No garters...

[Kali]

Thanks he sure is nice.
I'm just hoping I'll be allowed to keep him, but I'm starting to doubt it.
More restrictions here on keeping european snakes than in neighbouring countries unfortunately.
But we'll see, I'll find out.

[gregmonsta]

Greetings

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Kali

[DIRK]

It looks more like Natrix tessellata to me. I'm certain that it is one.

Unfortunately I don't have the appropriate literature with me at the moment, but you should have at least two Natrix species in Belgium. It's difficult to find reliable distribution maps for European snakes.

Yes, that isn´t Natrix natrix, this is natrix tesselata

[Kali]

Thanks very much everybody.
At least now I know what I'm dealing with.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Natrix teselatta! I haVe two of them!

[Stefan-A]

According to Reptiles and Amphibians of Europe, there should be a small satellite population in western Germany, not far from the Belgian border, but like I said, it's difficult to find reliable distribution maps. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that your snake is a stowaway from a region where they occur naturally. It could also be an escaped pet, but that's the least likely option in my opinion.

[Kali]

You mean stowaway like crawled in somebodys trunk or something?
Where I found the poor critter, was in Antwerp, houses all around, no water area's in sight... yet he is not thin or anything. Thats why I thought he must have escaped a viv somewhere...

[Stefan-A]

You mean stowaway like crawled in somebodys trunk or something?

Or crawled into a cargo pallet or a container, yes. There's no telling when it had arrived and it wouldn't look skinny for a long time even without food. If this snake was found in Antwerp, it has probably had a bit of help getting there. It may well be somebody's pet, but I still find that a bit less likely, than it being a stowaway.

[Kali]

Ok thanks