Keelbacks??

Hey everyone,
I have a 4x2x2 tank and I was thinking about getting a Keelback in it, only thing is I don't know much about them? I have tried to find care sheets and things for them but can't seem to find any,
So and help would be appreciated,
Things like.. Water condition.. Ph/gh water temps...
Can you keep them with a turtle?
And yeh if anyone has a good detailed care sheet message me or what ever. thanks in advance,
Cam


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i don't even know what a keelback is, LOL!!!!!!!!!

Fresh water snake


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There was an article in one of the recent scales and tails magazine..

I'd imagine water condition doesn't make a hell of a difference as long as the water is kept clean and pH relatively neutral. They're not a huge snake so I'd imagine it would be a bit risky to keep them with turtles (which are like the labradors of the reptile world in regards to food).
You're in Melbourne, go visit Amazing Amazon and have a chat to Ben Moore, he's kept and bred several colubrid species including keelbacks and probably one of the best people to talk to about their captive care.

As above

talk to Ben

he has sexy things

and is a wealth of Knowledge

I have never kept them and know very little about keeping them so i am not an expert on this matter. The questions you are asking sound like you want to keep them in a water tank, I believe that is incorrect. While keelbacks do like water, they are only semi aquatic and also spend time on land. I would have thought that their cage setup requirements would be similar to a water python where they would appreciate a large water bowl but do not actually need any more water than other snakes. I think that it might be possible to keep them with a turtle, as in they probably wouldn't be able to eat each other.... but their requirements are very different, the turtle needs very little land, while I guess the snake needs at least 50%-75% land. Not to mention the risk of the turtle trying to bite the end of the snakes tail. Personally, there are only a few animals that i would keep in the same tank as a turtle, turtles are too devious and like to bite things that move, i wouldn't trust them (that may sound like i don't like turtles, but that's not true, i love turtles and study them, i just don't trust them).

the best care sheet i was about to find was Amazing Amazon's Colubrid care sheet Colubrid Care Sheet - Aquarium and reptile online shop in Melbourne. Specialise in Baby Turtles, Lizards, Frogs and Pythons also for sale! which is still vague

I have personally seen these in a 4x2x2 nearly total aquatic with a small section above water to feed n reproduce, awesome looking tank, i have vids of it i was in awe, dont think i would go turtles,
talk to Ben

we get checkered keelbacks up here.... they spend 80% of their time in water and about 20% on land... very cool at catching fish

dottyback said:

There was an article in one of the recent scales and tails magazine..

Click to expand...

Who was that written by again?


As for the husbandry.
I keep mine in a converted turtle enclosure. Large land area over a foot of water.
Water is the main method of heating and is kept at 27 degrees. but I also use a basking lamp up one end of the dry area.
A good internal aquarium filter (i thinks its called a fluval f4)
I keep ph as close to neutral as possible.
Change 1/3 water weekly
I feed mine by putting fish into little bowls for them to feed. Plus they catch fish whilst swimming around also. They dont do this often if you maintain a good feeding schedule.

I have a couple of vids/pics somewhere ill try find them and put them on here for you

Dont put a turtle in there. it may end up having a nibble regularly on your keelbacks tail or head.

Just noticed you're in melbourne. Head down to amazing amazon and ask them there also. they all have experience keeping keelbacks

syeph8 said:

As for the husbandry.
I keep mine in a converted turtle enclosure. Large land area over a foot of water.
Water is the main method of heating and is kept at 27 degrees. but I also use a basking lamp up one end of the dry area.
A good internal aquarium filter (i thinks its called a fluval f4)

Click to expand...

fluval u4 be okay for a 4x2x2? u4 can do 240L but im not sure how many liters its hold, what size is your tank?
when you say a land area over a foot of water, do you mean you fill your tank up to only around 1 foot deep?
yeh i think my best chances are going to see ben will be sure to try and get down there soon,

syeph8 said:

Who was that written by again?

Click to expand...

our very own dottyback

@ dottyback, great article mate, really loved it

- Definitely dont keep them with Turtles, Ive also had them try and eat each other so I'd recommend keeping more than one in separate enclosures.
- They primarily feed in the water so a decent sized water bowl is the least amount you will need, its nice to keep food and "play" water separate too so the above mentioned method of a separate feeding bowl is a good idea.
- Very fast moving and higher metabolism than pythons so feed more regularly, not a good beginner snake, I wouldnt consider them a good beginner colubrid neither due to the extra water needs over a Common Tree Snake.
- Prone to scenting/musking when frightened, not a pleasant smell.

They are alot of fun to keep, but are more like lizards in husbandry than pythons.... one of the reason I moved mine on, I'm a lazy *******.

Keelbacks are regularly found in colonies in the wild, I was breeding them up until a couple years ago with no cannibalism. TheyRe not fussy about water conditions, or anything, really....very hardy snakes. Not very cuddly, though, unless you like bleeding

Soooo many mixed responses!!



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Thanks though for everyone's help now I need to know 1 or 2, I'll just head to aa cheers guys


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CameronWright said:

fluval u4 be okay for a 4x2x2? u4 can do 240L but im not sure how many liters its hold, what size is your tank?
when you say a land area over a foot of water, do you mean you fill your tank up to only around 1 foot deep?
yeh i think my best chances are going to see ben will be sure to try and get down there soon,

Click to expand...

The filter you need depends on the ammount of water you use. A U4 should easily be enough. I probably wouldn't have more than a foot of water for anything younger than an adult. Just because then youre sacrificing space above the water. Mine is about 90x45x45 but im not 100% sure.
Here is a short video of my keelback enclosure from when i first put it together. I couldnt get a photo to work without tonnes of glare, even without flash.

[video=youtube_share;cy3HljcVGpU]http://youtu.be/cy3HljcVGpU[/video]

Fingers crossed this vid works for you and gives you some ideas.

In response to the whole community debate. I have kept 3 juvies in this enclosure for a year now and although they do occasionally have a chew on one another at feeding time they always let go without any persuasion/intervention (sometimes after a minute or two of holding my breath) so im not so concerned anymore about the cannibalism thing. they are very quick little fellas and you have to be very careful getting them out of the enclosure because they will disappear very quickly. Great little snakes and very active

P.s. I had a sore throat at the time i was recording this so you might hear some suspect grunting