{"product_id":"diamondback-water-snake","title":"Diamondback Water Snake","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiamondback Water Snake (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNerodia rhombifer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Diamondback Water Snake is a fascinating semi-aquatic North American snake recognised for the distinctive dark diamond-shaped pattern running along its back. A powerful swimmer and enthusiastic feeder, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNerodia rhombifer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an active and interesting species to observe. Unlike similarly patterned pit vipers, Diamondback Water Snakes are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enon-venomous\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, although they can be defensive and are generally better suited to experienced snake keepers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHabitat\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiamondback Water Snakes naturally inhabit areas around rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps and other bodies of freshwater. Their enclosure should provide access to both land and water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnclosure:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Spacious, secure semi-aquatic vivarium with plenty of usable floor space\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBasking Temperature:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 30–32°C\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmbient Temperature:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Around 24–28°C\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCooler Area:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 22–24°C\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Moderate to high, with good ventilation\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLighting:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A natural day\/night cycle should be provided, with appropriate UVB lighting beneficial\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWater:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Provide a large area of clean, fresh water that allows the snake to soak and swim comfortably\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Cork bark, sturdy branches, rocks, hides and elevated resting areas\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcellent filtration and regular water changes are important due to their semi-aquatic lifestyle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeeding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiamondback Water Snakes are carnivorous and naturally feed heavily on aquatic prey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiet:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Primarily appropriately sized fish, with amphibians also forming part of their natural diet\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaptive diets should be varied and nutritionally appropriate rather than relying exclusively on a single feeder species\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJuveniles:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Feed appropriately sized meals approximately every 5–7 days\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdults:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Generally feed approximately every 7–10 days depending on size and body condition\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFresh drinking and swimming water should always be available\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCare should be taken when selecting feeder fish, as some species are unsuitable as a regular staple diet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeneral Care\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNerodia rhombifer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an active and robust snake but can be more defensive than many commonly kept pet snake species.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Alert, active and potentially defensive\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandling:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Minimal handling is generally preferable; individuals may bite and release a strong-smelling musk when threatened\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVenom:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Non-venomous\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Commonly around 90–150cm, with females typically becoming larger than males\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Can potentially live 10+ years with excellent captive care\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eActivity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Excellent swimmer and frequently active around the water\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Maintaining clean water is particularly important, alongside regular enclosure cleaning and stable temperatures\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy Choose a Diamondback Water Snake?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDistinctive diamond-patterned appearance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFascinating semi-aquatic lifestyle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcellent swimming and hunting behaviour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eActive and interesting display species\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNon-venomous\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnusual alternative to more commonly kept snakes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRewarding species for experienced keepers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith its distinctive markings, aquatic behaviour and active personality, the Diamondback Water Snake is a fascinating choice for an experienced keeper looking for something different from the more traditional captive snake species.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"livestock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57468384051575,"sku":null,"price":199.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2145\/4643\/files\/06A27D48-F578-49CC-9184-1ECED5BD6D62.jpg?v=1789722884","url":"https:\/\/tropical-supplies.co.uk\/products\/diamondback-water-snake","provider":"Tropical Supplies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}