nathanielrthomas
Well-known member
So last month I got a call saying there was a copperhead in the clinic here in Millington. As a Preventive Medicine Technician, pest contol sometimes falls in my line of work in the navy. Anyway, I responded to the call and found this snake in a cardboard box. He was about 12" long and I knew right away what it was being I see them all the time on the water. Im pretty sure Ive identified it as a Midland Water Snake. Ive always just called them a water snake tho, never knew there were so many kinds.
Anyway, the day I found him/her it was a very cold out. With lows around 15 degrees, I knew the little guy would freeze if I turned him loose. So I took it upon myself to care for this snake until spring. Having never owned a snake, I googled it and apparently i learned enough to keep him alive. As a youngster these snakes live on a diet of worms, tadpoles, and minnows. Well the worms didnt work out, but as it turns out, he has a taste for goldfish and minnows. Im not really sure how much to feed him though.
I have him in a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen top and a reptile light($12 for the bulb-wtf?), and a pond for snakes and turtles that he now hunts goldfish in, and I made a makeshift cave out of an old piece of cement block in my yard. A couple of sticks and leaves later and the guy seems pretty happy. Oh yeah and I made the base of his home with a mixture of potting soil and sand.
Been feeding him about 3-5 minnows/goldfish a week. Hes about 15" long now i think. Im no Herpatologist or whatever you call them snake dudes, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hes been with me for a month now, and it seems to be going well. I know hes growing a little bit.
The pics are in reverse order, sorry. I tried to get a pic of him eating goldfish but it dint turn out so well. He only eats when its dark, so to get a picture of him eating, I gotta turn the lights on, which make him spit out his meal. So I just leave him alone.
Anyway, the day I found him/her it was a very cold out. With lows around 15 degrees, I knew the little guy would freeze if I turned him loose. So I took it upon myself to care for this snake until spring. Having never owned a snake, I googled it and apparently i learned enough to keep him alive. As a youngster these snakes live on a diet of worms, tadpoles, and minnows. Well the worms didnt work out, but as it turns out, he has a taste for goldfish and minnows. Im not really sure how much to feed him though.
I have him in a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen top and a reptile light($12 for the bulb-wtf?), and a pond for snakes and turtles that he now hunts goldfish in, and I made a makeshift cave out of an old piece of cement block in my yard. A couple of sticks and leaves later and the guy seems pretty happy. Oh yeah and I made the base of his home with a mixture of potting soil and sand.
Been feeding him about 3-5 minnows/goldfish a week. Hes about 15" long now i think. Im no Herpatologist or whatever you call them snake dudes, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hes been with me for a month now, and it seems to be going well. I know hes growing a little bit.
The pics are in reverse order, sorry. I tried to get a pic of him eating goldfish but it dint turn out so well. He only eats when its dark, so to get a picture of him eating, I gotta turn the lights on, which make him spit out his meal. So I just leave him alone.