Water snake: features, characteristics, lifestyle. The king water snake is a heat-loving snake. Where do water snakes live?
“Are you taking a picture of a viper,” I heard a voice behind me, “Make sure it doesn’t bite.”
No, not a viper, but a snake,” I answered, without looking up from the camera viewfinder and taking another close-up.
Yes, vipers are now crossing with snakes: they turn out to be black, and gray, and checkered, and all terribly poisonous!
Something like this dialogue happens every time someone sees me catching or photographing water snakes ( Natrix tessellata).
The notoriety of these snakes is just the fruit of the fear of people who are not familiar with reptiles. Water snakes are deprived characteristic feature non-venomous snake, familiar to everyone, are the yellow-orange spots at the back of the head that the. For this reason, unknowing people classify all snakes without such spots as vipers and consider them poisonous and dangerous. Many divide all legless reptiles into snakes and simply “snakes,” meaning vipers. So they say: “Is this really or a snake?”
There are many different names for water snakes: “hybrid of viper and snake,” “chess viper,” “chess viper.” When shouting " chess snake“On the beach, swimmers jump out of the water and wait for the snake to swim away, or until a “dared person” is found and kills the snake with a stick. You often hear stories from fishermen about “meter-long vipers” that swim across rivers or climb into cages with fish. All these stories are not actually related to vipers, they are about water snakes. Species name of the grass snake N. tessellata Indeed, it is translated from Latin as chess, but the water viper has nothing to do with vipers. He belongs to the clan ( Natrix sp.) as well as .
For humans, the merman is already harmless. This snake's defenses include loud hissing and foul-smelling excrement when threatened. Unlike the ordinary water snake, the water snake almost never pretends to be dead.
The main food of water snakes is fish, which they catch among aquatic plants, snags, or lying in wait, lying on the bottom. The snake cannot swallow the caught one big catch under water, so it rushes to the shore, where it swallows the fish, having first turned its head towards itself.
If the prey is too large, the meal can drag on for an hour or even longer. Some snakes die without calculating their strength and choosing too large a fish.
“The water snake is quite widespread: from southwestern France, the valley of the river. Rhine in the west, the southern border of the range runs along the eastern part northern Africa(to the Persian Gulf, Pakistan), in the east it occurs to the north-west of China, and the northern limits of the occupied territory pass through the Volga-Kama region,” says Candidate of Biological Sciences, employee of the Volgograd state university, herpetologist Dmitry Gordeev. “This species belongs to the class reptiles (Reptilia), the order snakes (Serpentes), the family Colubridae, the genus true snakes ( Natrix) and looks like a water snake ( Natrix tessellata). The water snake is a relatively large, non-venomous snake, like all representatives of this family. Moreover, females, as a rule, are longer than males and can grow up to 1.1 m. Despite its impressive size, it is somewhat smaller than the familiar and easily identifiable ordinary snake, which can reach up to 1.14 m. The muzzle of a water snake, compared to an ordinary , more pointed, and there are no yellow-orange spots on the sides of the head. Because of the latter circumstance, it is often confused with such poisonous snakes like a common viper and steppe viper. Adding fuel to the fire is the pattern on the back of the water snake, which vaguely resembles the zigzag stripe of vipers. I have repeatedly come across dead snakes, which, apparently, the local population mistook for poisonous and mercilessly exterminated. On one of the expeditions, I came across a “mass execution” site, where I counted 25 killed “chess vipers.”
However, the water snake has a number of external signs, by which it can be easily distinguished from poisonous vipers. The most recognizable head is that in vipers it is triangular in shape and most of the scutes (scales) on it are small, while in the water snake it is oval and all the scutes are large. If you pluck up courage and look into the snake’s eyes, you will see that vipers, like real predators, have a vertical pupil (like a cat’s), while snakes have a round pupil. In addition, vipers are much smaller than snakes: the largest common viper reaches a length of up to 0.73 m.
The water snake settles near water: along the banks of rivers and irrigation canals, in flood meadows, where it finds food for itself. Despite its peaceful nature, it is an active predator. Prefers fish different types- perch, roach, loach, can even hunt pike. That's why scientists call it an ichthyophage. The snake drags the caught prey to the shore, where it eats it. Much less often it includes frogs and their tadpoles in the diet. In the literature there is information about the discovery of even a baby in the stomach common viper! The size of the victim can exceed the size of the snake’s head, and the movable connection of the lower jaws and some bones associated with them helps to swallow it. Swallowing occurs by alternating movement of either the left or right half of the lower jaw. This gives the impression that the snake is “crawling” onto its prey.
The active season lasts almost 9 months, emerging from winter shelters in April. Soon after this, mating begins, then the snakes meet in large quantities. One female can lay from 4 to 20 eggs, from which young animals will appear in July, under favorable circumstances. Refuge for them are thickets of reeds, tree roots, crevices of the substrate, rodent holes, stumps and snags. They leave for the winter at the end of October in large groups, sometimes together with the common grass snake. They prey on snakes: hedgehogs, muskrats, muskrats, foxes, and some birds: osprey, gray heron, kites, snake eagle, crow, rook and some others.”
Every time I hear mention of the “terribly poisonous checkerboard,” I talk about water snakes, their way of life, and try to convince them that these snakes are absolutely not dangerous. But every time I come across misunderstandings, it is easier for people to be afraid of the “chess viper” than to admit their belief in rumors and stop killing all the snakes that lack the “identification marks” of an ordinary snake.
Zoologists classify the common grass snake as a member of the phylum Chordata, the class of reptiles, the order Squamate, and the family Colubridae. This snake is found in all areas with temperate climate- both in our country and in Eurasia as a whole.
Below we will talk about its habitats, feeding habits and lifestyle, and also explain the ways in which you can distinguish between a viper and a common grass snake.
What does it look like
The most typical coloration of this snake from the back is simple brown, dark gray or blackish, with an indistinct pattern.
Quite rare, but completely black snakes are also found, as are albinos. Their belly is always lighter, it is dirty gray in color, and has a dark stripe stretching all the way to the throat.
On the sides of the head of most representatives of this species there are two bright yellow or orange oval-shaped spots, which is a peculiar business card this reptile (see photo of the common grass snake in the article). It should be borne in mind that occasionally there are individuals who either do not have these spots or are weakly expressed.
Usually the body length of this snake is about a meter. But some specimens of female grass snakes can be larger - up to 150 cm.
Habitats
The common reptile is a typical and perhaps one of the most common types of reptiles.
Quite often, these reptiles choose to live in hollows and holes under the roots of trees, as well as burrows. For life, the common snake prefers damp and swampy places. The snake is found in abundance near ponds, lakes, rivers, swamps, near beaver lodges, in coastal bushes, in old clearings, in damp forests, especially multi-tiered ones, in haystacks, under bridges, etc.
It often settles near human habitation - houses, outbuildings, personal plots. Snakes can be found in barns, stables, woodpiles, and garbage heaps. Sometimes they crawl into attics and basements. Apparently, this is explained by the fact that human permanent neighbors also live here - small rodents and insects, which make up the main diet of snakes.
Lifestyle
The common one is a rather frisky reptile. Every person who has ever tried to catch her knows how difficult it is. This snake moves well both on the ground and in trees. While crawling, it reaches speeds of up to 5 km per hour, and for a snake this is not bad at all. Snakes are also excellent swimmers, holding their heads above the surface and leaving a trace in the form of characteristic ripples with their body wriggling in the water. And if necessary, when hunting, he can dive and stay at a depth for as long as half an hour! It is capable of lying on the bottom for a long time, lying in wait for prey. Despite such remarkable qualities as a skilled swimmer, snakes prefer not to swim far, hunting in coastal areas.
The day is usually an active time for snakes; they most often go hunting in the morning or evening. At noon, this snake likes to bask in the sun, curled up on a tree branch or on a house fence. However, everything that has been said concerns the common grass snake, but another species of grass snake - a burrowing one from North Africa - leads exclusively night look life.
With the coming autumn months(usually in October-November) snakes hide in holes or under stones and hibernate. They can sleep for 8 months a year - the duration of suspended animation depends on the time of the onset of cold weather and its end. Usually hibernation ends by April days, when the sun noticeably warms up the earth.
For wintering, snakes choose frost-free, secluded places where no one will disturb them. Up to several dozen individuals can gather in such shelters, and sometimes other species of snakes join them.
In captivity it can live for about 20 years. Zoologists suggest that this could be the life expectancy in nature, if not for the large number natural enemies.
Mating season and reproduction
Soon after waking up, male snakes intertwine themselves into a hissing ball, arranging fights for the female: the common snake begins mating season. And after three months, the snakes look for places for future clutches in secluded and damp places: either this is a heap of old leaves, or an old hole, or a hole under a rotten log covered with moss.
The nest contains from 20 to 40 eggs. The average egg length is up to 25-30 mm, and the width is no more than 18-20. Freshly laid eggs are oval in shape and covered with a leathery, sticky whitish shell. They often stick together, forming chains or clumps.
Sometimes the masonry does not remain the only one. It may happen that, having found a nest, another female will lay her eggs to these. If the hiding place is not destroyed by rats, the cubs will hatch from the eggs within a couple of months (and if the weather is cold, then after three).
Newborn snakes are still small, no more than 15-20 cm, but they are already quite ready to lead independent life and can hunt insects, their larvae, caterpillars, worms and even juvenile fish.
Shedding
Having survived the winter, snakes also go through the process of molting. At this time, their skin becomes dull and loses its former colors. Molting snakes rub against any protruding places - stones, snags, tree bark, trying to quickly crawl out of their old skin, which peels off like a stocking.
Those who enter the habitat of snakes sometimes catch the eye of the so-called crawls (or “shirts”) - translucent skins or parts thereof that have lagged behind the body of snakes. As a rule, the skin comes off completely from reptiles, but sometimes molting occurs in an abnormal manner - then they lose their old skin in shreds.
It is interesting that at the last moment of molting, the snake becomes almost completely blind: just like the rest of the body, the thin skin gradually peels off from its eyes, which prevents it from seeing. Then he tries to find some safe secluded crevice by touch, crawl into it and wait there for the end of the molt.
A molted snake looks quite impressive - all the strokes on its skin appear clearer and brighter, even the pupils in the eyes become clearly visible.
What does he eat?
The diet of this reptile consists mainly of small vertebrates and various insects. Frogs, newts, other snakes, rodents, birds, their eggs, chicks, fish, etc. - this is what the common snake eats.
Having overtaken its prey (and this snake, like all reptiles in general, attacks only moving, moving animals), it attacks it. It swallows prey alive and whole. At the same time, the sharp teeth curved inward do not serve the purpose of piercing them into the body of the victim. He cannot tear her into pieces and start chewing her, he cannot even strangle her with his body. That's why he swallows it. And he needs teeth to help himself push the body of the caught animal inside, acting alternately with the upper and lower parts of the jaw.
If at this crucial moment some enemy encroaches on the snake itself, he, of course, will have to retreat. And in order to escape as quickly as possible, it will regurgitate the half-swallowed victim. It is interesting that in this case, the freed food, often without suffering at all from the adventure, runs away to go about its business.
Snakes can remain hungry for a long time, but always need to drink and bathe.
Who attacks snakes in nature
This snake itself also often becomes the prey of various predators. Enemies in wildlife I already have enough. These are badgers, foxes, martens, minks, raccoon dogs. Birds also love to hunt it. An eagle or a kite that has fallen from the sky will grab a snake, and sometimes even a stork will catch it.
Most often, this reptile will prefer to crawl away from danger as quickly as possible, but if the enemy is too close, the snake can curl up into a knot and make several false lunges towards the offender, hissing loudly. Snakes can also skillfully pretend to be dead - they relax their body, open their mouths with their tongues hanging out and lie motionless, showing a complete lack of reaction to external stimuli. In this case, the snake may even regurgitate partially digested food. Most of Predators avoid eating carrion - this is what helps the cunning snake. As soon as the enemy turns away in disappointment, the “imaginary dead man” resurrects and quickly crawls away.
Sometimes it can splash the attacker with a special yellowish-white liquid that has an unpleasant odor. It doesn't irritate the skin, it just stinks. But this stops most four-legged predators with a sensitive sense of smell, but such protection does not work against birds.
Can it be dangerous for humans?
Most representatives of the colubrid family cannot cause any harm to humans. They are only able to scratch the skin lightly with their teeth if you show a desire to pick up the snake. In most cases, the common one will prefer to hide when trying to catch it.
However, some species, such as the tiger snake, common in Far East and in adjacent areas, they have teeth in the back of the upper jaw with grooves containing poison. A bite from such a reptile can lead to swelling, and sometimes even death.
But in general, the common one is a harmless animal that brings undoubted benefits to humans. It exterminates rodents in the house.
In addition, there are hobbyists who keep snakes in home terrariums. I must say, this is quite a troublesome task. Oddly enough, despite the prevalence of this reptile in the wild, for its comfortable existence in captivity it is necessary to fulfill a number of requirements for temperature conditions, humidity, nutrition, the presence of heated shelters, etc. A snake living in a terrarium, like one crawling among forests, needs to hibernate, which should also be provided by artificially created climatic conditions.
Why are the grass snake and the common viper confused?
These snakes are often confused, especially by people not privy to zoological intricacies. Indeed, there is a similarity between the snake and the common viper - the habitats of these reptiles are very similar, their lifestyle, diet composition and behavior in general are similar to each other. Both are most active during the day, from May to September, and also love damp places and basking in the sun in summer.
But this is where the similarity ends, because the viper, unlike the common snake, is poisonous. The consequences of its bite can be called swelling, headache, dizziness, chills and nausea.
The photo of a common snake and a viper (see below) shows a clear difference. As you can see, it is not at all difficult to distinguish them.
Let's take a closer look at the similarities and differences between the snake and the common viper.
What are the similarities?
Neither the snake nor the viper ever attacks a person first, but, having met, they prefer to flee. But both snakes will bite if you step on them. But while you may not even notice a snake bite, a viper bite is not at all harmless. Therefore, to begin with, when you are in nature, in the natural habitats of these snakes, look under your feet and around!
Try, although this is not always possible in hiking conditions, to observe the snake you encounter. The differences between the grass snake and the common viper are quite noticeable - it may take some time to notice it.
What are the differences?
Home and easily visible distinguishing feature grass snake - orange or yellow spots on the sides of the head. You will not find such spots on a viper.
In addition, this reptile can be distinguished by the dorsal zigzag pattern on its skin. True, you shouldn’t really hope that this distinctive feature will catch your eye: if the pattern and background of the snake are dark enough, the pattern may be barely visible.
The viper is often confused with the completely harmless water snake. Its spotted pattern is somewhat reminiscent of markings chessboard, for which tourists call this species a hybrid viper and mercilessly destroy it. But the water snake does not have yellow spots on its head, like the common snake.
In general, snakes are larger than vipers due to the length of their tail. Some representatives of the former can reach one and a half meters, while most individuals of the latter do not exceed a meter in length.
Usually in the description of the common snake it is said that it has an ovoid head, while in the viper it is more similar to the triangular end of a spear. And the shields on her head are smaller.
Pay attention to the eyes of the one you met, which have vertical pupils, whereas the other one has round pupils.
Precautionary measures
We are talking here, of course, about necessary measures to protect yourself from bites dangerous viper. Do not forget that where you can meet a snake, you will probably see one.
First of all, those heading to places where snakes may live should pay attention to their clothing: boots and clothes made of thick fabric with long sleeves should be mandatory for these trips.
When you encounter a viper, you should not wave your arms, try to crush it, or even grab it. In general, you should not make sudden movements. Stop and wait - the snake will most likely crawl away.
In the spring, in April-May, when both vipers and grass snakes undergo mating games, by the way, you should be especially careful.
What to do if you are bitten by a viper
If you still could not avoid the viper’s bite, limit the movement of the bitten limb so that the poison does not penetrate into the surrounding tissues. And of course, contact us as soon as possible medical care. When bitten by a viper, it is very important to promptly administer a drug that neutralizes the poison, a special serum. It is also important to drink as much fluid as possible during this time.
You should not either burn the bite site or open it so that the poisoned blood can supposedly drain away. Do not apply tourniquets to the limb.
It is still unclear whether it is possible to suck out the poison from the wound. Doctors have not come to a consensus, and some of them consider this procedure not harmless for both the amateur “doctor” and his “patient”.
The water snake, or as it is popularly called the “chess viper,” is often found in the vicinity of the common snake and lives near both flowing and non-flowing water bodies. His appearance on the beach quite often causes real panic among vacationers.
People immediately crawl onto land, and the fate of the troublemaker, alas, is sometimes unenviable. I suggest you find out a few interesting facts about this snake.
“Are you taking a picture of a viper,” I heard a voice behind me, “Be careful that it doesn’t bite.”
No, not a viper, but a snake,” I answered, without looking up from the camera viewfinder and taking another close-up.
Yes, vipers are now crossing with snakes: they turn out to be black, and gray, and checkered, and all terribly poisonous!
Something like this conversation happens every time someone sees me catching or photographing water snakes
The notoriety of these snakes is just the fruit of the fear of people who are not familiar with reptiles. Water snakes lack the characteristic feature of a non-venomous snake that is familiar to everyone - the yellow-orange spots on the back of the head that the common snake has ( Natrix natrix). For this reason, unknowing people classify all snakes without such spots as vipers and consider them poisonous and dangerous. Many divide all legless reptiles into snakes and simply “snakes,” meaning vipers. So they say: “Is this really or a snake?”
There are many different names for water snakes: “hybrid of viper and snake,” “chess viper,” “chess viper.” When shouting “chess snake” on the beach, swimmers jump out of the water and wait for the snake to swim away, or until a “dared person” is found and kills the snake with a stick. You often hear stories from fishermen about “meter-long vipers” that swim across rivers or climb into cages with fish.
All these stories are not actually related to vipers, they are about water snakes. The specific name of the water snake N. tessellata is indeed translated from Latin as chess snake, but the water snake has nothing to do with vipers. It belongs to the genus Natrix sp., just like the common grass snake.
For humans, the merman is already harmless. This snake's defenses include loud hissing and foul-smelling excrement when threatened. Unlike an ordinary snake, a merman almost never pretends to be dead.
The main food of water snakes is fish, which they catch among aquatic plants, snags, or lying in wait, lying on the bottom. The snake cannot swallow the caught prey under water, so it rushes to the shore, where it swallows the fish, having first turned its head towards itself.
If the prey is too large, the meal can drag on for an hour or even longer. Some snakes die without calculating their strength and choosing too large a fish.
“The water snake is quite widespread: from southwestern France, the valley of the river. The Rhine is in the west, the southern border of the range runs through the eastern part of northern Africa (to the Persian Gulf, Pakistan), in the east it reaches north-west China, and the northern limits of the occupied territory pass through the Volga-Kama region,” says Candidate of Biological Sciences, employee Volgograd State University, herpetologist Dmitry Gordeev.
“This species belongs to the class Reptilia, the order Serpentes, the family Colubridae, the genus Natrix, and the species Natrix tessellata. The water snake is a relatively large, non-venomous snake, like all representatives of this family. Moreover, females, as a rule, are longer than males and can grow up to 1.1 m. Despite its impressive size, it is somewhat smaller than the familiar and easily identifiable common grass snake, which can reach up to 1.14 m.
The muzzle of a water snake, compared to an ordinary one, is more pointed, and there are no yellow-orange spots on the sides of the head. Because of the latter circumstance, it is often confused with such poisonous snakes as the common viper and the steppe viper. Adding fuel to the fire is the pattern on the back of the water snake, which vaguely resembles the zigzag stripe of vipers. I have repeatedly come across dead snakes, which, apparently, the local population mistook for poisonous and mercilessly exterminated. On one of the expeditions, I came across a “mass execution” site, where I counted 25 killed “chess vipers.”
However, the water snake has a number of external signs by which it can be easily distinguished from poisonous vipers. The most recognizable head is that in vipers it is triangular in shape and most of the scutes (scales) on it are small, while in the water snake it is oval and all the scutes are large. If you pluck up courage and look into the snake’s eyes, you will see that vipers, like real predators, have a vertical pupil (like a cat’s), while snakes have a round pupil. In addition, vipers are much smaller than snakes: the largest common viper reaches a length of up to 0.73 m.
The water snake settles near water: along the banks of rivers and irrigation canals, in flood meadows, where it finds food for itself. Despite its peaceful nature, it is an active predator. It prefers different types of fish - perch, roach, loach, and can even hunt pike. That's why scientists call it an ichthyophage. The snake drags the caught prey to the shore, where it eats it. Much less often it includes frogs and their tadpoles in the diet.
In the literature there is information about the discovery of even a baby viper in the stomach! The size of the victim can exceed the size of the snake’s head, and the movable connection of the lower jaws and some bones associated with them helps to swallow it. Swallowing occurs by alternating movement of either the left or right half of the lower jaw. This gives the impression that the snake is “crawling” onto its prey.
The active season lasts almost 9 months, emerging from winter shelters in April. Soon after this, mating begins, and snakes are then found in large numbers. One female can lay from 4 to 20 eggs, from which young animals will appear in July, under favorable circumstances. Refuge for them are thickets of reeds, tree roots, crevices of the substrate, rodent holes, stumps and snags. They leave for the winter at the end of October in large groups, sometimes together with the common grass snake. They prey on snakes: hedgehogs, muskrats, muskrats, foxes, and some birds: osprey, gray heron, kites, snake eagle, crow, rook and some others.”
Every time I hear mention of the “terribly poisonous checkerboard,” I talk about water snakes, their way of life, and try to convince them that these snakes are absolutely not dangerous. But every time I come across misunderstandings, it is easier for people to be afraid of the “chess viper” than to admit their belief in rumors and stop killing all the snakes that lack the “identification marks” of an ordinary snake.
The king water snake is a relative of the common snake. This species of reptile is heat-loving and cannot do without water.
External signs of the royal water snake
The royal water snake is distinguished by the color of its back skin being olive, greenish, olive-gray with a transition to brown. Spotted checkerboard pattern with dark spots or narrow stripes running across.
The dark spot in the form of the Latin letter V on the back of the head is facing acute angle to the head.
Lower body yellow color varies to orange and red tones, painted with black rectangular spots. In nature, there are some individuals without patterns and black in color.
The body size reaches a length of about one and a half meters. The large scutes on the head have a different arrangement than that of the common grass snake. Yellow spots there are no heads at the back.
Spread of the king water snake
Royal water snakes in Europe live in southern and western France. To the east they extend to Central Asia. They are found in the south of Crimea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, and Central Asia. Quite common reptiles in the lower reaches of the Volga. They are also found in rivers flowing into the Black and Caspian Seas. They live in China and India. They are found in large quantities near the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan.
Habitats of the king water snake
Royal water snakes live only near bodies of water. The banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams are the main habitats water snakes. They even meet on sea coasts. They live in artificial irrigation systems, canals, reservoirs, and fish ponds. They prefer reservoirs with warm, standing water and not too fast flow. But they are found in the mountains at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters in cold water mountain streams.
Lifestyle of the king water snake
Royal water snakes are never found in muddy and dirty water. It’s just that if the transparency is poor, they won’t be able to see the prey. After the hunt, well-fed reptiles crawl out onto the coastal flat stones and bask in the sun's rays.
Water snakes are excellent swimmers and can be found 5 km from the shore.
They easily overcome strong currents and stay in the water column for a long time. Reptiles often crawl into coastal trees in search of food.
At night, water snakes hide in cracks, voids under stones, snags, dry reeds, and crawl into abandoned rodent holes. They find refuge in haystacks, thick grass, and accumulate in large groups in reeds.
When the first rays of the sun appear, they first warm themselves and then move to the pond. Can't stand extreme heat. Fleeing from high temperature air in water or near-water thickets. They overcome rapid mountain streams and dive well.
Water snakes overwinter on the shore, looking for shelters located deep underground (up to 80 cm). Single snakes or small groups of reptiles occupy voids and holes. There are also larger aggregations of 100-200 individuals of different ages and gender. A large ball of snakes constantly hibernates in the same place.
In the spring, when the soil surface warms up, water snakes slowly crawl out and warm themselves, curled up in a ball.
At sunset they return to a secluded place.
As the air temperature rises, they come to life every day, become more active, then move to bodies of water, where they spend the entire summer until the next wintering.
In case of danger, a water snake, like common grass snake, releases a strong-smelling yellow liquid that repels predators.
Reproduction of the royal water snake
Clusters of these snakes can also form during the breeding season. During the breeding season, water snakes form aggregations of up to 200 individuals. Mating occurs in April or May.
At the end of June, females lay 6 - 25 eggs under stones, in loose forest litter. If convenient places are available, collective clutches of about 1000 eggs are possible. Development lasts 2 months; young snakes appear in August. Young snakes are able to obtain food on their own and catch fry in a nearby pond. Sexual maturity is reached in the 3rd year.
Water snakes mate in the fall, when they move away from the water. In this case, the female lays eggs the following year. In nature, snakes are hunted by birds of prey and large fish. Water snakes live from 9 to 15 years.
Nutrition of the king water snake
Royal water snakes fish both in fresh water and in the sea. During the day, its catch is about 40 fry 2 - 3 cm long. Sometimes it swallows larger prey up to 15 cm. During the hunt, the snakes either chase the fish or lie in wait and then pounce. If the prey escapes, it does not try to overtake it.
Tries to grab the victim by the middle of the body. It swallows small fish whole, and grabs large prey in the middle and drags it ashore.
Sometimes the prey cannot get into the throat, then the water snake throws it on the shore.
Finds a solid support, for example, a stone, wraps it around the back of the body and begins to slowly swallow the fish from the head.
This type of reptile also feeds on tadpoles, toads, frogs, birds, and small rodents. In fish ponds, water snakes eat fry and harm fisheries.
Keeping the king water snake in captivity
For royal water snakes, a horizontal terrarium measuring 60 x 40 x 40 is selected. It must be equipped with a large swimming pool for reptiles.
Daytime temperature maintain 30-33 degrees, at night they lower it to 20-22. The soil is peat, coconut substrate, coarse sand. After wintering, which lasts 1-2 months, water snakes can reproduce.
