Pet Snakes That Eat Bugs

Some reptile enthusiasts would love to keep a pet snake, but can̵7;t stand the thought of feeding rodents to him. While all snakes are predators, and most consume vertebrates, there are a few species that will thrive on an insect- or worm-based diet. Of those that eat invertebrates, rough green snakes (Opheodrys aestivus), brown snakes (Storeria dekayi) and ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus) make the best pets.

  1. Rough Green Snakes

    • Blending in to trees and shrubs, rough green snakes are incredibly cryptic, or camouflaged, in their natural habitat. Rough green snakes consume insects, spiders and other invertebrate prey, while trying to avoid the sharp eyes of birds and other predators. From a husbandry perspective, rough green snakes are very lizard-like: They should be fed at least four or five times per week, they benefit from full-spectrum lighting and the use of calcium supplements and they should be fed insects. Rough green snakes are typically mild-mannered and not likely to bite; despite this, they are easily stressed, and should not be handled except when necessary.

    Ringneck Snakes

    • Ringneck snakes are small, secretive snakes, found throughout much of North America. Ringneck snakes exhibit significant diversity in terms of size, habitat, prey selection and color over their vast range; some authorities recognize 14 subspecies based on these differences. In the wild, ringneck snakes will display the bold colors of their ventral side when confronted by a predator, expel a foul musk from their vent and curl their lips up away from their teeth. In captivity, ringneck snakes tame very quickly, and are generally inoffensive pets. Ringneck snakes hunt earthworms, salamanders, snakes, lizards, slugs and insects, often varying by region and habitat. Ringneck snakes are mildly venomous, and use enlarged teeth in the rear of their mouth to inject venom into prey. The venom is unlikely to cause symptoms in humans, and is not considered medically significant.

    Brown Snakes

    • Brown snakes live throughout the eastern United States, and are often found living in close proximity to humans. Very small reptiles, brown snakes are typically less than 1 foot in length, and some adults are only 6 inches long. Brown snakes may be somewhat defensive when handled, flattening their heads and bodies while striking repeatedly, but they will usually calm down -- in any case, they are too small to bite effectively. Brown snakes and their close cousins the red-bellied snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata) spend their time consuming slugs, earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Brown snakes, which are also called DeKay̵7;s snakes, are protected in some areas and may be illegal to keep; always check your local laws before acquiring a new pet.

    Honorable Mention

    • There are a number of other snake species that are known to consume invertebrates throughout their lives, but most do not have long records in captivity and are infrequently available. Butler̵7;s garter snakes (Thamnophis butleri) from the Great Lakes region are thought to prey exclusively on earthworms, but are listed as endangered in Indiana, and wild caught individuals should be avoided. Southeastern crowned snakes (Tantilla coronata) spend their secretive lives hunting centipedes, spiders and insects. Though crowned snakes subdue prey with a mild venom, they aren̵7;t considered dangerous to humans. Smooth green snakes (Liochlorophis vernalis) are northern relatives of the rough green snake, and live a similar, but more terrestrial lifestyle. Perhaps the most intriguing bug-eating snake is the Yucatan cricket-eating snake (Symphimus mayae), which specializes in katydids and crickets. Unfortunately, this species is poorly known and not offered for sale often.