Snake ID help

[Sutekh]

Hi Folks,
A friend of mine found this in the Tampa, Florida area. He thought it was a garter snake; I don't think so, but I have no idea what it is. Any ideas?

 

[ZephAmp]

Looks like a ribbon snake? Perhaps the eastern ribbon snake.
**Edit- Boy I'm spotty tonight. Let's say the PENINSULAR ribbon snake.

 

[Sutekh]

Hmmm...that might be right...peninsula ribbon snake. thanks!

 

[pitbulllady]

Yep, it's a Ribbon. These things are fish-eating maniacs, so find a good source of Gambusia or other small fish, and don't feed it goldfish or "rosy reds"!
Given its size and girth, you'll probably wind up with some 20+ little toothpick-sized babies by summer's end.

pitbulllady

 

[Sutekh]

Given its size and girth, you'll probably wind up with some 20+ little toothpick-sized babies by summer's end.

pitbulllady

I told my friend this and he thought it was pretty cool. He's using the snake to teach his little girl (age 6) some life lessons, so I guess "Birth" will be one later on.
Live birth, right? (I'm a snake noob)

 

[pitbulllady]

I told my friend this and he thought it was pretty cool. He's using the snake to teach his little girl (age 6) some life lessons, so I guess "Birth" will be one later on.
Live birth, right? (I'm a snake noob)

Yep, these give birth to live young, like all the North American Natricine snakes. Litters can be quite large, so he'd better be prepared to buy LOTS of fish or spend a lot of time down at the nearest creek/pond catching Mosquito Fish and Killies.

pitbulllady