Anyone kept Enhydris enhydris before?

[Cheesetian]

I have the chance to get a couple next weekend and i was wondering whether anyone here has kept them before. Would like to know how big a tank i should keep them in and whether i need to filtrate the water, even if very lightly. Any advice on keeping these water snakes would be much appreciated because i've never kept snakes before. Thank you!

Christian

 

[channarox]

I'll chime in a bit.

They spend almost all their time in water, so yes, a filtration system is needed. Also because of the fish you'll have in the tank, that the snakes feed on.
Keep the water level high, but give them a little land area.

You should be fine with a 20-30 gallon tank.
Give them a lot of cover, plants and driftwood.
Change water regularly, like you would fish. They're quite hardy, so you should be fine with them, since you have fish keeping experience.

Good luck with em.

 

[Cheesetian]

Are they aggressive towards larger fishes? Like say perhaps three 5" Albino Senegals or Pacus? It's a 12" specimen although i'm thinking of getting another 14" one to go along with it. Was wondering whether i could comm. the snake with fishes although i could be totally delusional here!

Thanks for the information, it was exactly what i was looking for! Will i need a reptile light so the snake can heat up on land? Thank you!

 

[channarox]

Are they aggressive towards larger fishes? Like say perhaps three 5" Albino Senegals or Pacus? It's a 12" specimen although i'm thinking of getting another 14" one to go along with it. Was wondering whether i could comm. the snake with fishes although i could be totally delusional here!

Thanks for the information, it was exactly what i was looking for! Will i need a reptile light so the snake can heat up on land? Thank you!

I think, with the weather here in Singapore, you wouldn't need a heater. They don't really need a basking spot.

Yeah, you could have two snakes together. I have no idea about the larger fish though, but I'd be wary of the Pacu attacking the snakes.

 

[Cheesetian]

I think, with the weather here in Singapore, you wouldn't need a heater. They don't really need a basking spot.

Yeah, you could have two snakes together. I have no idea about the larger fish though, but I'd be wary of the Pacu attacking the snakes.

That's great news. Was afraid i would have to get additional reptile lighting. Was hoping i'd be able to comm. it so i wouldn't need to get a new tank as it'd be able to swim with my fishes and not want to eat them. Guess i should not take the chance. Do you think a 2x2x1.5 or 3x1.5x1.5 tank is good enough?

 

[channarox]

That's great news. Was afraid i would have to get additional reptile lighting. Was hoping i'd be able to comm. it so i wouldn't need to get a new tank as it'd be able to swim with my fishes and not want to eat them. Guess i should not take the chance. Do you think a 2x2x1.5 or 3x1.5x1.5 tank is good enough?

Just keep the temperature between 26-30 degrees celcius, lower at night, higher in the day, with a 12/12 day/night cycle.

Those sizes should be fine.

 

[Cheesetian]

Just keep the temperature between 26-30 degrees celcius, lower at night, higher in the day, with a 12/12 day/night cycle.

Those sizes should be fine.

I've read that their mildly venomous. Will they attack my hand if i stick it in to move something around or during water changes? How high do you suggest my water level be? Have you kept them before?

 

[channarox]

I've read that their mildly venomous. Will they attack my hand if i stick it in to move something around or during water changes? How high do you suggest my water level be? Have you kept them before?

They are, bites usually cause localized swelling and bleeding for about an hour or two.
They are usually docile snakes though, like most water snakes. I've never had Enhydris Enhydris, but have kept Enhydris Chinensis for a short while, before passing them to a friend.
I kept my water level like I do for my fishes, about 4-6 inches(depending on the size of the tank) from the top of the tank. You could go lower though.

 

[Cheesetian]

They are, bites usually cause localized swelling and bleeding for about an hour or two.
They are usually docile snakes though, like most water snakes. I've never had Enhydris Enhydris, but have kept Enhydris Chinensis for a short while, before passing them to a friend.
I kept my water level like I do for my fishes, about 4-6 inches(depending on the size of the tank) from the top of the tank. You could go lower though.

Do you think i'll be able to handle it(gently) without it biting me? Docile is good. Hahaha! How did you make the "land" for the tank?

 

[channarox]

Do you think i'll be able to handle it(gently) without it biting me? Docile is good. Hahaha! How did you make the "land" for the tank?

They are docile, and handleable usually. I never got bit when I handled them (didn't do it often though).

I just had a big piece of driftwood, that stuck out of the water.