Snakes are fascinating creatures.And not all snakes are harmful. There are many non-venomous snakes.There are 3548 species of snakes, out of which only 600 are venomous. So the chances of you coming across a non-venomous snake are actually high. Ringneck snakes are some of the most popular pet snakes in North America because of their attractive yellow, orange, and red colors and easy maintenance. This snake is also known as a ringnecked snake (Diadophis punctatus). Ringneck snakes are found in the United States, central Mexico, and southeastern Canada. The ringneck snake is the only species in the Diadophis genus. The ringneck snake has 14 subspecies. Its lifespan in the wild is 10 years and 6 years in captivity. These snakes hunt amphibians and are hunted by animals like skunks and wild hogs. The ringneck snake, in order to escape from predators, curls its tail and hides in moist areas. You can spot the females in moist areas during the breeding season.Continue reading to know more about ringneck snakes. You can also check out other articles on ringneck snake facts and are roses poisonous to cats.Are ringneck snakes dangerous to humans?Ringneck snakes, just like other snake species, have sharp teeth. Two elongated teeth are placed at the back of their mouth. Though ringneck snakes are listed among the non-venomous snakes in many sources, they still possess a mild venom.This mild venom of ringneck snakes only works on prey. It is too weak to harm humans. Sometimes the snake’s venom is too weak to kill its prey. The ringneck snake has a gland called the Duvernoy’s gland. This gland secretes mildly toxic saliva. What is the use of this venom?The mild venom secreted by ringneck snakes is used to kill small prey. These snakes, to survive, hunt with the aid of this venom. Since the fangs are placed at the back end of their mouth, ringneck snakes often cannot capture the prey. The prey escapes from the ringneck snake with a soft bite, which is too mild to kill it. Though it does not kill the prey entirely, it restricts movements by mildly sedating it or making it lethargic. The ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) then waits until the animal is completely slow. It then grabs and swallows the prey. Venom is also used in digestion. Just like how human saliva smoothens and quickens the digestion process, ringneck snake venom also helps to break down the snake’s food into tiny particles. The venomous saliva starts to digest the food even before the food reaches the snake’s stomach. Ringneck snakes rarely bite humans.Unlike other animals or snakes, they do not attack when they feel threatened, instead they coil up, wishing they go unnoticed. Ringneck snakes have a lot of techniques to scare us away instead of biting us. The ringneck snake has bright coloration on its belly and tail. When you step close to them, they reveal this coloration. All venomous reptiles have bright colors. This is just an attempt to fool and trick you into thinking that they are more dangerous than they actually are. It does not give up with this attempt. It also releases a foul scent called musk, mimicking other dangerous reptiles. Venomous reptiles release this smell as a warning before they attack. But don’t underestimate the ringneck snake. It can bite when it does not have an escape strategy. The ringneck snake only uses this as a last resort. There isn’t much to worry about if you are bitten by a ringneck snake.Can I keep a ringneck snake as a pet?Ringneck snakes are very attractive, harmless gray-colored snakes that have yellow and orange bands. The northern ringneck snake and the southern ringneck snake are the two subspecies that are easier to maintain. They are not poisonous to other pets, like dogs and cats. They are small-sized snakes that rarely reach an average size of 14 in (35.56 cm). They are the best pets for beginners.One thing that keeps pet owners from adding these snakes to their families is their behavior. They are not affectionate and like to be left alone all the time. They view humans as predators. This scares them, so they hide. It is never boring when you own this snake as you get to play hide and seek with them all the time. They are also petite, which means they don’t occupy extensive areas. The ringneck snake is very popular and well-admired due to its bright yellow, orange or red coloration in the belly region. Experts say that it is better to leave ringneck snakes in the wild as this species is not fit for breeding or laying eggs in captivity. They need regions with loose, aerated soils that are secluded to lay eggs. If you want a social snake, this might not be your best choice. They can even break your hearts by staying out of your sight and running away when they see you. This might be a good pick for people who want snakes as pets but have little time to bond with them. You can win them over if you are dedicated. If you are looking for a compact pet snake, Barbados Thread snake is the best option. It is the smallest pet snake and is found on a few Caribbean islands.Do ringneck snakes like to be handled?Ringneck snakes have smooth scales. So you might want to touch them. However, your pet ringneck snake might not like this.Getting a hold of them is very hard. The moment you catch them, they immediately slip away. Providing proper care might encourage them to get more used to handling. Initially, they are shy and since they view humans as threats or mostly compare us to predators, they can be very distant. Over time with constant effort, they might get accustomed to it. They will curl their tail around your fingers once they develop trust. They are tiny creatures with delicate bodies. So handling them roughly or holding them tightly might injure them and push them further away from you. We have listed below a few signs which will help you identify if your pet ringneck snake is comfortable around you.Slow Movements: This is the first sign they exhibit when they are okay with being picked up. In the early stages, snakes might run away or hide when you try to touch them. Once they have gotten used to it, they will move slowly, allowing you to pick them up.Crawling: Ringneck snakes can crawl up to your neck or arms. This might be alarming, but don’t worry, it just shows that they are comfortable around you.Eye Movements: Snakes stare at their prey and predators. They fixate their view on them so that they are not surprised. If your snake is monitoring you all the time, it means that they still view you as a potential threat and are not very comfortable around you.Personality: People often take it as a joke when experts say that snakes have a personality. If you spend a lot of time with your snake, you can tell how they behave when they see strangers or how they react to certain things. If your pet ringneck snake has the same personality, it means it is comfortable around you.What do baby ringneck snakes eat in captivity?Baby ringneck snakes might take a few days to get accustomed to their new place. They mainly feed on salamanders, earthworms and slugs. They also eat lizards and frogs.Feeding them might not be a simple task in the first few days. So make sure you either give them salamanders or earthworms, as these are their favorites.Did You Know…The ringneck snake has a yellow, orange or red neck ring. Some subspecies might have a neck ring that is lighter or might not have neck rings at all. They have bright red tails. The total length or the length of the tails can help distinguish the subspecies. Males and females have different scales. You can easily identify a female, as they have a large body and a small tail.The southern ringneck snake has black spots in its belly. The neck ring in the northern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) species is complete, while the ring in the southern ringneck snake(Diadophis punctatus punctatus) species looks like it has gaps.During hibernation, ringneck snakes can go without food for up to two weeks. But on normal days, they need to be fed two to three times a week.Getting rid of ringneck snakes is easy. Once you identify them, you can sweep them gently and place them in a trash can. Move the snake to a place far away from residential areas.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are ringneck snakes poisonous, cool snakes world facts for kids, then why not take a look at what is the smallest bone in the body, fascinating body facts for kids or are frogs cold-blooded, explore fascinating truth about amphibians?
Snakes are fascinating creatures.
