N.B. Water Snake Baby

Question

Northern banded water   QUESTION: Hello. I recently got a Northern Banded Water Snake. He's very little, maybe a bit longer than my hand. I just want to make sure his exhibit is okay for now.
I didn't want to make it too big, so for now he's in a smaller container, a little less than a foot wide and just about a foot and a half long. This is all approximate, by the way. The bottom is covered with paper towels, and his hide box is a store-bought half-coconut shell with an entrance hole. For his water, I took a gallon jug and cut off the bottom. I taped the edges so he doesn't get injured. Inside I put some very small fish and some ghost shrimp. There are also two small artificial plant-like things that I cleaned with scalding water.I plan on putting him in a ten gallon as soon as I can. But for now, that's what
I have for him. All the websites have info on taking care of the adults, not the little ones. I added a picture of him wrapped around my hand.

ANSWER: We have lots of these around our pond here in TN. Your set-up sounds great to me. I would not change anything, just make sure he is eating.

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QUESTION: I just noticed that he isn't eating. Is it because of stress? Or do I just have the wrong foods? If you have any advice, I'll need it. Thanks.

ANSWER: Here is a short bio on the snake. I suggest that you try a small pinky mouse. If you can get him eating mice, it will be much better for him in the long run.

The Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) is a large, non-venomous, well-known snake in the Colubridae family that is native to North America. They are active during the day and at night. They are most often seen basking on rocks, stumps, or brush. During the day, they hunt among plants at the water's edge, looking for small fish, frogs, worms, leeches, crayfish, salamanders, small birds and mammals. At night, they concentrate on minnows and other small fish sleeping in shallow water. It was once an endangered species but now benefits from the introduction of round goby, an invasive species.

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QUESTION: Are you saying that he will begin to eat if I offer him a pinky mouse? He already has water dwelling prey. I think he is too small for a pinky mouse, but I can try it. His head is the same size, if not smaller, than the fingernail on my little finger. He's unbelievably small. I'm just asking to make sure I got what you said right:
Give it a pinky mouse and it will get better.
I hope I percepted you right.
-Cristan

Answer
I am suggesting that you try a baby pinky, a very small one no larger than the biggest part of the snake in girth. If you can persuade him to eat rodents, feeding him will be much easier. Get a live one if you can. Some smaller pet stores sell them. If he refuses the pinky, try the other prey items on the list. Captivity is hard on wild snakes. With one that small, there is a good possibility that he will not take to eating. Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.