Without seeing a picture of it, and knowing whereabouts you are, it’s difficult to say, but it could be a ribbon snake. These are found in North America, and are slender, fast snakes that can grow to about 3ft.
For people who want to keep snakes as a pet, they are a good choice for beginners, if they are looked after properly. Even though they are fast, they will calm down if they are handled well.
They can be housed in virtually any kind of tank, but it has to be totally and absolutely escape proof. A tank that is two feet by one foot by one foot is big enough for a trio of adults, although the bigger the better so they can have more room to move.
You should provide greenery to explore, and to hide in. They enjoy climbing over and through things, so make it as interesting as you can. The base of the tank should have large wood or bark chippings.
The temperature needs to be on a gradient from a warm 25 to 30 degrees C (77 to 86 degrees F) to a cooler 15 to 20 degrees C (59 to 68 degrees F). This can be achieved by having a heat mat in one half of the tank, leaving the other side clear. You should also provide a light bulb at the warm end so your snakes can bask and enjoy the light.
Ribbon snakes like to swim, so you should provide a large bowl of water for them. If the bowl is hidden, they are more likely to use it. Be careful that the water doesn’t spill, and the rest of the tank is kept dry otherwise your snakes may become sore and develop blisters.
Ribbon snakes will eat virtually anything: Pinkies, lance fish, whitebait, earthworms and even tinned cat and dog food. If you are giving previously frozen food you will need to supplement their diet with extra vitamins and calcium, otherwise your snakes could die.
For people who want to keep snakes as a pet, they are a good choice for beginners, if they are looked after properly. Even though they are fast, they will calm down if they are handled well.
They can be housed in virtually any kind of tank, but it has to be totally and absolutely escape proof. A tank that is two feet by one foot by one foot is big enough for a trio of adults, although the bigger the better so they can have more room to move.
You should provide greenery to explore, and to hide in. They enjoy climbing over and through things, so make it as interesting as you can. The base of the tank should have large wood or bark chippings.
The temperature needs to be on a gradient from a warm 25 to 30 degrees C (77 to 86 degrees F) to a cooler 15 to 20 degrees C (59 to 68 degrees F). This can be achieved by having a heat mat in one half of the tank, leaving the other side clear. You should also provide a light bulb at the warm end so your snakes can bask and enjoy the light.
Ribbon snakes like to swim, so you should provide a large bowl of water for them. If the bowl is hidden, they are more likely to use it. Be careful that the water doesn’t spill, and the rest of the tank is kept dry otherwise your snakes may become sore and develop blisters.
Ribbon snakes will eat virtually anything: Pinkies, lance fish, whitebait, earthworms and even tinned cat and dog food. If you are giving previously frozen food you will need to supplement their diet with extra vitamins and calcium, otherwise your snakes could die.
