Finally got one!

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

is it just me, or is that a gianormous dekayi?!

No she was pretty big. I'd say she's about as long as I remember snakes getting.Though I never knew they were brown snakes. I always thought they were some kind of garter. But then this is the sort of expert analysis that I joined this forum for.

I suppose its not that surprising, my yard is full of snails, slugs, worms, grubs, and plenty of places for snakes to hide. If anything the surprise was how long it took me to find one. As I suspected it happened when I wasn't looking.

As for food, it took me about 3 minutes to find some nice juicy snails for her. I hope she likes them.

Though I did see a ribbon snake once, near the old train tracks, that was the largest snake I've ever seen in the wild. Though those are quite rare where I live. I'm told they used to be more common, my father told me that at one time we had frogs as well as snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

No matter what snake, it will always have predators, and will always seek cover. Therefore they will always be where cover is.

Your cage is ok. Bedding can't be the only hide. She's doing that partly cause that's all she's got. I'd put a hide on both sides of the cage.

Don't make it too hot, even on the hot side. Dekayis like it cool.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

No matter what snake, it will always have predators, and will always seek cover. Therefore they will always be where cover is.

Your cage is ok. Bedding can't be the only hide. She's doing that partly cause that's all she's got. I'd put a hide on both sides of the cage.

Don't make it too hot, even on the hot side. Dekayis like it cool.

So the hollow rock and the leaves aren't enough? I'll see about getting a fake log or something in that case. I could always toss in a paper towel roll in the meantime.

Also the room is air conditioned. but I'll turn the pad off before I go to bed. Perhaps it would be best to only have it on a few hours at a time.

[guidofatherof5]

If they are tiny earthworms you can leave them whole. They would take them whole in the wild.
Don't leave out slugs on your food hunt.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

If they are tiny earthworms you can leave them whole. They would take them whole in the wild.
Don't leave out slugs on your food hunt.

I'll make sure to grab them if I see them, also there are a lot of snails in my backyard. I read somewhere that brown snakes have a special jaw that allows them to get the meat out of their shells, it might be worth trying if I can't find any slugs... though since it just rained I should be able to find them.

[guidofatherof5]

Dekayis' are a cool temp operating snake. Unless the room gets very cold you probably don't ever need a heat pad.
Wayne(infernalis) is our resident dekayi expert, hope he'll see this thread and respond.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

Ok I'll toss it then. I suppose that makes sense, it never gets very hot up here...

Perhaps it will be more useful in the winter... though we have electric heating...

[infernalis]

HI!. I'm strapped for time at the moment.. I have been keeping Dekayi for years, as well as read all the information I could absorb and studied them on my property.

Dekayi are always first out in the spring and last out in the autumn. They hunt for food primarily in the early PM when the sun has dropped below the horizon, they spend all day in shady damp areas to stay cool.

Even if you keep your home at 60 degrees (F) all winter long, your snake will be perfectly comfortable. Heat is the enemy.

For a lamp, I use fluorescent spiral bulbs, they are cool operating and won't warm up the cage.

Your snake looks female and pregnant as well.

Raising babies is a challenge, believe me, they are super tiny and most neonates will only take slugs, little tiny slugs and maybe if you are lucky newborn night crawlers, and I can honestly say hatchling night crawlers are difficult to find.

[GaiusIuliusTabernarius]

HI!. I'm strapped for time at the moment.. I have been keeping Dekayi for years, as well as read all the information I could absorb and studied them on my property.

Dekayi are always first out in the spring and last out in the autumn. They hunt for food primarily in the early PM when the sun has dropped below the horizon, they spend all day in shady damp areas to stay cool.

Even if you keep your home at 60 degrees (F) all winter long, your snake will be perfectly comfortable. Heat is the enemy.

For a lamp, I use fluorescent spiral bulbs, they are cool operating and won't warm up the cage.

Your snake looks female and pregnant as well.

Raising babies is a challenge, believe me, they are super tiny and most neonates will only take slugs, little tiny slugs and maybe if you are lucky newborn night crawlers, and I can honestly say hatchling night crawlers are difficult to find.

Thanks for the advice... finding tiny slugs may be a challenge... I know from experience that my garden is full of snails and slugs, the snails have greenish shells with a spiral, and the slugs are I think Limax maximus. I've seen brown snakes regirgitate those when stressed so I know they eat them, whether or not they should is another story. Since they tend to be huge It might be a challenge to get the babies to eat them. Thankfully I should have a few weeks to figure it out.

Do you suppose they'd eat clams? I have a Quahogging license and I usually end up with so many that I have to freeze them for chowder, they are mollusks and are probably comparable in nutritional content.

[katach]

Boy you guys weren't kidding about the babies being small! Wow!