Lost and Found

[Joannah]

So yesterday one of my work colleagues came into the office with a baby snake. He said he was going to let it go in bush out back to keep it away from his cat, but to bush outside our building is pretty close to the road and I worried that the little guy would get squashed by a car so I offered to take him. At first we thought it could be a Mole Snake but after looking at him I don't believe that is true. The face shape is different and his scales are almost mat and not very shiny like a lot of the images I have seen of them.

I don't believe he is poisonous either as he is rather timid and has taken to playing dead when frightened. He also has a narrow head like a normal constrictor and a tapering tail so I can assume that he is not a cobra or viper. My personal opinion is that he is an Olive House Snake as he has a deep olive colour and a whitish underbelly which is quite common in the Cape.

His temperament is not aggressive but he is very active especially in sunlight. He seems to have a particular dislike for sunlight. To be honest I would like to keep him as I have been wanting to buy a snake again for months now and he just kind of fell into my lap.

But I am not about to keep something if it is poisonous or if it has particular needs that I can't provide. If any one can help me identify this little guy I would be grateful. Also I am sorry about the image, my camera is very limited and I can't get a better shot without handling him. Which I won't do until I know what he is.



Thanx for any help.

[Axanthic]

could be a common slug eater?,,its a bit hard to see on the pic

[Amphibian]

Difficult to 100% sure from such a bad quality photo but I'd certainly go with Olive House Snake. But I have never heard of them acting dead before.

[Joannah]

I took him to a reptile specialist who thinks he is a Brown Water Snake and says he is definitely not poisonous but my boyfriend doesn't believe a word and I donno how to convince him. I took the snake out and played with him. His very docile. He just explored for a bit and then wrapped himself around my finger and chilled there.
He is just so much more relaxed than my two corns used to be. Only problem is that I donno what to feed him as he is too small for pinkies and I hear he eats frogs any way. I was thinking of feeding him grubs maybe?

[Westley Price]

I would agree with Amphibian and say Olive House Snake.

Brown Water Snake's head is less distinct from the neck than the snake you have posted, and to an untrained eye they can easily be confused.

In the future I would suggest you first confirm the ID 100% before you handle a snake. Your reptile specialist doesnt sound very sure of himself, so I wouldn't risk it.

Snakes dont eat grubs. You can try small frogs, guppies, geckos etc. If you are from the Cape (which I assume from you post) it would be illegal to keep this snake so it would be best for you and the snake to just release it in a quiet, natural area close to where you found it.

[Amphibian]

If you can maybe get a better pic before releasing it.

[Joannah]

Sigh. Oh well, it's a shame I was really getting along with the little guy. I will release him this afternoon. But it has increased my want of a snake again and I will have to find a good shop to buy one. It's hard finding reptile shops in Cape Town. It's not like Johannesburg where pet stores stock everything you need.

I am looking to get something different this time though. Any one have any suggestions other than Corn Snakes?

[Joannah]

Sorry Amphibian. I tried a few more times but I really must get a new phone. He is a pretty snake though. I am sure he will grow up to be a beautiful specimen.

[kfc223]

There are plenty of places that sell reptiles in the Western Cape.

Speak to the guys at Reptile Garden.
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=373768249369038

[Chopper 1]

I took him to a reptile specialist who thinks he is a Brown Water Snake and says he is definitely not poisonous but my boyfriend doesn't believe a word and I donno how to convince him. I took the snake out and played with him. His very docile. He just explored for a bit and then wrapped himself around my finger and chilled there.
He is just so much more relaxed than my two corns used to be. Only problem is that I donno what to feed him as he is too small for pinkies and I hear he eats frogs any way. I was thinking of feeding him grubs maybe?

That is VERY scary if a snake specialist thinks it is a brown water snake??

[froot]

Dear god, so many 'reptile specialists' out there, we are so blessed. In future post photos of any unknown reptiles you encounter here Joannah, might save you a finger or two. Oh, and please add your location to your profile, helps to not have to ask the dreaded question for the 10 millionth time before we commit ourselves to a successful ID.