|
Homalopsis buccata
Puff
- faced water snake
This website is dedicated to the Very Aquatic
Family of Snakes - Homalopsinae.
I have been working with
Homalopsinae snakes since 2005. I have found them to be very hardy and easy snakes to keep, once they are provided with proper husbandry.
If You were ever interested in a true water snake - Homalopsinae snakes are it.
The Captive Husbandry
Requirements of these snakes varies from species to species. Some like it a bit
drier, while others love it soaking wet. Strangely, many of the Homalopsinae
snakes are a nuisance in their native areas, yet very few are exported to the
pet trade. Many are eaten locally with their skins being sold to the skin trade,
and in some areas they are used as crocodile food on croc farms! Check out this
article on the "World's Largest Snake Hunt".
Considering the limited availability of these snakes to hobbyist, information
outside of basic field studies is fairly hard to come by. Currently, I have only
worked with 2 species of Homalopsinae snakes: Homalopsis buccata and
Enhydris chinensis. However, this website intendeds to--Share the Knowledge
in hopes that others will be able to keep these wonderful creatures.
Melanistic Enhydris chinensis
Chinese Water snake
I hope that, with knowledge, in the
not so distant future, the demand for these snakes will become high enough that
Exporters and Importers will begin to see the value of Ex/Importing them. They
are not expensive snakes. Their populations generally maintain at a high level.
Our hobbyist demand won't do much other than help save some from the crocs and
skin trade.
Currently, this website deals with Homalopsis
buccata and Enhydris chinensis. I hope to be adding care information for a 3rd
species very soon.
There is a lot of
Information linked
within the Text of this Website.
|