# Snake

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 17, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511 "2004-05-17T01:26:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![archcm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@archcm1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archcm1)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511/1 "2004-05-17T01:26:55Z")

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This morning I found a snake in my yard. It is 10 inches long, has a brownish-grey dorsal side and a white ventral side. I found it in San Antonio, Texas, which is in Southern Texas. I am trying to identify it, because I don’t know what to feed it. I think it might be a garter snake, but it doesn’t have the yellow lateral lines. If someone could help me identify this snake, I would appreciate it.  
thanks,  
archcm1 😃

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**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511/2 "2004-05-17T02:01:15Z")

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Sounds like a [Rough Earth Snake](http://www.texassnakes.net/RoughEarth.htm). If it is, they feed on earthworms, soft-bodied insects and insect larva.

I recommend you do not try to keep this snake as a pet. Wild caught snakes tend to be nervous, prone to illness, and difficult to feed in captivity. If you want a pet snake, buy a corn snake from a breeder AFTER you learn how to care for it.

[Corn snakes as pets.](http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/cornsnakes/a/cornsnakes.htm)

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**Author:** ![Mr.Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mr.Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Ash)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511/3 "2004-05-17T02:13:33Z")

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I was thinking a [Crayfish Snake](http://www.intrepidtraveler.net/snakes/rgrahami.html) or the aforementioned varities of the Earth Snakes. The Earth Snakes I’ve seen out here are pretty small, though - I don’t know if I’ve seen one 10 inches.

Was there any pattern on it at all?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mr.Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Ash)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake/245511/4 "2004-05-17T02:20:56Z")

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Of course, I meant to mention I’ve never seen a Crayfish Snake out here. Just picking it from a line up of South Texas snakes.