Water snakes

[Weather1]

Does anyone know where to buy water snakes...Type really does not matter.

Thanks

[Jonathan Crowe]

They're not really offered for sale that much. Most captive-born litters are accidental and the owners are happy simply to find homes for the offspring. While there is some demand in Canada for water snakes, those few of us who work with them are reluctant to breed them because a single litter would easily saturate that small market.

Note also that Northern and Lake Erie Water Snakes are protected in Ontario.

Water snakes <em>are</em> around, though; I believe Grant's had a few in his store from time to time, or has ordered some in. It's just a matter of keeping your ear to the ground and jumping on whatever opportunities arise.

Also, in my experience, several water snake species (I've observed this with <i>fasciata</i> and <i>sipedon</i>) are relatively easy to convert to a mouse-based diet. I know of one <i>clarkii</i> that was pretty stubborn, though.

[Simon]

Kevin,

are you interested in getting any water snakes?

If you are, please let me know...cause I too am planning on getting some....and if you want I can help you out.

I am planning on getting some red mangrove and diamond backs

[Katt]

We owned about 8 water snakes at one point and couldn't even sell them for cheap! There were a few loses when we first received them, a few stablized but a few after a few months still crashed and burned, those that survived did well and were moved onto a scented mouse diet. They were friendly suckers, not at all mean, but most folkz say Nerodia are nasty snakes.

As for where we got them, we imported from Glades Herp.