Hi everyone!! 4 days ago, I brought home a Thamnophis Radix, found in the basement of a bar where it could not stay, on a cold winter night. It was fairly inactive and it spent the first night in a small plastic takeout tub. I cleaned out my old 29 gallon fish tank and prepared a home according to a few sites online. I believe after a few mistakes, I have created a secure, ventilated tank appropriate temp range, hides etc... The snake is about 22 inches long and has no visible injury or sickness rash etc, it might be a little skinny, but it is quite a beautiful little creature. Also, the DNR website says its not restricted, so while I plan to release it in the spring, I'm not legally restricted from keeping it. My goal is to make it as comfortable as possible.

Yesterday (day 3) I gave the snake a bath in 1/2 pedialyte 1/2 water. By 20 minutes in, it seemed to perk up and swim a bit more, it was becoming more and more active and i decided to return it to its cage by about 25 minutes of soaking. As I carried it, it was less limp, seemed to flex its muscles and move a bit more. It has been slightly more active in the tank, as well. It's holding its head higher, flicking its tongue more.

I suspect that it hadn't touched its water bowl prior to the bath, I have since gotten a better dish (a glass pie pan) and seen it checking out the water since.

It hasn't shown interest in the nightcrawler I offered before or after its bath.

It has pooped 3x, the first 2 were very dilute poop stains, much less dense than bird poop, like a light brown watercolor, but the last one looked like cream sauce with a grain of rice. It hasn't acted aggressive/defensive or made a smell, but I haven't reached in the tank it since its bath, and it may have been too weak to flee or to spray it's stink.

It is still pretty inactive, but it seems to use its hides more, and move a little more quickly. I don't see it moving often, but it always seems to be in a different place in the tank when I check it out.

Im going to hydrate it again and try to feed it later. I know it's only had a few days to acclimate, but if there's any advice on how to get it eating, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks!
The Newb