong with what I wrote here or there...
infernalis
03-12-12, 11:21 AM
I don't either Alessia, If he had some endangered species, I would agree fully.

But many of the best keepers I know started out catching a garter snake or a dekayi.

It's a great starting point.
youngster
03-12-12, 11:26 AM
Try chopping up some worms whole ones might be too big depending on what kind they are.

Also you could try fish, (organic, no salt) trout and tilapia are good choices.
infernalis
03-12-12, 11:27 AM
Try chopping up some worms whole ones might be too big depending on what kind they are.

Also you could try fish, (organic, no salt) trout and tilapia are good choices.


WRONG.. Fish works great with garters, not storeria species.

I have worked with probably 50 or more counting babies, and they do not take fish like garter snakes do.
youngster
03-12-12, 11:31 AM
Really? Oh, then I'm sorry, I kinda assumed they had similar eating habits.
My bad, carry on :p
Aaron_S
03-12-12, 12:22 PM
Kid, first of all listen to Wayne. Second of all snakes don't eat every minute of every day. It won't die without food for a day.

Lastly, I recommend learning about snakes in general before you keep one.
StuDude
03-12-12, 12:56 PM
OK, guys, I'm not a TOTAL noob. I do know about snakes. I've had snakes before, (corn, green) and no, I don't want to let it go.
I got the snake a while ago, and I know its a reptile, so it doesn't need to eat "every minute of every day".
After I read this, I tried chopping up the worms, and that didn't work. So then I changed my terrarium a bit
(newspaper instead of dirt and leaves) and tried giving him the worm. He ate it immediately. I guess he didnt like dirt as a substrate.

thanks anyway!

I'll keep all your advice JIC!
alessia55
03-12-12, 01:16 PM
Glad he ate!
Where are you located? Have you found out if it's legal to keep a native snake?
exwizard
03-12-12, 01:16 PM
OK, guys, I'm not a TOTAL noob. I do know about snakes. I've had snakes before, (corn, green) and no, I don't want to let it go.
I got the snake a while ago, and I know its a reptile, so it doesn't need to eat "every minute of every day".
After I read this, I tried chopping up the worms, and that didn't work. So then I changed my terrarium a bit
(newspaper instead of dirt and leaves) and tried giving him the worm. He ate it immediately. I guess he didnt like dirt as a substrate.

thanks anyway!

I'll keep all your advice JIC!

Hear hear! This is good. :)
StuDude
03-12-12, 02:35 PM
Where are you located? Have you found out if it's legal to keep a native snake?

I looked on the internet and the snakes that are not allowed to own are either endangered or venomous. That's just what I found, though. And to my understanding, dekays are fairly common.
StuDude
03-12-12, 02:36 PM
Newspaper is a safe substrate, right?
alessia55
03-12-12, 02:36 PM
who's Wayne?

member name is infernalis
exwizard
03-12-12, 03:44 PM
Newspaper is a safe substrate, right?

Yes, thats all I use for my tuba and tanks. Also, you asked if a 5 gallon tank was good for this snake and again, I say yes.
infernalis
03-12-12, 06:52 PM
With a little time and patience, you can achieve this...

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/DKdot.jpg
exwizard
03-12-12, 07:26 PM
...Nice!! :)
infernalis
03-12-12, 07:35 PM
She was a sweetie, ate from my hands, would follow my finger back and forth, she was my first captive snake, been gone 2 1/2 yers and I still miss her.
exwizard
03-12-12, 07:36 PM
I never knew Brown snakes ate worms. If I had thought of that at the time, maybe my friend wouldve had better luck feeding him.
jaleely
03-12-12, 07:36 PM
aww she's cute! aww!

Well, it sounds like the snake is on it's way to doing well if it's eating. I would try to find some slugs and stuff for it. Make sure it has heat, moisture, etc. Newspaper is an okay substrate, just hard to keep moist because the heat source may dry it out fast.
infernalis
03-12-12, 07:43 PM
I actually had a slug farm in my basement for her babies.

They are so tiny when born, they can't eat a worm, just neonate slugs.

Try hunting slugs that small without raising them yourself.

http://www.thamfriends.com/MPFG/images/1apenny.jpg