Thanks again for all of the help! I already told my husband... we should set it up like he is going to make it to show some faith in him. And if he doesn't.. we will just have to get another one. I think I am hooked!

Silv is doing well enough this morning. We got his cage set up last night; I would love any input/advice on the cage. It is a tad basic right now but I think I got all the basics covered (let me know):



We went with a 15 gallon - the 10 seemed too small for when he gets bigger and the 20 was too large for where we are eventually going to put him. The lighting we got is a 50 watt "Night Glo" moonlight for night and a 60 watt "Sun Glo" sunlight for the day. Are these appropriate lights for him? Also, do the lights stay on 24 hours, and if so is it 12 and 12 for day and night? We got him a big old pond so he should be able to fully soak in it for some time, a hideaway, and then the plant and the log for basking. The substrate is reptile bark (I believe that is what they called it). How does that look for a setup?

Last night we got a box of nightcrawlers (ew ew ew, I have to say the live food is why I never got a snake before, and these were just gross... but I did it for Silv!) and a couple of ruby red minnows to stick in his water. So far the minnows have not been touched, but I am fairly sure he ate the nightcrawler... at least I can not find the darn thing, and I dug around in the substrate looking for it. So it must be gone!

He is still fairly listless in his cage, although he has moved around a bit and there was an awful lot of tongue flicking. His vet appt is in an hour so we will see what they have to say - I will let you know!



Also any ideas on what species this guy is? Or girl, haha, I have no idea. If it is a girl her name is Silvia. He was found in northeast Kansas. I think he is really gorgeous... but I might be biased.