Water snake husbandry

StudentoReptile · 10-09-13, 03:43 PM

So I had been looking for a water snake lately, and finally a friend found me one. I normally don't go for WC indigenous species, but I wanted a Nerodia species for educational purposes.

Anyway, I got him set-up and I know that they eat a little more often just weekly. I plan on feeding him mostly amphibians when I can find them and raising my own feeder fish [probably convicts]. Question: how often should I feed him and about how much in one sitting?

Sophia'sSophia · 10-15-13, 08:50 PM

Why do you want to feed hir amphibians? Especially wild ones? They are a great source of parasites, much more so than fish, at least. The safest food I have found is salmon filet chunks, with skin of course, and very rarely a vitamin supplement.

If you insist on feeding living fish, be sure to select a species that has no thiaminase in it, as this enzyme can give them neurological damage unto death.

Sizing the salmon chunks is simple, make sure they can fit in the snake, and let the fellow have at it. I've had a bunch eat like that for me, and never knew one to over-extend themselves.

This is just my personal hypothesis, but I think size of meal correlates to how often. You could theoretically feed them every day if you were only giving them a bite or so, and conversely I think you can feed them once a week if they accept a great big meal.

I absolutely love water snakes, so if you ever want to discuss anything about them I'd not mind having the dialogue. What species is this new fellow of yours? What are these educational purposes, if I may inquire?

StudentoReptile · 10-27-13, 09:50 AM

I am not terribly concerned with parasites, since virtually any live fish or amphibians, whether they are offered in a pet store or caught in the wild [in most cases, both can apply!]. My school of thought is if the snake is kept in an ideal, relative-stress-free environment, his body can handle a fair amount of internal parasites. Chances are, he already has most of them anyway, and I'm not going to bombard him with the stress of a deworming regime. I am leery of such treatments anyway, since their effectiveness is questionable in species with diets high in fish and/or amphibians.

However, I am still concerned with the presence of thiaminase in some fish. It is my understanding that a lot more species have it than just minnows and goldfish. I am looking into relatively cheap species [convict babies, giant danios, and possibly silver-sides?] as alternatives, since amphibians will be scarce in the upcoming cold months, and I'm not paying retail for leopard frogs and bullfrogs.

The only sources that are detailed are this:

All About Thiaminase - Gartersnake.info

Article: Thiaminase – What it is, why you care

...most others seem to regurgitate the same info. Where do you get your fillets from? I'm also leery of feeding anything other than whole prey items out of concern that the snake will not get all the nutrition it needs. But I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons: is fillets better than a premature death from thiaminase OD?

StudentoReptile · 10-27-13, 09:57 AM

He is a southern banded water snake, Nerodia f. fasciata. I am the president of our local herp society and we often use native species in our lectures at schools, events, etc. I've wanted a water since they are as common as dirt around this area and often mistaken for cottonmouths.

Sophia'sSophia · 10-29-13, 01:50 PM

That's a great reason to keep one, to teach people about the difference's betwixt the two. I mean, I'm not involved in any kind of organized education, and I still get plenty of opportunities showing local folk the harmless little fellows. People are naturally curious, luckily, as I figure the knowing the difference is pretty important.

As for food, I get mine from any normal deli. Winn Dixie, usually, or Publix, any supermarket or fishmarket will do. Salmon's not the hardest thing to come by, after all lol, and if it were, for some reason, there's always tilapia. Thiaminase is a pretty big issue... I've heard the effects it can have be variable in the extreme, but I don't like taking the risk. What are you feeding it as you get your breeding tanks going? I'm wondering if that's the most cost-effective route. I tried to do that for some babies once, using guppies, but by the time I had a new school of fish, they were too old to eat them. My current method only runs 5$ish a month (approximating, due to splitting food amongst a couple.). Interested in hearing about alternatives though.

StudentoReptile · 11-04-13, 05:43 PM

Right now, I've leaned more into cheaper "tropical fish" [things like large tetras, gouramis, and giant danios] and trying to avoid the traditional feeders (goldfish and rosy reds). I'll look into the fillets. I'm sure a balance with variety is better than one thing. Our LPS has a "Buy 1, get 1 free" day for fish once a month, so I'm going to try to and hit that and save some $$.

Mikoh4792 · 11-04-13, 05:49 PM

i don't think goldish is a traditional feeder anymore due to the thiaminase content

StudentoReptile · 11-04-13, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

i don't think goldish is a traditional feeder anymore due to the thiaminase content

LOL...there are a lot of pet stores and people out there that did not get the memo!

Corey209 · 11-04-13, 07:05 PM

Check if mollies have high thiaminase, they breed like wildfire.

TheZoo · 11-08-13, 08:30 PM

im pretty sure mollies and platies dont and breed easily and fast

charlesc84 · 11-09-13, 12:43 AM

I love water snakes. I know I posted it here once, but I used to have a Mud Snake. What type of set up are you using? I think water snakes are a good excuse to get creative with the enclosure.

StudentoReptile · 11-09-13, 06:50 AM

Yeah, I wasn't keen on mollies because they need brackish water. Platies are fairly prolific if temps & habitat are right.