
The typical diet of a baby ringneck snake can consist of:
- Small frog and toad species
- Small salamanders (commonly the red-backed varieties)
- Salamander eggs
- Slugs
- Small lizards (such as newts and geckos)
- Earthworms
- Crickets
- Other juvenile snake species
What do Baby ringneck snakes eat?
The typical diet of a baby ringneck snake can consist of: 1 Small frog and toad species 2 Small salamanders (commonly the red-backed varieties) 3 Salamander eggs 4 Slugs 5 Small lizards (such as newts and geckos) 6 Earthworms 7 Crickets 8 Other juvenile snake species More ...
How often do ringneck snakes eat earthworms?
But even for larger ringnecks, they will be perfectly happy with earthworms and insects. While feeding schedules vary from one type of snake to another, with some snake species being able to go for two weeks without food, that’s not the case with ringnecks. You should feed them two to four times per week.
How much to feed a ring neck snake?
Feed your ring neck snake. They do not need feed daily. Feed them two to four earthworms a week. Choose two days a week to be feeding days, spaced evenly apart, like Monday and Thursday.
What do ringneck lizards eat?
It will be quite quite happily eat a diet filled with crickets and earthworms. If the ringneck is larger in size, it might be able to eat larger prey like voles or mice. But even for larger ringnecks, they will be perfectly happy with earthworms and insects.

What does baby ringneck snakes eat?
Frogs, small salamanders, slugs, lizards, earthworms, and the young offspring of other snake species make their primary diet list.
Do ringneck snakes need a heat lamp?
Ventral heat not necessary, but UV lighting might not hurt. An incandescent bulb above the cage is recommended for providing heat, but it looks like ringnecks may prefer cooler temperatures. Branches might be used by the snakes for climbing and basking.
Are baby ringneck snakes poisonous?
The ringneck snake may have colorful underbellies and rings around its necks, but these creatures are not poisonous. Ringneck snakes are slightly venomous, but their venom is not fatal, nor does it affect humans and other larger animals.
Is a ringneck snake rare?
Ringneck snakes are secretive reptiles. Largely due to their small size and nocturnal nature, they are rarely seen and presumed to be uncommon. However, one study conducted in Kansas suggests that they exist at densities greater than 700 - 1800 per hectare.
How do you take care of a baby ring neck snake?
Give your snake a shallow water dish that is not heavy, or it could crush the snake, according to the Backwater Reptiles Blog. Feed your snake two to four times a week. Most snakes will prefer earthworms, but based on the snake's native habitat, other insects may be preferred, such as crickets or slugs.
What can ringneck snakes eat?
Ring-necked snakes are carnivorous creatures. Their diet consists primarily of smaller salamanders, earthworms, and slugs, but they also sometimes eat lizards, frogs, and some juvenile snakes of other species.
How many babies do ringneck snakes have?
A female ringneck can lay between 2 to 10 oval eggs that are about the size of a penny during the months of June or July. Multiple females have been found laying their eggs together under an ideal log. Like most reptiles, the young are born completely independent and don't need any parental care.
How can you tell if a ringneck is male or female?
0:041:48How to Tell If Your Snake is Male or Female | Pet Snakes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe female and hold the female in place a male's tail may be a little bit stronger a little bitMoreThe female and hold the female in place a male's tail may be a little bit stronger a little bit bigger.
Why do ringneck snakes curl their tails?
The Ring-necked Snake is a small, slender snake. Adults average around 14 inches in length. When under attack, these snakes will coil their tails showing the bright red underside while hiding their head under their body. This is thought to reduce predation by giving the impression they may be toxic to eat.
How big does a ringneck snake get?
10 to 15 inchesThey are small smooth slender snakes with an average adult length of 10 to 15 inches, females generally larger.
Are ringneck snakes aggressive?
Although they are completely harmless to humans, ringnecks have weak venom in their saliva which they use to subdue their prey, which include a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, lizards, and other small snakes.
What snake is best for beginners?
The 9 Best Pet Snakes for BeginnersCorn Snake – Pantherophis guttata. ... 2. California Kingsnake –Lampropeltis getula californiae. ... Garter Snake – Thamnophis spp. ... Rosy Boa – Charina trivirgata. ... Ball Python – Python regius. ... Kenyan Sand Boas – Eryx colubrinus. ... Ringneck Snakes – Diadophis punctatus. ... Brown Snakes – Storeria dekayi.More items...•
How big does a ringneck snake get?
10 to 15 inchesThey are small smooth slender snakes with an average adult length of 10 to 15 inches, females generally larger.
Do pet snakes recognize their owners?
Snakes don't have great memory or sight, so won't recognise the look of their owner. They only have a good memory for smells as they rely on smell to locate prey in the wild.
Are ringneck snakes aggressive?
Although they are completely harmless to humans, ringnecks have weak venom in their saliva which they use to subdue their prey, which include a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, lizards, and other small snakes.
Are Mice Part of A Ringneck Snake's Diet?
Ringneck snakes do not eat mice, since mice are too large for such small snakes. Pet ringnecks prefer earthworms and slugs. In the wild, they also...
Do Ringneck Snakes Eat Each Other?
Although ringneck snakes have been known to eat baby snakes of other species, they do not eat their own kind. In the wild, they hibernate in coloni...
How Long Can Ringneck Snakes Go Without Eating Food?
Ringneck snakes in captivity usually feed every few days. They often will not eat when they shed. In the wild, ringnecks will hibernate and not eat...
What do ringneck snakes eat?
Generally, ringneck snakes feed on slugs, insects, insect larvae, small reptiles, small amphibians, and earthworms. If you don’t like the idea of feeding your pet snake rodents or larger prey, you’ll love the ringneck snake, because you can feed it insects. With that in mind, let’s find out how to ensure you give your pet ringneck snake a healthy, ...
How to keep a ringneck snake as a pet?
If you want to keep a ringneck snake as a pet, you need to ensure that you give it the proper diet, as outlined above. It also needs a habitat that mimics its natural environment. And you should give it a great snake name.
Why is a ringneck snake a good pet?
The ringneck snake makes a great pet due to its small size and docile nature. Many owners love that they don’t have to feed it rodents, since it is perfectly happy to eat nothing but insects or earthworms. This all combines to make it one of the easiest snakes to care for. Reader Interactions.
What is the humidity level of a ringneck snake?
Ringneck snakes are tropical or semi-aquatic snakes. They thrive when humidity levels are between 50 and 80 percent, so make sure you ensure this for their enclosure. A humidity gauge is vital to maintain the correct humidity levels.
How big do ring neck snakes grow?
These snakes are small and thin creatures that don’t become too big even when they reach adulthood. They generally only grow to 10 to 15 inches in size. This means they don’t need a large terrarium.
How to keep a snake warm?
A low-watt basking light or heat emitter can help you to maintain a good temperature for the snake. Avoid under-tank heating. This is not necessary for your ring necked snake and it can cause problems like dehydration. These snakes like to dig!
Is a ringneck snake poisonous?
Ringneck snakes are mildly poisonous. They have small amounts of venom in their saliva, but this is not potent enough to harm us. They’re also not aggressive, so they won’t bite unless they need to attack prey.
How Often Does a Baby Ringneck Snake Eat?
As babies, ringneck snakes tend to eat every 3 to 4 days, so most breeders and handlers would recommend feeding them between 2 to 4 times a week. As well as feeding them frequently and consistently, you should also be sure to give them a constant drink supply too! Keep a shallow dish of fresh water in their enclosure at all times, but ensure that it is not heavy enough to crush the snake if overturned.
How to keep baby ringneck snakes alive?
Keep a shallow dish of fresh water in their enclosure at all times, but ensure that it is not heavy enough to crush the snake if overturned. Baby ringneck snakes love a moist habitat in which to live, so replicate this further by lightly misting their cage each day too.
What Does Baby Ringneck snake Poop Look Like?
The poop of a baby ringneck snake – like most snakes – has a similar appearance to bird droppings, in the sense that their excrement is a wet, soft liquid rather than solid and has a mostly white color to it. Because of their varied diet, a ringneck snake will have traces of bone, nails and teeth in their poop. When baby ringneck snakes feel cornered or are caught, they often release a mix of their liquid feces and uric acid on their attacker.
How Long Can Baby Ringneck Snakes Go without Eating?
While an adult ringneck snake may be able to go without food for as long as 2 to 3 months, baby ringneck snakes may not survive longer than a week without eating. Since they generally prefer to eat every 3 to 4 days, going a week without food will cause a baby ringneck to display serious health issues and complications that will affect their development.
What color are baby ringneck snakes?
Ringneck snakes can have color variations of red, yellow and orange under bellies with a darker color on their dorsal side, but the common color combination to look out for when identifying a baby ringneck is a dark slate grey body with a belly that is typically yellowish orange with a similar yellow-orange ring around the neck.
How much does it cost to keep a baby ringneck snake?
Once you also factor in their terrarium, food and bedding needs etc, the overall upfront cost of keeping a baby ringneck snake may set you back around $300 – and the cost to feed them each month can cost around roughly $50.
Where do ringneck snakes live?
Ringneck snakes can be found across large parts of the United States, central Mexico as well as Canada’s south-eastern region, and they love to live in areas of moist soil near river banks and streams, as well as damp areas of woodland and forests.
What Do Ringneck Snakes Eat?
In the wild, larger snakes would usually prey on relatively large creatures such as mice, birds, and in some cases, larger species have even been known to feast on cattle and deer. But this ringneck snake is far smaller and would struggle with even a small mouse.
What do snakes eat?
In captivity, you may feed your snake a diet that consists of crickets, mealworms, and earthworms, but you must always be sure to source these correctly to avoid causing harm to your pet.
How long do ringneck snakes live?
However, it is important to keep in mind that this is a record, and for the most part, you might expect a wild ringneck snake to live for around ten years on average. In captivity, the snake will likely not last this long and most pet ringneck snakes will pass away around the age of six.
How do ringneck snakes help the ecosystem?
One of the key ways that ringnecks help to maintain a stable eco-system in their natural habitat is that they can effectively control the insect population. While they do eat certain insects themselves, by feeding on species such as frogs and small lizards who exclusively eat insects, the ringneck snake can control the population.
What is the most common snake to keep as a pet?
Ringneck snakes are one of the most common types of a small snake to keep as a pet, and it isn’t hard to see why; they are incredibly beautiful animals.
Can snakes eat grubs?
As we mentioned, providing your snake with a diet that is as similar to what they would eat in the wild is essential, and whilst it may not be practical to source pounds and pounds of small lizards, pet owners are easily able to purchase insects and grubs for their slithery friends.
Is a ringneck a pet snake?
Ringneck snakes are a common type of pet snake and unlike some of the other domesticated species are relatively small. It is easy to imagine a pet snake as being huge, but since this species rarely grows much wider than a pencil, it is hardly surprising that their diet is vastly different from some of their bigger cousins.
Where do ringneck snakes live?
Ringneck snakes are small snakes that live throughout North and Central America, with a territory that spans from Canada all the way through Mexico. As the name implies, the snakes have a distinctive yellow ring on their neck. They have stunning colors that are prized among snake owners, with their backs generally ranging from black to brown to gray and bright stomachs ranging from red to orange to yellow.
How big do ringneck snakes get?
They are small snakes, generally growing to only 10 to 15 inches depending on the subspecies, and they rarely get wider than the width of a pencil. This means that a full-grown ringneck snake pet will be about the size of many other baby snakes. While they are extremely common, these snakes are rarely seen because they are small, very shy, live in the forest, and spend most of their time hiding in places like rocks, logs, and leaf litter.
What are some cool snakes to have as pets?
Slithery, scaly snakes can make cool pets that are fun to hold. But when you think of pet snakes, you might think of big boa constrictors or other large snakes that are hard to hold onto even with two hands. But not all snakes are so massive. In fact, the tiny ringneck snake can be held easily in one hand —sometimes even happily curling around just one single finger. As a bonus, while larger snakes take up a ton of room, the ringneck snake often needs a tank only slightly bigger than a shoebox. As a bonus, they eat insects like worms, crickets and slugs rather than mammals like mice, rats or baby bunnies.
What temperature should a snake cage be?
Keep the cage at the proper temperature, which should be 70-75 degrees during the day and 65-70 degrees at night for most species. Some subspecies from warmer climates such as Mexico might prefer temperatures that are slightly warmer than this, though, so keep your snake's native habitat in mind when setting the temperature.
Can a baby ringneck snake be raised?
A baby ringneck snake is born ready to care for himself and does not require help from his parent, so if you happen to stumble upon ringneck snake eggs and can successfully incubate and hatch them, you can raise the hatchlings just like you would an older snake.
Can a ringneck snake be held in one hand?
In fact, the tiny ringneck snake can be held easily in one hand —sometimes even happily curling around just one single finger. As a bonus, while larger snakes take up a ton of room, the ringneck snake often needs a tank only slightly bigger than a shoebox.
Do ringneck snakes bite humans?
While the ringneck snake does have venom, the venom does not pose a threat to humans. Additionally, the teeth are small and located in the back of the mouth, according to PetPonder, which means that they cannot get their teeth into your skin. While bites are very rare, when they do occur, Reptile Wikipedia says that they can last up to a minute, and the result is a slight sting and warm sensation. The bites do not hurt.
What is the best food for ringnecks?
Complete and Pelleted Food. Give your Ringneck all the nutrition they need with foods such as Lafeber NutriBerries, developed in 5 yummy flavours. Original – El Paso – Garden Veggie – Tropical Fruit – Sunny Orchard. All flavours have 40 nutrients Parrots need for good overall wellbeing.
What do ringneck parrots eat?
Complete or pelleted food should be 60-80% of their diet, with the rest made up of sprouting seed, fruits, vegetables, seed, nuts and other treats.
What do ringnecks like to pick?
Ringnecks love to pick through the sprays of the Millet or Naturals Pick n Fly.

Earthworms
Slugs
- Ringneck snakes are carnivorous and a valuable part of the ecosystem. They feed on various small animals, including slugs, frogs, and small lizards. While their main diet is composed of slugs, they also consume other types of insects, including earthworms. Because they feed on a variety of insects, ringnecks help control the fungi and other bugs in their habitat.
Crickets
- Many pet owners do not realize that Ringneck snakes eat crickets! However, these insects can provide a very nutritious diet for your snake. You should buy crickets from a pet store if you want to feed your snake crickets. If you do not want to purchase crickets from a pet store, you can raise them yourself. Just make sure that you feed your snake crickets only when they are fully grown.
Other Small Snakes
- In the wild, ringneck snakes eat a variety of small reptiles and amphibians, as well as the babies of other species. In captivity, they eat earthworms, but if you can’t find any in your area, you can buy some at a bait store or even a pet store. Although ringneck snakes don’t like rodents or mice, they will eat nightcrawlers, but these are usually too large for the ringneck.
Fungi
- It isn’t known exactly what Ringneck snakes eat, but this species does consume a variety of insects. As part of their diet, they also eat small lizards and frogs. Their diet also includes earthworms and slugs. While the snakes themselves may not be dangerous, they do play an important role in the ecosystem by eating other animals and fungi.
Leaf Eaters
- Ringneck snakes are a common sight in Virginia, where they are commonly found in leaves and piles of dead leaves. These reptiles have soft scales, but need moist habitat to survive. Stream banks and dense clumps of leaves are perfect habitats for a Ringneck snake. Ringneck snakes also like holes in the ground. These three habitat requirements make this snake ideal for Virginia.
Mice
- Ringneck snakes do not eat mice. Instead, they feed on other small animals, such as slugs and earthworms. They also eat salamanders and small frogs. Unlike most snakes, ringneck snakes do not feed on baby snakes. In fact, ringneck snakes are known to live for up to 20 years. In captivity, ringneck snakes live in colonies of up to 100 snakes.