Unboxing, care and setup of Rough Scaled Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus

[@brandonb1681]

Growing up in NC, these were the snakes you wanted to see as a kid. Very docile and harmless.

[@PaintedHorsey]

I’ve been looking into these for the same reason as you- I had one as a kid and knew almost nothing about its care. I never forgot what a sweet gentle snake it was and I would now like to get a few, as you did, and set them up in a beautiful, species appropriate environment. BTW, I had mine 50 years ago!

[@timreptile]

It only took me 25 years to get my new ones 😂

[@LeeShand]

I have been looking everywhere for one where I live in Tennessee. Not found one yet!!

[@juggingsideways921]

The movement is to mimic a branch in the wind as a form of camouflage

[@timreptile]

I know the swaying they do is apparently for camouflage, not sure that’s the case with the movement I’m asking about though?

[@robinmoore1969]

I thought you had meant this movement too, which is why the wobble. As far as the peristaltic movement, the closest I’ve seen is after eating and just working food down. And rewatching that clip… I really have no idea because that was very much the opposite direction than I thought. I’ve not seen that in mine before.

[@timreptile]

@@robinmoore1969 it’s not something I notice all the time, but if I watch them for hours they do it occasionally. I’m sure I’ve seen a video out there explaining this before, but can’t find it again typically! How do you find keeping this species? Any hints or tips?

[@robinmoore1969]

@@timreptile I love them so much. I just got mine around when you got yours. The only note I have is on how wet the enclosure is but I’m in no way an expert. I found a group on Facebook and asked about care recently and there’s a guy on there who breeds them with some great tips. Actually found it by searching for rough green snake.

[@timreptile]

@@robinmoore1969 are yours CB? How wet are you keeping yours? I try to keep mine dry , with a humidity spike once a day at the moment.

[@Kaiyo_no_Ookami]

Very nice video. 🐍 I had a similar experience with these in the early 2000s. Absolute mess. Probably wild caught, from a pet store, and got really bad advice. It didn’t go well. In fact, it could hardly have gone worse. The internet was sort of okay at that point, but still not what it is now, and the shop couldn’t even tell me what species it was. They said, “the paperwork will be here tomorrow, we’ll call you.” They assured me it was fine to take it home that day. I called them almost daily for two weeks, and at the start of week three they told me they threw it out. 🤦🏻 So yeah, similarly motivated to maybe try again at some point with a captive bred snake. If I can find one. 😅 And definitely not from a pet shop. (Excluding maybe a responsibly run, reptile exclusive, small business.)

[@yzettasmith4194]

I love rough green snakes because they are the only kind I never feared. I hope yours are doing well.

[@timreptile]

They seem to be doing well, certainly grown so much since we’ve had them!!!

[@laceymaria171]

I love them so cute stunning Snakes ps it’s lacey

[@timreptile]

Thank you Lacey!!!

[@jamess4056]

Hey Tim! Love your channel and your animals. P. Klemmeri and O. Aestivus are two dream species for me. I have struggled to find both of them in the UK so if you manage to breed either and decide to sell can you please put me on a wait list!! 😁

[@timreptile]

Thanks a lot! They’re dream species for me too! Just struggling to find female klemmeri and hoping I have a mix in the green snakes! Just watch this space….

[@timreptile]

Also for the rough greens keep an eye on Rothwell pets, and global geckos in the summer through till autumn.

[@jamess4056]

@@timreptile I will keep an eye on it! Fingers crossed 🤞 I saw some Klemmeri at Doncaster but I didn't have a set up ready for them so I missed the opportunity!

[@timreptile]

@@jamess4056 might see you at Doncaster this year if you’re going!!! How much were the klemmeri out of interest?

[@jamess4056]

@@timreptile I hope so ! I might be at Doncaster in April so maybe see you at that! I can't remember what they were asking for them but the only seller that had them were "Leaping Cresties"

[@JonsRainforestRoom]

Stunning snakes mate. As you know I'm a big fan and a little bit gelous 😆. I wonder who you're going to be doing a video with 🤔

[@timreptile]

Very good!!! If you’re a good boy maybe you’ll get some CB green snakes in a couple of years!!!

[@kenjiro2676]

With the amount of wild caught animals being brought into the hobby, we should have more than enough unrelated individuals to have a permanent captive population.

[@timreptile]

That’s what the hobby should be aiming for, for so many species. I’m happy to pay the premium for captive bred animals. Worryingly I’m finding some shops I’ve visited have lied to me about the origins of some of their stock, or claim to not know!!! I don’t understand why this species isn’t already produced in good numbers through captive breeding , as I’ve had interest from beginners through to experts.

[@kenjiro2676]

@@timreptile their seems to be a lot of misinformation, even in forums. If we can get breeders who knows their habitat inside and out, I’m sure the situation will improve in terms of husbandry.

[@timreptile]

@@kenjiro2676 I remember when I had one of these in the 90s the literature on how to keep them was basically wrong! Seem to be doing ok with these three, just densely plant and don’t touch being the golden rules. Be interesting if I get any breeding action. I watched one solitary slug being laid last year which took me by surprise!

[@edwardbranden7212]

I have a large breeding population in my front yard (New Hampshire) some of the bigger females I have seen are as thick as a cigar

[@timreptile]

I’m surprised how thick mine have got. One laid a solitary (there may be more, but I don’t want to disturb the vivarium) slug the other day. Must be great to be able to observe them right outside your home… I’m very jealous!

[@nalla1782]

what area of New Hampshire is your yard? I am impressed you have a population there, its pretty far north!

[@gr6058]

Where did you purchase these?

[@ShyGotta_a3]

I have a 18x18x24 vertical tank can they live in there comfortably from baby to adult. If not do u have any suggestions on what snake that likes to climb can live in there possibly

[@timreptile]

To be honest I think that’s a bit small. I’d say. A 60x45x60 would be a minimum for one, or bigger for a group. I know of small terrestrial snakes, which are common elsewhere in the world but not here in the UK. I don’t know, but perhaps research some snail and slug eating snakes. I’ve seen a few species for sale over the years, that I think may fit the bill, if you’re experienced enough to keep them going. Or get a bigger viv for some rough greens.

[@Ok_Friend-il9of]

So I’m southern Illinois which Is native to me. Im planning attempting to breed them since captive breed is so rare, and with it being native, a escaped pet might both help and won’t hurt our ecosystem. Im not going to my back yard and taking them I’m going to order them

[@timreptile]

Well done… unfortunately one of these guys passed last week, but I’ve seen the remaining 2 lock several times, so I’m hopeful for young this year!

[@Ok_Friend-il9of]

@@timreptile Aw I’m sorry, but also exciting! I hope you get young ones, if you do could you do make a video on tips on breeding it it works out for you?

[@timreptile]

@@Ok_Friend-il9of we’ve so much footage already of their new enclosure, and life gets in the way of making videos, but hopefully we’ll get there again soon!

[@Ok_Friend-il9of]

@@timreptile awesome! Im going to go binge watch some of you videos! Your videos are very well made. Tbh you should have a lot more subs than you do from how high quality your videos are :)

[@timreptile]

@@Ok_Friend-il9of that is incredibly kind of you. Thank you so much!

[@bohnoname1999]

Beautiful snakes, hard to find for sale here in Sweden 😢

[@timreptile]

They are lovely! Captive bred ones are very rare here, but a few wild caught ones tend to come over in the summer. I don’t know what restrictions are like in Sweden, but maybe ask a reputable shop? If you look further a field, maybe somewhere else in Europe has a good captive population. I find Europeans better at reptile husbandry than elsewhere!

[@bohnoname1999]

@@timreptile many thanks 🐍

[@MikeJones-mf2fw]

Can these have a blue hue to them at all? I found a dead one in Mississippi, and I think this is the species, but it has a blue hue. Mostly green though.

[@timreptile]

To be honest, I don’t have a wealth of knowledge in the diversity this species in the wild, however I’m sure I have seen ones with a slight blueish hue. That been said, I have seen pictures of dead reptiles, with bright blue patches (which were completely unexpected), which I think can be attributed to decomposition.

[@MikeJones-mf2fw]

@timreptile Oh, wow. Okay, awesome to know. Thanks for the response 👍 😀

[@jfreebird]

They only turn blue when they are deceased

[@Warrior2-yk9zv]

Where did you buy the snake from? I’m looking for one and is it captive bread?

[@timreptile]

Just an ad on preloved. They’re captive bred. Worth waiting for in my opinion.

[@dracorosso805]

Such cute snakes always wanted to keep them since I was a kid, how frequently should they have to be fed?

[@timreptile]

I feed every other day, but almost daily when they were very small.

[@dracorosso805]

@@timreptile thanks 🙏

[@RipbyFy]

Hey tim have you managed to get any babies ones yet and is there anywhere in uk i can get two of them

[@timreptile]

@@RipbyFy not yet… they turned out to be a trio, but sadly lost one of the females. Had breeding behaviour, a lock, but no eggs last year, behaviour, lock but no eggs this year. A load of WC ones came in this summer as they normally do and were snapped up from what I could see.

[@RipbyFy]

@timreptile ah nooo sorry for your loss and hopefully in a couple of months time we could see some coming up on the market again as I would love to have two of them as they look like mini green mamba

[@timreptile]

@@RipbyFy they are little stunners!!!

[@Jungleroomreptiles]

Awesome where did you get them from?

[@timreptile]

Thank you. They came from someone in Manchester. They are quite commonly found in shops in the summer months as WC but I would strive to get CB ones.

[@SawdustAndShavings]

Any captive bred green snake sources in the USA?

[@timreptile]

I don’t know I’m afraid

[@Madison-xy4hh]

Do you know anyone who has them for sale? I’m looking for captive bred male and female to breed! Thanks! ☺️

[@timreptile]

I don’t I’m afraid. What country are you in?

[@Madison-xy4hh]

@@timreptile I live in Arizona USA. I’ve been looking around for a captive bred pair. I have gotten real close a few times but haven’t been completely successful yet…

[@timreptile]

@@Madison-xy4hh yeah, I don’t know anyone in the states… I spent years looking and missed a few opportunities. Just gotta keep looking and have a good supply of silkworms for when you find some. Worth waiting for captive bred though!

[@Madison-xy4hh]

@@timreptile I actually just found a CB baby!!! I hope it’ll grow up nicely and get a nice wife! 🤣

[@mercenaryairsoft8068]

Awesome 😍

[@timreptile]

Cheers amigo! We love them!!!

[@Just_chris227]

My rough green snake isn’t eating do you guys have any tips on what to do

[@timreptile]

Make sure your enclosure is spot on… temps, humidity, hiding places etc. Don’t stress the snake at all. Try soft bodied insects. I’m pretty sure small silkworms saved the smallest of my three. Good luck!

[@timreptile]

Did you have any luck getting them to feed?

[@shilohgilbert9770]

I was wondering where you got your rough green snakes?

[@timreptile]

They were advertised on preloved. I’d been seriously looking for a couple of years and Global Geckos and Rothwell Pets seemed to be the only shops that have had them in the past, but they sell out quickly.

[@MossyWonder]

Hi, I have been trying to find Captive Bred rough green snake. But all most all of them are almost triple or double the cost of the wild-caught. Where did you get yours? Any advice for breeders, I did try Morph Market but there were minimal options.

[@timreptile]

I’m afraid if you want captive bred… it costs! I payed about double the price of wild caught but all three are still alive and well! Worth paying the extra definitely. I spent 2/3 years looking at all forums, buy and sell sites and shop social medias until I finally found these guys. Are you in the UK? If so, I might be able to give you some pointers.

[@coop5329]

Captive bred costs more because of the amount of labor involved! Not just going out and catching a wild one! You should expect to pay more for all the time and work that someone has put into breeding such a delicate species that most people can't even keep alive in captivity for a year. Duh!

[@skullxer]

I had a baby one, it wasn't eating anything and it unfortunately passed away, any tips for the baby ones?

[@timreptile]

I had an adult one years ago which was wild caught, and then shipped here. It survived about 6 months, but the book on them I was following the care for them from was floored. Keep them only with others of their own species, they love soft bodied insects, so silkworms are great, and waxworks as a treat. Appropriate UVB, basking spot. I keep them pretty dry, but with a good spray down of the viv once a day. Leave them alone.. they’re really skittish and don’t like being touched. Any idea where you went wrong? I was keeping them with anoles previously, and handling regularly, which didn’t help also having a wild caught specimen.

[@skullxer]

@@timreptile I may go went wrong for the temperature dropping overnight just once, but the snake I had was alot smaller and skinner than yours and all the other ones I've seen on KZbin. It's like it was a hatchling just how tiny it was. I was force feeding it waxworms and giving it it's own time alone

[@timreptile]

@@skullxer these guys are a lot bigger now! One of them didn’t seem to be eating until I got the silkworms. I think the force feeding would stress them out… not being too critical of you as I’ve been in a similar situation with small lizards years ago 😔

[@dmc3489]

How are the Opheodrys?

[@timreptile]

Literally been upgraded in the last week! Seem to be doing well and fingers crossed we can get a video up with them in shortly. Think they appreciate their new home!

[@pijafkby2798]

Buy in?

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

Sooo tiny

[@timreptile]

I knew they were going to be tiny, but I was still shocked when they arrived!!!

[@Gavin27431]

Thats what she said

[@DerpMcTrollington]

comment number 69

[@timreptile]

You are naughty….. but I like you!!!

[@DerpMcTrollington]

ty sir

[@timreptile]

@@DerpMcTrollington no problem… however now there will be 72 comments, so should I delete my comments so only your original comment remains and the number of comments will read as 69 again!?

[@DerpMcTrollington]

up to you. eventually more people will comment on this video. removing them won't set the number to 69 for too long.