Banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata)

Short answers

Banded water snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×50 cm aqua-terrarium.

Banded water snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Banded water snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).

Banded water snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–15 years.

Banded water snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm aqua-terrarium

Substrate

A large water section with a filter, a cork land section, climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Fish, frog substitutes, frozen-thawed mice

Feeding interval

2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

60–110 cm

Life expectancy

8–15 years

Origin

The south-eastern USA

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–12 weeks

Cohabitation

Keep it singly, since these snakes are bitey towards each other and the feeding response is contagious: if one water snake sees another strike at food, it snaps hastily too - in a shared enclosure one animal can badly injure or swallow the other along with its meal. Juveniles are occasionally raised in small groups, but only with strictly separate feeding.

Notes

Strongly aquatic – it needs a genuine aquaterrarium with a filtered water section. Very quick to bite and defensive, but non-venomous. Do not keep it with other snakes.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) – Intermediate
• Plain-bellied water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) – Intermediate
• Ahumada's alpine garter snake (Thamnophis ahumadai) – Expert
• Barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica) – Intermediate
• Bogert's garter snake (Thamnophis bogerti) – Expert
• Dekay's brown snake (Storeria dekayi) – Intermediate
• Butler's garter snake (Thamnophis butleri) – Intermediate
• Cope's mountain meadow snake (Thamnophis copei) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm aqua-terrarium), substrate (A large water section with a filter, a cork land section, climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.