Common FL snake but rare sighting - Reef-Geeks

postal · Reef-Geek

I have lived in FL my entire life, and spent a lot of my teen years out actively hunting and catching snakes, but this one was a first for me.
The Eastern Mud Snake, aka Red-Bellied Mud Snake is supposedly very common. However, they are rarely seen due to being primarily nocturnal and living in swampy areas.
Lucky (or unlucky) for me, my front yard is a swamp part of the year. And I have found amphiumas (mud snakes primary prey item) in my yard on several occasions. Too bad when I found this fellow it was already dead. Still a gorgeous snake, and one I can cross off my list of FL snakes.

Tizzo, pay attention, since it's only a short jaunt to your house from here.

rgrking · Spawning

wow what nice colors. but I bet it can give a nasty bite!

postal · Reef-Geek

Believe it or not, it is considered one of the most docile of the big FL snakes. It can reaches sizes of up to 6.5 ft but rarely if ever bites. Instead they stick the end of their tail (stiff and pointed) into you. It might startle you but it wouldn't hurt. I bought a new floodlight so it might be time to see if I can find a live one next time the yard fills up for any length of time.

billrob71 · Will work for CLAMS

That's a real cool looking snake shame it was dead

LeviT · 2yr vet

Wow, poor guy. Wonder what happened to him.

spinycheek · Insert Custom Title Here

Awesome snake!! Congrats, very gorgeous!

Tizzo · ♥...I'm justa girl...♫ ♪

Postal, My back yard is a bit of a swamp, but I've never seen that snake either?? You said it's docile but is it venomous?? He's strikingly pretty!!

postal · Reef-Geek

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tizzo

Postal, My back yard is a bit of a swamp, but I've never seen that snake either?? You said it's docile but is it venomous?? He's strikingly pretty!!

Definitely not poisonous. You only have to know the 4 poisonous snakes that we have in our area. That we if you see an unknown snake you can determine it is non-venomous simply by eliminating it being a cottonmouth, coral snake, pygmy rattler, or eastern diamondback. If it isn't one of those four then it is non-venomous. While there are some venomous escapees, that is a bigger problem in south FL. The colder winters here would take care of most exotics.

Kerickson978 · Whats up?

very cool!

[1 (permalink)] Posted by postal 01-06-2012, 10:53 PM	Reef-Geek
Common FL snake but rare sighting I have lived in FL my entire life, and spent a lot of my teen years out actively hunting and catching snakes, but this one was a first for me. The Eastern Mud Snake, aka Red-Bellied Mud Snake is supposedly very common. However, they are rarely seen due to being primarily nocturnal and living in swampy areas. Lucky (or unlucky) for me, my front yard is a swamp part of the year. And I have found amphiumas (mud snakes primary prey item) in my yard on several occasions. Too bad when I found this fellow it was already dead. Still a gorgeous snake, and one I can cross off my list of FL snakes. Tizzo, pay attention, since it's only a short jaunt to your house from here.	Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL Posts: 117 Gameroom cash: $32283 Rep Power: 20
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[2 (permalink)] Posted by rgrking 01-06-2012, 11:00 PM	Spawning
wow what nice colors. but I bet it can give a nasty bite! __________________ RLTW 180 Gallon Mixed Reef Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8 Friend me up on Facebook Glen King	Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sullivan, Missouri, USA Posts: 10,000 Gameroom cash: $1656070 Rep Power: 164
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[4 (permalink)] Posted by billrob71 01-07-2012, 06:35 AM	Will work for CLAMS
That's a real cool looking snake shame it was dead __________________ Why is the rum always gone	Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 6,413 Gameroom cash: $1737675 Rep Power: 94
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[6 (permalink)] Posted by spinycheek 01-07-2012, 07:59 PM	Insert Custom Title Here
Awesome snake!! Congrats, very gorgeous! __________________ All this knowledge is giving me a raging brainer!	Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 4,277 Gameroom cash: $1307222 Rep Power: 82
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[9 (permalink)] Posted by Kerickson978 01-14-2012, 01:11 AM	Whats up?
very cool! __________________ Keith	Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Morrison, CO Posts: 1,627 Gameroom cash: $455260 Rep Power: 36
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[3 (permalink)] Posted by postal 01-06-2012, 11:07 PM	Reef-Geek
Believe it or not, it is considered one of the most docile of the big FL snakes. It can reaches sizes of up to 6.5 ft but rarely if ever bites. Instead they stick the end of their tail (stiff and pointed) into you. It might startle you but it wouldn't hurt. I bought a new floodlight so it might be time to see if I can find a live one next time the yard fills up for any length of time.	Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL Posts: 117 Gameroom cash: $32283 Rep Power: 20
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[5 (permalink)] Posted by LeviT 01-07-2012, 11:15 AM	2yr vet
Wow, poor guy. Wonder what happened to him.	Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pittsburg CA Posts: 225 Gameroom cash: $65790 Rep Power: 9
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[7 (permalink)] Posted by Tizzo 01-08-2012, 12:07 PM	♥...I'm justa girl...♫ ♪
Postal, My back yard is a bit of a swamp, but I've never seen that snake either?? You said it's docile but is it venomous?? He's strikingly pretty!!	Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Land O' lakes, Florida Posts: 938 Gameroom cash: $296850 Rep Power: 38
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