New baby ribbon - Page 2

Tiny Boidae · 05-02-16, 06:01 PM

I found two ads on Kingsnake.com for ribbon snakes, although you'd probably get dozens of results by doing a google search. They're not extremely common, but they're not impossible to find either. There's a lot of hot topics in the hobby I'm more impartial to, but I'm against taking wildlife from nature when there's some to be found in captivity. Ribbon snakes don't make good pets anyways.

I'd recommend releasing that poor guy and purchasing a captive one, but researching ribbon snakes more thoroughly. They're not impossible to keep for a beginner, but their diets are much more specialized around fish than a garter snake, and typically they'll turn their noses up at earthworms. Some people have had luck getting them to eat scented pinkies, but from what I've read it's the exception rather than the rule.

Also do note that there are different kinds of ribbon snakes, and each are known to be polar opposites behavior wise. Most commonly are the Western Ribbon Snake, which is extremely timid and defensive, while the Eastern Ribbon Snake is known to be a little more laid back. Google both to try and determine what you have, as that will be the best bet for you.

More over, I didn't read anything about a heating element. These snakes don't need it super hot, but a little warmer than the average home if they're to thrive.

What you can mainly take away from this post is two points: do your own research, thoroughly, and then consider releasing this guy back into the wild in favor of a captive individual.

FWK · 05-02-16, 10:55 PM

Hello Doug, that's a good looking little critter you have there. While I completely agree with the others that releasing this animal and buying a captive bred specimen would be in the best interest of all involved, if you are willing and capable of taking on the challenges that come along with keeping a field collected snake by all means go for it. Legality has been mentioned, and the possibility of this being a protected species was brought up as well. You said you believe it to be a Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus). Redstripe Ribbon Snakes are endemic to Texas and on the white list under Western Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis proximus. They are legal to collect from private property with a valid hunting license. If you are not in Texas, let us know your location so we can properly ID the snake and check into your local laws.

I have a field collected Western Ribbon Snake (Gulf Coast Ribbon specifically, T. p. orarius) and if your critter is anything like mine, you're in for a ride just to get it to eat. If you're not willing to go to extremes to get it eating, do yourself (and the snake) a favor and just let it go. Some field collected snakes adapt to captivity easily (most Rat and King Snakes, for example), but Ribbons can be a challenge.

macandchz · 05-03-16, 08:09 AM

just a thought.. this little guy had a pond, the right things to eat that he survived thus far, maybe he should be returned to where he was living and doug go to a petco and pick up a snake that really could use some TLC.

**Andy_G** · 05-04-16, 07:31 AM

Really liking where this went. I was really much more geared toward understanding why this happens so very often there, and if it were all situations like this, it sure would be nice.

Doug 351 · 05-06-16, 09:07 PM

BTW: This is the baby Texas ratsnake.....I just love these little guys! I wish they would keep this coloration and markings their whole lives!

Doug 351 · 05-06-16, 09:28 PM

And here's Oscar....she just ate 3 mice and a baby chicken....but APPARENTLY, she's still hungry! Ratsnakes are chowhounds!

Oh yeah, that old tennis shoe is her favorite hide!

Albert Clark · 05-07-16, 01:58 AM

Nice. Good job.

Doug 351 · 05-09-16, 12:00 AM

Well ....took the little ribbon out for a few minutes. I'm now pretty sure it is a Western Ribbon

Much easier to handle and tamed down now....Still wants to musk a little...but no biting and settles down pretty quickly, and becomes a little sweetheart.

Seems very well acclimated now....so...I'm going to try feeding tomorrow.

BTW: My silly red-eared slider turtle cracked me up this morning! He's gotten big enough he can just stand up on his back legs, stretch his neck...and grab a dried shrimp..so...I thought I'd see if he could grab one through the hardware cloth top...(he used to have to kinda snatch them out of my fingers while swimming...(something I had him doing a week after I caught him...)..he was stretching up to get his treat....and fell over BACKWARDS! ...Anyway...everybody's fine here....

Doug 351 · 05-13-16, 04:08 PM

Just a quick update..gave the little booger a bowl of tadpoles and small mosquito fish. The larger mosquito fish are missing....it's a shallow bowl and they may have jumped out....One things for sure...the tadpoles can't...so...we'll see.

Albert Clark · 06-07-16, 07:20 AM

Thanks... Nice update.

Doug 351 · 06-07-16, 03:11 PM

Well..another update on Remington...the little ribbon..

I caught some more small mosquito fish last night...went to take the lid off his Critter Keeper and pushed the mason jar lid I had glued on to seal the water bottle hole off..(used to have mice in there at one time.)

Anyway, I just put it on top and stretched some electrical tape across it. Well, this morning, one side of the electrical tape had pulled loose and pulled the lid out of the way. Naturally, I immediately thought: "Oh well..he's history! " Nope...he's still there..(but all the mosquito fish are gone). Right now, he's got his chin on the edge of his water bowl, looking at me. Wonder what he wants?

BTW: Vin Diesel, my red eared slider got a treat last night...I was eating shrimp cocktail I made...so I gave him some pieces of shrimp to pluck from my fingers. I also gave him some dried shrimp...(his usual favorite treat.) Well, he dropped the dried shrimp...(not an unusual occurrence, because he's really squeamish about maybe accidentally nipping my fingers and the shrimp are small....so he doesn't bite down very hard...) but he'll go back and pick them up off the bottom of the aquarium and eat them. This morning...they were still there...and he didn't show much enthusiasm for his turtle food! Oh...how quickly they get spoiled! I guess he thinks he thinks he's gonna get those cooked shrimp all the time now.

Ummmm.....no!