Oddball North American snakes? - Page 2

FWK · 06-09-15, 01:08 PM

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 · 06-09-15, 05:11 PM

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 · 06-09-15, 06:11 PM

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

Albert Clark · 06-10-15, 03:11 PM

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

SerpentSteve · 06-10-15, 03:54 PM

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 · 06-10-15, 05:04 PM

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 · 06-10-15, 06:09 PM

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 · 06-10-15, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasha2

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 · 06-10-15, 08:17 PM

QUEEN SNAKE, REGINA SEPTEMVITTATA or Coral snakes.

SerpentSteve · 06-11-15, 03:39 AM

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 · 06-11-15, 10:09 AM

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 · 06-11-15, 07:33 PM

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 · 06-11-15, 09:19 PM

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 · 06-12-15, 01:26 PM

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 · 06-12-15, 01:59 PM

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.