A-luring Tails

Posted by Phil on July 19, 2003

Q: I found a baby ring neck snake (4-5" long and maybe 1/8" or less thick) near my wood pile in Northern NJ. I would like to keep him as a pet. Can you recommend housing and feeding/drinking requirements, or are these snakes better off being let go? I have been keeping him in a jar with garden dirt and sticks that have tiny insects in them for now and I have had him for about two weeks.

Thanks for your time.

A: Snakes are better-off in the wild where they can find the proper food, but also because keeping snakes in winter is very difficult. They hibernate in the wild, taking their cues from the shorter days and cold weather. Indoors, their natural cues get muddled which often causes them to stop eating altogether. Most importantly, Ring-necked Snaked primarily eat salamanders. Salamanders will be very difficult to find in the summer, and impossible to find in the winter. Enjoy your experience with keeping your snake, but set it free as soon as you can.

Jim Berry ( July 23, 2003)