Are Ribbon Snakes Good For Beginners And If So What Is The Best Thing To Feed Them???

Question

I want to get a ribbon sanke but I don't know if they are good for beginners or not. And I don't know what ot feed them! Please help!!! I need some information by Sept. 30 please. I thank the people who take enough time to answer this question.

Answer 1

The Ribbon Snake is a sleek snake that would make a beautiful pet for a beginning snake owner.

Usually, the easily tamed Eastern Ribbon Snake will not bite; rather, they release a smelly musk when frightened or alarmed. Often, captive Eastern Ribbon Snakes may remain rather easily stressed or nervous. Many may calm down if regularly handled. It has been reported that they will give off a musk smell if they are overly nervous. In the wild, frightened Eastern Ribbon Snakes usually seek shelter in the water or in thick vegetation. Eastern Ribbon Snakes are adept swimmers, though they usually remain in shallow waters toward the surface. They are usually found in wet habitats near the edges of ponds, streams, or other bodies of water. They feed mainly on amphibians like frogs, although these snakes may also eat insects (such as Red Worms) and fish. Eastern Ribbon Snakes often become dormant in periods of dry weather, although they are quite active in the spring. They seem to enjoy basking on partially submerged objects in the water near their homes.

The tail of the Eastern Ribbon Snake usually composes more than a third of its total body length. These beautifully striped snakes often grow to lengths between 18 and 26 inches, and are often mistaken for Garter Snakes, though Garter Snakes have shorter tails. Eastern Ribbon Snakes have a reddish brown color that is accented by three distinct yellow stripes. The middle stripe sometimes has a green to orange tint. Each stripe on the side of the snake's body is outlined on the edge closest to the belly by a darker line. This adds definition to the belly, which is usually a light shade of yellow or green. When the skin is stretched out, a double row of darker spots may appear between the stripes. There may be white or yellow bars near the eyes of the Eastern Ribbon Snake, and often the labial scales are yellow to white. All the scales of the Eastern Ribbon Snake are keeled.

The Eastern Ribbon Snake is found throughout Central and North America. In some parts of its range it may be confused with the Northern Ribbon Snake and the Garter Snake. They are quite fast and agile and may escape easily in captivity, though they are rather easy to care for and can make a good snake for a beginner.

Garter, Ribbon, and Water Snakes: These prefer water-dwelling prey like fish, frogs, salamanders, toads, earthworms, slugs, carrion, or other mice with frog or fish mucous rubbed into the fur. It must SMELL like a preferred prey item. This technique often works for ball pythons as well.

Answer 2

Ribbon snakes are a pretty good pet, but I would suggest looking into a corn snake or a ball python. I have both, and I can afford them both on my allowance. (I'm 14) So they're pretty cheap, once you get over the initial set up and everything. That's the most expensive part. They're both really mellow snakes, though that depends on the personality of the snake itself. Ball pythons tend to be even more laid back than corn snakes. I can actually put her on the table or something, and actually leave her alone for a couple of minutes. I can go an get a book, or make top ramen. I can't do that with my corn, she likes to get everywhere. However, corns have looooads of different color phases, from Miami phase to Okeetees to Bloodreds.

Answer 3

ribbon snakes tend to be skittish and very quick.Not very easy to handle. The best beginner snake is a corn.They come in many colors and are very docile and not easily aggitated. If you dont want a corn, a ball python is good, but not quite as easy going. They can stress a little bit easier than corns. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Ribbon snakes are a great snake to start with or to add to your collection. They are very similar to garter snakes when it comes to care & feeding. I wouldn't feed them feeder fish exclusively since this can cause nutritional problems over time. They love earthworms & will also eat pinkie mice, which give a more complete diet rather than just the feeder fish

Answer 5

I was looking into getting a ribbon snake for my first reptile, as well. My mum took me to a pet shop to play with one for a bit, and I could hardly keep hold of it, the little thing was so spastic.

I ended up with a California king snake, and I couldn't be happier. I'd highly recommend one for a beginner, as I was in your shoes just a few years ago.

Answer 6

I have had an eastern Ribbon Snake for 6 years,after my then 6-year-old nephew found it injured in his yard.Her tail was completely severed up to her cloacal opening,and she had multiple gashes on the rest of her body.It looked as though someone had tried to chop her up with a garden hoe,or perhaps a cat or dog got ahold of her.I treated her wounds with daily Betadine baths,administered Baytril,and force -fed her earthworms,Bil-Jac frozen dog food,and vitamins.There were a few times when I thought she would die,but she perservered and has grown from the size of a pencil to over 26 inches long(and remember-thet's without her tail.) All Miss Parseltongue will eat are goldfish and rosy minnows.Everyone tells me that such a diet will kill her,but here she is ,still alive and well after 6 years.I've offered her other foods,i.e.;worms ,slugs,pinkies,etc. and she will not eat them.She is kept in a ten-gallon tank with a substrate of ordinary garden soil and Eco-earth(coconut fiber).I keep it damp,but not wet.She has half a log with moist green moss in it,a paper towel tube-(she loves to sleep in them),and a water dish just deep enough for her dinner to swim in.I keep a heating pad under one third of the tank in winter,but I don't use it in the warmer months.She is fed 4 to 6 fish three or four times a week,and I always make sure to feed the fish a balanced fish food as well as some Repto-min sticks,so thet she gets the vitamins from the fishes stomach contents.She does NOT like to be handled,though;they are very skittish snakes,but she rears up like a cobra when she knows I'm about to feed her ,and lets me know when she is hungry by laying across the water dish and staring at me,REALLY,she does! So,if you want a snake to carry around with you,then I would say "No,don't get one".But for ease of care they are quite nice.

Answer 7

Ribbon snake was my first snake. it was small and quick but not like these people describe. its not that bad. i thought it was pretty easy to care for.

I used to just feed my snake guppies (really tiny fish) in its water bowl.
the snake would go up to the water and follow the fish around and then snatch one.

i gave it away later on to a friend cuz i wanted to go bigger. so now i have a ball python.

Answer 8

I would go with a ball python for my first....they are very docile and adjust well to captivity...The only bad thing is that they get a little larger..also, look into corn snakes,,,I wouldn't suggest a ribbon only b/c they are fast and jittery

Answer 9

yes they are a good beginner snake they little feeder fish you just put the fish in a bowl of water and watch and enjoy the action they also eat earth worms

Answer 10

Feed them with bread