Found a brown snake!

[booyabazooka]

It occurred to me that my terrarium is not currently in a position that gets much light most of the time - Do I need to make sure that this snake gets sunlight?

[guidofatherof5]

It occurred to me that my terrarium is not currently in a position that gets much light most of the time - Do I need to make sure that this snake gets sunlight?

It can't hurt but isn't a great necessity. You must be careful of direct sunlight as it can overheat an enclosed space very quickly.

[infernalis]

Dekayi snakes do not really care much for sunlight, They spend the large part of the day under things and prefer to forage for food in the early AM and dusk hours.

This may be attributed to the fact that snails and slugs also avoid direct sunlight, and that is the primary prey, It's risky that any direct sunlight can elevate temps in the enclosure to lethal levels very quickly.

[Mommy2many]

I concur with Wayne. My Dekayi comes out at night mostly, right around dusk, looking for worms or sluggies.

[booyabazooka]

Maybe snakekeeping is not for me.

I've been offering it red worms, pieces of red worms, pieces of nightcrawler, and a snail. It has taken one red worm piece - that was a week ago.

I figured my nightcrawlers would survive for a little while in the container I got them in - apparently not, because somehow they're all dead (it's been less than a week).

So frustrated.

[infernalis]

Maybe snakekeeping is not for me.

I've been offering it red worms, pieces of red worms, pieces of nightcrawler, and a snail. It has taken one red worm piece - that was a week ago.

I figured my nightcrawlers would survive for a little while in the container I got them in - apparently not, because somehow they're all dead (it's been less than a week).

So frustrated.

Did you put the container in the refrigerator? A cup of night crawlers will keep for a month in the fridge as is, longer with some moisture added from time to time.

Some Dekayi are shy and will only eat when left alone.

Please post a photo of your current set up, I will be more than happy to look it over and see if there is anything that needs to be done.

Don't give up so easily.

[guidofatherof5]

Hang in there.

[ConcinusMan]

Worms and slugs will die rather quickly if not refrigerated at around 48-50 degrees F. Worms will also sometimes die in the average household refrigerator, which is usually too cold. Most slugs I've found can survive weeks at near freezing and won't need to be fed at those temperatures. At room temperature, they'll starve if not constantly fed, and they really need to be kept cool anyway.

Some worms keep better than others. Canadian night crawlers keep rather well in the fridge but I don't usually buy more than I can use within two weeks and I put them in the warmest part of the fridge. That would usually be the door, near the top. Keep damp, not wet.