2007 Field Herping

[Sid]

Here's a couple of small species:
Redbelly Snake- Storeia occipitomaculata


Southern Ringneck- Diadophis punctatus punctatus


Brown Snake- Storiea dekayi

Sid

[adamanteus]

Where was this herping trip Sid? That Diadophis is a pretty snake isn't it? We used to see them in pet stores in the UK but I haven't seen one for years.

[abcat1993]

Do they make good pets? They look great, especially with that bright stomach. I wouldn't mind the redbelly either.

[drache]

they're all pretty
I'd have a hard time deciding, if I had to pick just one

[adamanteus]

Rhea, I have kept all the above species (short term) at one time. Small specimens can be hard to feed but apart from that they're all okay to care for. I've heard other people say they can be problematic, but that may be just the feeding thing.

The Dekay's Snake (Storeria dekayi) was great fun to keep. The adults' needs are similar to those of a Garter. I bred them and had some trouble persuading the babies to feed. In the end they took small light brown slugs from my garden (and my neighbours gardens!) After that they were as easy as any other snake to keep.

[GarterGuy]

Nice finds.....going out this weekend to do some herping, hoping for eastern hognoses.
Roy

[adamanteus]

Looking forward to the pictures from that trip Roy.

[suzoo]

I have also had all 3 of the above snakes! The ring-neck lays eggs, but the other 2 have live birth like our garters. All three take worms and slugs, but I lost some cool spotted newts to a ring-neck, so they obviously eat those too. The brown (Storiea dekayi) looks gravid to me. Mine had 11 tiny babies, and I searched my yard for tiny worms, slug eggs and tiny slugs. I released them at about a month old, Mom too. But they are fun to keep! Very docile, and none of mine offered to bite. (My daughter has been bitten by both the brown and ring-neck, but she is like the little girl off of "Finding Nemo" the monster poking the bag, shaking it "Fishy, why are you sleeping". I keep her away from my snakes now. She's 15.

[adamanteus]

Slug eggs, what a great idea! I've never even thought of that. Did the Storeria dekayi take them?

[Snaky]

Some nice findings. Very beautiful one's.