Banded file snake

[Sth7]

Hello everyone, i'm new to the forum and i need some help, i just got a banded file snake and well... There's not much info about it, i hope someone here can guide me more in terms of habitat and eating behaviors.. Thanx in advance!

[ReptiWorldWide]

I did a bit of research and it looks like this species lives in rivers, estuaries, intertidal zones, and brackish water lakes. It spends most of its time in the water (can stay without breathing for over 2 hours). It grows to be just over a meter long, and its preferred prey items are crabs and small fish. it rarely hunts or is active in the day so if this is a wild caught specimen then you will likely have to get it used to eating during the day.

It specialize on gobiid and goby-like fishes. Analysis of its stomach contents indicate that crustaceans may be eaten occasionally. Acrochordus granulatus hunt its prey by seizing its prey rapidly with the mouth or by swiftly ensnaring its prey in coils of the body or tail. The body is then quickly wrapped around the prey to subdue and to hold it. Even though Acrochordus granulatus are considered constrictors, the body coils function to hold and immobilize prey rather than to cause death by constricting. Captured fish are swallowed very quickly, thus little water is ingested with prey.

Acrochordus granulatus have been observed to forage in shallow waters. It is also reported that captive Acrochordus granulatus feed more readily and capture fish more easily in shallow than in deep water. In a study by Shine & Richard (1986), the stomach contents of Acrochordus arafuraesuggests that snakes in the Genus Acrochordus feeds less frequently in contrast with other aquatic snake and is considered to be a low energy specialist.

Interestingly, the feeding habits differs between male and female Acrochordus granulatus. Female individuals which have a larger and slightly stocky body, hunts by ambushing its prey. On the other hand, the male Acrochordus granulatus hunts by actively foraging.

Acrochordus granulatus are mainly found in saltwater systems but are occasionally found in freshwater systems, as it can tolerate varying salinity levels. It prefers shallow coastal habitats such as mangroves and estuaries.

You likely know a lot of this information, but I thought I would put everything I find to be sure. I will do more detailed research for you later today (I do have a life... I just find researching fun) but for now this is what I have found, hope it helps!

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Sth7

Hello everyone, i'm new to the forum and i need some help, i just got a banded file snake and well... There's not much info about it, i hope someone here can guide me more in terms of habitat and eating behaviors.. Thanx in advance!

Why would you bring home an animal if you don't know how to care for it???

[Sth7]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Why would you bring home an animal if you don't know how to care for it???

The story is not like you think, someone else brought it home and just decided to get rid of it... What would you do?

[Sth7]

Originally Posted by ReptiWorldWide

I did a bit of research and it looks like this species lives in rivers, estuaries, intertidal zones, and brackish water lakes. It spends most of its time in the water (can stay without breathing for over 2 hours). It grows to be just over a meter long, and its preferred prey items are crabs and small fish. it rarely hunts or is active in the day so if this is a wild caught specimen then you will likely have to get it used to eating during the day.

It specialize on gobiid!

Thanx for your answer and time, its a bit more than what i found, at leat the goby fish gives me an idea on what to try, i tried with molly fish but no luck so far on it eating any.

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Sth7

The story is not like you think, someone else brought it home and just decided to get rid of it... What would you do?

Is it wild caught and native to your area?

[Sth7]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Is it wild caught and native to your area?

It's not wild caught and it not native to America, she bought it at an exotic pet store with legal documents but as most first timers with snakes she just said "it's not what i expexted", so its with me now, i own snakes and other exotic pets but i dont have any experience with this species, soooo that's why im asking for some help

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Sth7

It's not wild caught and it not native to America, she bought it at an exotic pet store with legal documents but as most first timers with snakes she just said "it's not what i expexted", so its with me now, i own snakes and other exotic pets but i dont have any experience with this species, soooo that's why im asking for some help

Gotcha. Unfortunately I know nothing about the species so I can't offer any help. Good luck!! Please keep us posted.

[Sth7]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Gotcha. Unfortunately I know nothing about the species so I can't offer any help. Good luck!! Please keep us posted.

Thank you, i will.. So far i got some goldfish and more molly fish, hopefully it will eat soon. Temp is okay and its very active.

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Sth7

Thank you, i will.. So far i got some goldfish and more molly fish, hopefully it will eat soon. Temp is okay and its very active.

Fingers crossed!!

[MnGuy]

Goldfish aren’t safe to feed snakes longterm, so if you do use them do so only to get the snake eating, then train it to take safer fish. Goldfish contain an enzyme called thiaminese that’s unsafe.

Here’s a good article about and a list of safe fish: All About Thiaminase - Gartersnake.info

[ReptiWorldWide]

Hey so i found a bit more information, this time a bit more on the care side... But on the site Wiley online library, it says this, "Aquatic snakes of the family Acrochordidae are unusual in terms of appearance, biology, and natural history. In spite of many attractive and fascinating features, there are few zoological exhibits of acrochordid snakes, and as a result many aspects of their husbandry are poorly understood. The present paper summarizes aspects of acrochordid biology related to health and welfare of captive snakes, with emphasis on the little file snake, Acrochordus granulatus. Several key points emerge having crucial relevance to successful husbandry. (1) File snakes are sensitive to low temperatures and to rapid thermal change. Captive snakes do well when maintained at water temperatures of 27–30°C and will not thrive if water temperatures are below 25°C. (2) File snakes can be kept in either fresh water or seawater. Snakes in sea or brackish water dehydrate, however, and must be allowed to drink fresh water periodically. If snakes from marine populations are maintained in saline water, 60–70% seawater is recommended. In all cases, water should be filtered or changed periodically to maintain quality. (3) File snakes feed almost exclusively on fishes which are usually captured in body coils. Snakes are more inclined to feed well if live prey are offered in shallow water where they are more easily captured. (4) File snakes are nocturnal and prefer quiescent seclusion within darkened refugia during daylight hours. Providing snakes with refugia such as sections of PVC pipe (which simulate burrows) helps reduce stress and improves the chances of snakes feeding regularly. (5) Snakes tend to burrow, and they locomote by crawling as well as by swimming. Use of sharp or rough materials in aquaria should be avoided because of possible skin abrasion which increases permeability and provides sites for bacterial infection. A PH of 5 seems to be best for trunk snakes, but this is often open to debate. A low-level UVB lamp should be used over the tank with a 12-hour-on-12-hour-off photo period." Hope this is helpful!

[Reptolover]

I had a baby banded file snake, but my kid let it out. He didnt get bitten, but my snake was gone for good