Green Vine Snake - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Snake17 on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
If you can help me with some info I`ll be very greatfull. Some one I know here has a green vine snake(but neither of us has any ideea as to what species it is. We don`t know if it`s south american or asian) which I`m thinking of purchasing. He had 2 but one of them wouldn`t eat and died. They are probably wild caught specimens. This one only ate a lizard and I was told that it wouldn`t even look at a mouse. I`m wondering if I could ever convince it to eat mice because my lizards suply will run out shortly and I won`t be able to find any more during the winter. If you can, please give me some tips. Thanks, Alex S.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by venoman on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
These arboreal snakes are found mainly in trees that hang over the riverways. This snake was collected on the Macal River near the town of San Ignacio. These snakes can easily be captured at night with a spotlight while canoeing down the river. These snakes mainly feed on small birds as well as lizards. They also feed quite well on fuzzy mice. These snakes are rear-fanged but have a less than potent venom to humans. These snakes readily snap and will defend their territory by spreading their heads to look triangular, as well as gaping......Here is some info...Hope it helps. The Green Vine Snake is South American and is mainly found in Belize. As far as feeding goes, try chicks.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Snake17 on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks for the help. I know that there are asian green vine snakes also called orientall whip snakes and I don`t know which of theese 2 species this snake is. If it`s Oxybelis or Ahaetulla. I`ll try feeding it with chicks and fuzzyes. Thanks again.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Richie on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Hello Alex. There are South American Vine Snakes AND Asian Vine Snakes. The Asian Vine Snakes (commonly called Green Vine Snakes or Oriental Whip Snakes) are from the genus Ahaetulla. The two most commonly seen forms are Ahaetulla prasina (which has a long, narrow and flattened head) and Ahaetulla nasuta (commonly called the Long Nosed Vine Snake which has a shorter, triangular and wedge shaped nose). The South American Vine Snakes (which actually range from Southern Mexico, through Central America and Northern South America) are from the genus Oxybelis. There are only two species commonly encountered, Oxybelis aeneus (Brown Vine Snake) and Oxybelis fulgidus (Green Vine Snake). Both species have fairly large, round eyes and also possess quite a large head that is rounded above and below. The easiest way to distinguish Oxybelis from Ahaetulla is to look at their eyes. Oxybelis have round pupils, whereas Ahaetulla have horizontal pupils. With regard to diet, both types are mainly lizard and frog feeders - especially Ahaetulla. They CAN be weaned on to rodents however, but it takes time and patience. The task is often made more difficult if the animal(s) in question are wild caught (likely). Both groups usually carry high loads of Protozoans, that must be eliminated swiftly, if they are to survive in captivity. Metronidazole (Flagyl), at a dose of 75 mg - 100 mg per kg should be administered, via a stomach tube - 4 treatments are usually necessary (each being 3-4 days apart). THIS SHOULD BE DONE BY A SPECIALIST REPTILE VET!! In my experience, Oxybelis feed more readily on rodents but Ahaetulla are more stubborn. You can try scent marking rodents by rubbing them on a lizard, or by offering live pinkie or fuzzy mice. However, initially it may be necessary to feed them live Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis) in order to help them recover from the stress of collection and importation. Hope this is of some help to you (and your charge). Best of luck. Regards Viperman (U.K)

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Snake17 on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Hi Richie and thanks loads for the info. I can surely distinguesh the two genuses now. If it`s an Ahaetulla I won`t buy it cause i don`t want it dieing on me. I would be able to feed it some Lacerta agilis and podarcis muralis but I only have about 6 lizards and the weather is allready to cold for me to built up suplies for the winter. If it`s Oxybelis I`ll purchase it. Thanks again. Best regards, Alex S.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Phobos on September 11, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Also....Try regular old skinks & anoles you find locally. You can freeze them for winter feeding, plus it kills parasites the lizards carry if frozen for more than a month. Good Luck.. Al

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by Snake17 on September 12, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks Phobos. It would be so much easier to do this if I lived in the States. If the weather warms up here I`ll be able to gather a couple dousin lizards which I could freez for the winter. Thanks anyway.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by AquaHerp on September 12, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I have always been able to get the Oxybelus to move over to mice eventually. But it does indeed take a lot of times and patience. (and like feeding baby arboreal vipers...a lot of Advil while you wait..LOL) But it can be done. Richie had just about nailed everything else above for you.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by AquaHerp on September 12, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
was also curious as how venoman knew exactly where the snake was collected? Although the fulgidus is a South American dweller, the sub-species of aeneus ranges all the way up into AZ.

RE: Green Vine Snake	Reply
by AquaHerp on September 12, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
psssst..pardon my spelling. Lack of coffee and the written language are not a good mix for me. LOL

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