Northern Redbelly.... Any husbandry tips?

[Selkielass]

My neighbor just gave me a teeny tiny northern Redbelly snake.
its small neck injury has been dabbed with antibiotic, and I've set it up in a small acrylic tank w a very secure lid.
Chopped night crawlers are on offer, and I'm keeping the tank cool-USB (as for butlers and dekayi brown snakes.)

anyone have experience w these little cuties? The scarlet belly and dorsal stripe are adorable on this cutie. (Like a red stripe northwestern from above, pure red from below.


i'd love tips on keeping this guy happy while he heals

[guidofatherof5]

HerpNet.net - Iowa Reptiles and Amphibians - Redbelly Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata (http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=26)

[Selkielass]

Thanks Steve,

We have Northern and Kirtlands Redbelly snakes here in Mich.
The northerner aren't protected, Kirtlands are endangered, but not found in this area/unless my neighbor found one WAY out of range, I'm covered w my fishing and small game license.

crazy cute little thing maybe 5-6 inches long w a TINY head. I'm just letting him calm down and heal.

[guidofatherof5]

Keep us posted and supplied with photos.

[Selkielass]

I. Will try- it will be a good test of the camera on this iPhone 4. He is solo tiny it will be like photographing a scrub. (I think he is tinier than either my checkered or puget were when I got them.)

[Selkielass]

Update!

lil' red seems to be doing well. I've moved her into a 12in cube terrarium with paper towel substrate, 4x4 under cage heat in one corner, water and several dry and damp areas to hide.

Much to my surprise, she's been spending much of her days in the crevace between the warming rock and the glass- an area that ranges between 80 and 90 degrees during lights on time. I expected her to favor cooler areas of the habitat, but so far I see her in the warmest area most if the day


shes pretty shy and stays hidden in her crevace or under a hide most of the time, but I caught her out and exploring the other hides before dawn this morning. I suspect they are more nocturnal than garters. (This makes sense as they are reported to eat snails, slugs, worms and soft bodied insect larvae.). She's begun to eat small garden worms ravenously, so I have high hopes for her recovery.

[guidofatherof5]

Great update......................photos?

[aquamentus_11]

yes we demand them

[Selkielass]

Here we go- weather and snake halfway cooperative.first, for scale reference
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image7.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12102&title=northern-red-bellied-snake&cat=835)


http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image10.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12105&title=northern-red-bellied-snake&cat=835)


http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image8.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12103&title=northern-red-bellied-snake&cat=835)

[Selkielass]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image9.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12104&title=northern-red-bellied-snake&cat=835)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image5.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12100&title=northern-red-bellied-snakemi&cat=835)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//835/medium/image11.jpg (http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=12106&title=northern-red-bellied-snake-preferred-prey&cat=835)

i. Think these snails are their favorite, but small worms seem to be fine also.
this lil guy has a head the size of a kitchen match- soooo tiny!

he is a fraction the size of my butlers the way a butlers garter is a fraction the size of a full grown eastern

[doomkitty]

What a pretty baby! Good luck with it. I love all the different colors Garter snakes come in.

[guidofatherof5]

What a pretty baby! Good luck with it. I love all the different colors Garter snakes come in.

This isn't a garter but close in behavior and care . They are welcomed on this forum.
Redbelly's are genus Storeria and garters are genus Thamnophis.

[Stefan-A]

This isn't a garter but close in behavior and care . They are welcomed on this forum.
Redbelly's are genus Storeria and garters are genus Thamnophis.

They're welcome, as long as they're not in the area set aside exclusively for garters.

[guidofatherof5]

They're welcome, as long as they're not in the area set aside exclusively for garters.

Thank you for the clarification Stefan.

[ConcinusMan]

I heard that these are difficult to keep. Not nearly as easy as dekayi. Shame though. They come it lots of neat colors.