No doubt about it,
Natrix natrix is a beautiful snake. I was able to capture a pair of
N. n. helvetica about 7 or 8 years ago. I found they were quite tricky to get feeding at first, I had to start them off on frogs, but once they started there was no stopping them.
I was rather disappointed that they never feigned death (which they're famous for). I was hoping to photograph that. They bred for two consecutive years, then I released them where I'd found them. I released all the babies immediately after hatching too. I'm going to collect a pair again this year. So watch this space!!
