newly acquired DeKay

[Eileen]

Hi
I have had a juevenile DeKay (brown) snake for about 6 weeks. I think she is female, as her head is almost the same size (diameter) as her body. She has been eating well, and has shed once. I've never burmated a snake before, so am hoping to keep her going through the winter. So far she has only eaten slugs (their main diet) and I have heard that wild slugs can contain nematodes. Should I be concerned? Also, I have frozen some slugs for a winter supply hoping she will take them. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks
Eileen

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family! I'm not familiar with dekay, but there are several knowledge people on this wonderful forum! I would love to see some pictures of your little one.

[guidofatherof5]

Have you tried earthworms or night crawlers yet?
You might try to get your snake switched to them as keeping a Winter supply of slugs might be difficult.
I've never heard of freezing slugs but I guess it could work.
Have you thawed any of them out yet?
You might want to see how the process works as freezing and then thawing worms yields a pile of goo.
Be sure to visit the "Welcome Lounge" and introduce yourself to the forum.
This way we can give you a proper welcome.
Looking forward to seeing some pics. of your little brown.
Welcome Lounge - Garter Snake Forum (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/welcome-lounge/)
Here's is a link to the care sheet also.
Garter Snake Care Sheet - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet)

[RedSidedSPR]

Welcome to the forum!

Those snakes rock. I don't know of any slug problems, but if you want you can get her to eat nightcrawlers and pinkies. Scent them with worms, or chop one of the two up with the slugs in a dish.

[infernalis]

Greetings and welcome...

I have kept Dekayi awake and active all winter on just earthworms.

One bigger girl I had forever would even take pinkies.

[Eileen]

Hi
I'm new at forums, so I hope I'm doing this right! Thanks for all the great tips, I did go to the welcome forum. I have thawed a slug out today that I froze yesterday and it seems to hold it's shape okay. That could change the longer they are froze. I won't be able to test it out yet, as Bev has shed recently and doesn't seem as hungry this week. She doesn't seem interested in worms, slugs seem to be her favourite. The man at our local pet store gave me some very small feeder fish, size was okay, but Bev had no interest. Thats when I came up with the crazy idea to freeze slugs. Time will tell. I going to try to post some pictures. I have added a small heating pad to the bottom corner of her house, as well as a branch that she loves to climb. I have fluffy critter substrate that she seems to like to burrow in. I may try fine aspen shavings in the future.

[katach]

She is very pretty! Does she have a hide? I didn't see one in the pictures.

[Eileen]

Hi
yes, I found a nice piece of bark that I have added. I also have bought her a new water dish that looks like a rock. I am actually quite impressed by her curiosity, as she spends alot of time exploring and peeking out of her substrate. I will take a new picture when I get home today, as those were taken when I first got her.

[Mommy2many]

Hi Eileen! I also have a Dekayi and create a slug colony for the winter. You can PM me for instructions. The "Frozen Slug" idea, I am sorry to say, will produce slug mush. If they are in the fridge, they should be ok but they need dirt and leaves, as well as lettuce (they love lettuce). You also need to open the container every day or so for fresh air. I had just collected a bunch of them last week and neglected to put soil into the container. I had leaves and spinach and lettuce. I pulled them out on Friday to discover that they all perished. Eeewwwy goooeeeyy:eek: I had to go and collect some more today and try again. I think they need the dirt to move into when they get cold. The leaves were not enough to protect them.

Good luck with the little guy/girl!

[Eileen]

Thanks Le Ann for the great tips for slugs. I have started a colony already, but just want to make sure I have a backup plan. I have a mid size cooler with a mesh lid on it . I filled it part full of a sand/loam mix. They seem to be doing okay, but I'm not sure if they are multiplying. I have been feeding them lettuce, you're right, they love it. I also lightly mist them daily to keep them damp. My biggest problem is that the side of the container gets quite dirty from their waste, but I don't want to totally clean it out in case I disturb eggs they made have produced in the dirt. I may have slugs all winter, I tend to over worry. I have attached a new picture to show the bark I put in for Bev to hide under. She seems to like it a lot.:D

[d_virginiana]

Welcome to the forum :)

Nice looking snake. Dekay's are so cute. Good luck with the slug colony! Never tried slugs before, but breeding your own feeders can be SUCH a money saver.

[guidofatherof5]

Welcome to the forum :)

Nice looking snake. Dekay's are so cute. Good luck with the slug colony! Never tried slugs before, but breeding your own feeders can be SUCH a money saver.

You are so right. The price of slugs at Walmart is killing me.:D

I know what you meant but just had to be a smart alec.:D

[Mommy2many]

:D

[Eileen]

I didn't know they sold slugs at walmart. They probably don't here in Ontario, as I can't even get them at our pet stores. Being on a farm makes it easy during the summer, but I'm not sure how successful my colony is going to be during the winter. Time will tell!
Eileen

[kibakiba]

Steve was joking. They sell night crawlers at walmart. I don't know why anyone would want to buy garden munchers :p

[RedSidedSPR]

We of the forum are a humorous folk.:p

[Eileen]

Thanks for setting me straight. Sometimes I take things too seriously! Getting any new snake on a feeding schedule can be stressful. I feel like a new mom!

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for setting me straight. Sometimes I take things too seriously! Getting any new snake on a feeding schedule can be stressful. I feel like a new mom!

You are going to fit in just fine here.:D

[kibakiba]

Definitely. My real dad thinks I'm weird for even liking snakes, but apparently it's an addiction I've had since I was 2. :D

[snakehill]

Steve was joking. They sell night crawlers at walmart. I don't know why anyone would want to buy garden munchers :p They don't even sell nightcrawlers at my Walmart!:mad: I pay $2.75 at my local bait/feed store. Is this alot?:confused:

[kibakiba]

I pay 3-4 dollars for I think 16 might crawlers. They don't last long at all, one little cup of them only lasts 1.5 feedings.

[RedSidedSPR]

I pay $2.75 at Walmart for 20 nightcrawlers.

snakehill, its in the Sporting goods department sold as fish bait. But some don't have it.

[kibakiba]

Our walmart takes away the bait fridge when fall rolls around.
Only other place to get it is Fred Meyers for us.

[RedSidedSPR]

Eek! I hope they don't here.. I have nowhere else!!!

Seriously gotta get me some pinkies. Damn things are too freaking expensive for me right now!

[snakehill]

I pay $2.75 at Walmart for 20 nightcrawlers.

snakehill, its in the Sporting goods department sold as fish bait. But some don't have it. Mine doesn't unless I go to the one in Connecticutt! I pay $2.75 for a dozen!:mad:

[RedSidedSPR]

That's not that bad...:rolleyes: I pay the same price! Just... for 12 more.:p

[Kantar]

This picture almost makes her look like a northern redbelly with the 2 stripes

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/attachments/garter-snake-lounge/2550d1316975721-newly-acquired-dekay-img_20110903_114017.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah... I still think it looks like a dekay.

Does the snake have a red belly?

[Kantar]

the head doesn't look right to be a northern redbelly

but the 2 stripes match

http://www.acapcb.ns.ca/baille_ard_trail/northern_red_belly_snake.html

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah it doesn't look red belly-ish....

[Eileen]

Bev is definitely a DeKay. She/he has a cream coloured belly. Bev's head has brown spots like other Dekays that I have seen images of online. We are really busy with harvest right now, but will take more pictures later this fall.

[infernalis]

Bev is definitely a DeKay. She/he has a cream coloured belly. Bev's head has brown spots like other Dekays that I have seen images of online. We are really busy with harvest right now, but will take more pictures later this fall.


Like this?

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/DKcup.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/snakies/xena.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/DKdot.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Awesome little Brown.

[Kantar]

I pay 6 bucks for 2 dozen. Lasts me about a month

I'd have to travel about 45 minutes to get nightcrawlers throughout the winter

[Eileen]

Those are great pics! Really nice looking snake. Is he/she eating a worm or a slug? She must be really tame to eat while holding her. Bev is still easily stressed when handled and is still very small. It is hard to get pictures, but here are a couple of new ones.

[guidofatherof5]

Hand feeding can really calm them down.
Even offering a slug at the end of a stick will help.
Once Bev fiqures out you bring food she'll warm up.

[Eileen]

Thanks Steve ... That's good advice. They have plastic feeding tongs at the pet store so I will start with that.
Eileen

[RedSidedSPR]

Is that a dekay or a red belly?!

Doesn't look like a dekay.. The head pattern says red belly.


And yes, hand feeding is a great way!

[Eileen]

Bev has a very light coloured belly with no hint of red, so I do think she is a Dekay. She is still small, so her pattern is hard to distinguish.

[RedSidedSPR]

Well what do I know.

[Mommy2many]

Connor snake has been out and about more lately. Maybe he/she has gotten more accostumed to us after 2 years :)
After being able to observe this snake while it likes to "sunbathe" recently, I have come to the conclusion that Connor snake is a "she".
She lives with my male easterns, who are around the same size. No one seems to mind, so we'll keep the status quo.
:)

[infernalis]

I have kept garters and dekayi together forever..