Brown Snake Question

Hey Gang...I ran across a very small Brown Snake while out walking the other day. It was warm the day prior and think he got caught out in the cold when I found him he was nearly dead. I brought him in and set him up in a small tub with some water. He has since perked up and I would like to feed him a few times before releasing him back outside (and after the temps get a little warmer - was 35 last night)

My question is what should I feed him?
Research just says insects...but which ones?
He is barely as thick as a #2 pencil so it needs to be small.

Thanks for any advice.

Hard to say since we don't know what it is.. try the small red wiggler earthworms, or some small crickets.. if he's not interested in those, try feeder guppies.

Funny you should ask because I happen know these things since a kid in the neighborhood also had a Brown snake. Feed it earthworms and slugs (occasionally put on repto-cal on the worms). Brown snakes sneak up slowly to their prey, and then they attack, so crickets won't work because they're far too fast for an ambush-type snake.
One time we tried to feed it a small pill-bug. The Brown snake got into position and kept on striking, but it kept on missing because the pill-bug was moving around too much for it to get a clear shot. Surely a cricket is far too fast if that Brown snake couldn't even take down a slow but always moving pill-bug.

P.S. Is it a Midland or a Northern? I don't think there is the slightest difference in care (they're pretty much the same species besides for their different dorsal patterning) but I just want to know.

I can't believe it! They said insects?! Brown snakes don't eat crunchy things in the wild. They only eat soft-bodied invertebrates (and the occasional salamander)! Who ever wrote those sources probably never had experience with Brown snakes, so what do they know about them?!

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Hard to say since we don't know what it is.. try the small red wiggler earthworms, or some small crickets.. if he's not interested in those, try feeder guppies.

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LOL..."Brown Snake" isn't a descriptor it is what they are called. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storeria

Thanks for the suggestions though

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Originally Posted by Onua Nuva

Funny you should ask because I happen know these things since a kid in the neighborhood also had a Brown snake. Feed it earthworms and slugs (occasionally put on repto-cal on the worms). Brown snakes sneak up slowly to their prey, and then they attack, so crickets won't work because they're far too fast for an ambush-type snake.
One time we tried to feed it a small pill-bug. The Brown snake got into position and kept on striking, but it kept on missing because the pill-bug was moving around too much for it to get a clear shot. Surely a cricket is far too fast if that Brown snake couldn't even take down a slow but always moving pill-bug.

P.S. Is it a Midland or a Northern? I don't think there is the slightest difference in care (they're pretty much the same species besides for their different dorsal patterning) but I just want to know.

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Thanks so much for the info...I will pick up some worms today for him...glad I asked too as I was going to try crickets...lol

As for Midland vs. Northern...how do you tell? (I will try and get a picture today if that helps.)

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

LOL..."Brown Snake" isn't a descriptor it is what they are called. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storeria

Thanks for the suggestions though

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Yeah I just realised that. :P

northern browns are especially fond of snails... they actually have specialized teeth and jaws to extract the soft tissue from the shell. they also eat slugs and probably earthworms.

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Originally Posted by kzooherpetoculturist

northern browns are especially fond of snails... they actually have specialized teeth and jaws to extract the soft tissue from the shell. they also eat slugs and probably earthworms.

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Really? I thought both sub-species ate the same things (including snails). So you're telling me that only the Northerns have the specialized teeth? BTW, if anyone else wants to know, the teeth of a Northern Brown snake (I don't know about Midlands yet) are larger on one side and smaller on the other side so they can grip the round shell of a snail to force the flesh out of the shell and into the NBS's gaping jaws.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Thanks so much for the info...I will pick up some worms today for him...glad I asked too as I was going to try crickets...lol

As for Midland vs. Northern...how do you tell? (I will try and get a picture today if that helps.)

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A Midland has a black "ladder" pattern going down the (signature Brown Snake) dorsal stripe. A Northern lacks the "ladder" and instead has a clean, tan-ish dorsal stripe.

Interestingly, both sub-species can inter-breed without a problem and actually do so frequently in the wild, producing offspring of a 3rd species with traits from both parents (probably baby snakes with both "ladder" patterns and specialized teeth).

P.S. I would love to see pics so I can identify it and also to see if it's as nice looking as that kid's one :D.

ryan, i'm not saying there IS a different, but i'm only familiar with northern browns - so that's all i can really comment on.

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Originally Posted by kzooherpetoculturist

ryan, i'm not saying there IS a different, but i'm only familiar with northern browns - so that's all i can really comment on.

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I just knew they were same, I knew it!

Hey everyone...quick update. All the great feedback and info helped. He ate 2 wax worms today. :gj:

He has a ladder pattern on his back but I will get pics up shortly.

Thanks again for all the info it really helped.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Hey everyone...quick update. All the great feedback and info helped. He ate 2 wax worms today. :gj:

He has a ladder pattern on his back but I will get pics up shortly.

Thanks again for all the info it really helped.

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Well that's certainly "juicy" news :D. I meant earthworms but wax worms would probably work just as well anyway. The way you described him sounded like he was a Midland. Post pics soon so I can confirm his sub-species.

P.S. Sorry about the lame joke :P