Update!

[antoniojf]

Some of you may remember I came through here around the end of August looking for help on alleged garter snakes that I had rescued from inside the dead mother. Of course, it turned out that these were not garter snakes, but rather blotched water snakes, (Nerodia erythrogaster transversa).

I had three of them and their names were Emperor Augustus, Hemingway, and Robert Zimmerman. Emperor Augustus is somewhere else, but I still have Hemingway and Zimmerman and just wanted to come back and show y'all some pictures of them now. They've grown quite a bit and every now and then they do tend to have a bit of a temper, but overall, they are great snakes and will let you handle them with no trouble.

Note, for those of you who may not remember or were not around, here are the links to the previous threads.
First Post
Second Post


These pictures were taken as I was putting them in their carrier box to clean their enclosure.

Pic 1 - Hemingway takes a good look at the camera

Pic 2 - Hemingway and Zimmerman together, these two made quite a mess on their last feeding, so I had to come in and clean up

Pic 3 - Robert Zimmerman enjoys the view

Pic 4 - Hemingway resting before moving out for a few minutes

Pic 5 - Zimmerman explores the newly cleaned home


They have grown from the 8-10 inches that they used to be to approximately 14-15 inches now. They eat about 6-8 rosy reds each in one sitting about once a week, sometimes more if they are very hungry. They are very active and friendly snakes, though they will bite if they become startled, but that hardly ever happens. The roadtrip between college and home was no trouble for them, they quickly adapted to the new surroundings. Soon I will be upgrading their tank to a bigger one as they keep growing, as well as their pond.

[Stefan-A]

Well done.

[Lulu Bennett]

Well done sweet, they are definatly looking stunning xxx

[infernalis]

Brilliant. Nice job.

However doesn't the thiaminase effect water snakes as well?

[Stefan-A]

However doesn't the thiaminase effect water snakes as well?

It does indeed.

[antoniojf]

True story, and I've been trying to push them off of the rosies on to pinkies and other forms of food without thiaminase, but they seem to only eat fish at times. I know it may not be the same with nerodia as it is with garters, but if anyone has any tips on pushing them towards rosies, I would gladly accept them.

[infernalis]

All I can say, My Nerodia Sipedon "Aqua" pounds scented pinkies, I have to tong feed, but Aqua eats them.

Try putting a thawed pinky in the net with a few live rosies, let the fish flop all over and slime the pinky good.

Aqua loves them that way.

Good luck.

I have been feeding some guppies, but they are so freakin small.

I also net and use minnow traps to collect from the creek.

Aqua can be seen at this link...(his thread)

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gart...ter-snake.html

[guidofatherof5]

Cutup a few roseys and cover the pinkies with the fish scent and parts. Use less and less fish scent and before you know it they should take the pinkies without scenting. You might try feeding in a pinky as they are swallowing the fish. Once they are eating they seem to swallow until the food item is gone. My experience is with Thamnophis Radix and not Water snakes. Hope this helps.

[anji1971]

Wow, those guys are really growing up nicely! Great job with them.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

My scenting solution for the water snakes is this: buy a bag of frozen smelt at the grocery store. Thaw one out at each feeding time and since the smelt are slit up the belly, you can take the pinky and rub it all along the inside of the fish and totally slime it up. My keelbacks... water snakes, and many garter snakes fall for this routine weekly! No-feet the legless lizard has been getting the leftover smelt.

great job rescuing them and they look very wonderful!!! congratulations!