You are right... all the ones I have come across had a red ring.The are shy, precious little things....... like a little worm :)

D`Ann

The color of the ring and belly can be variable. It's the only little black-grey snake with a red or yellow ring around its neck, so you are right, Nat. Ringnecks are just lovely little snakes!

Marcia

Thank you, thank you! :)

He's a skinny minnie but pretty long. He's the first snake besides a racer I've had.

Thanks again,

Nat

He's so cute! You are very lucky!

I had 'two' racers in my yard...now, I only see the one. Whenever I don't see Junior (the obviously younger of the two) for a while, I worry that some scared home-owner killed it per the 'only good snake is a dead snake' philosophy.

I know what you mean, Saintpfla. I haven't seen either of my black racers in several weeks. Really not since August. I told myself it was just so hot out that they were doing their hunting at night. But it is cooling down a bit, and still no sight of them. I hope they haven't been bashed!

Marcia

I love these little guys too! They are so cute. I can't believe I was helping a friend in her garden and rescued one just before she chopped it into bits! I always tell my neighbors "if you see any of my snakes, please scare them back into my yard"! I am afraid many a wondering snakes meets the fate of the shovel's edge!
Kat

Haven't seen my racers in a while either. They usually find a way into the lanai area every so often and have to be shooed out. Hope their okay.

I think he's here munching on the itty bitty froggies. I can't believe how small they can be. You'd think it was a bug, and then it hops and it's just the tiniest frog you can imagine.

I've kept the cats in off the lanai in hopes that now that the kid's pool stuff is put away, and there aren't as many good places to hide, that he'll scoot off to safer pastures.

When I uncovered him he scurried under the house where there is just the thinnest sliver between the house & lanai.

The cats are getting very annoyed at not being allowed out to watch nature through the screen (I think they kept me up all night last night as retribution/punishment lol) but I want to give him a fighting chance to move on if he's still here.

We need to powerwash everything (it's way past due since sinkhole repair & new roof install) so maybe that will annoy him enough to get out of the area and back into the landscaping where the cats can't get to him.

Sorry so long, it's just very exciting, lol.

Thanks again,

Nat

^they're

Poor little snake!!!

I just found what I believe is the same little ringneck snake (had to search for this thread to make sure that's what it's called) swimming valiantly against the current of my pool water intake. I dropped the scooper and ran to the opening just as he was going in. I took out the filter basket and ran out of the screened in cage with him.

I have no idea how long his struggle had been but he tried to get out through one of the opening but couldn't get much past his neck ? (a bit past his head but not that far down, without shoulders it's hard to describe) so he just gave up & stuck his head back in through another opening and just kinda gave up :(.

I ran in the house & grabbed some gloves & I managed to delicately pull his head part out and thread him back through and then deposit him in amongst the weeds - um I mean my beautiful garden *cough*. I am so sad.

My question is will he live? I feel terrible for him. He's so little and I have no idea how long his horrible struggle had gone on.

Off to do my own research but I'm hoping someone on here will have good news for me - as in the fact that my pool is in desperate need of a shocking... and I ran out of chlorine atleast a week ago so it's starting to get dirty looking might mean he hasn't been too harmed by pool chemicals :(,

Ugh, I'm grasping at straws to alleviate my guilt,

Nat

Found somewhat of an answer already!

I'm posting this here in case anyone else happens across this thread in a desperate internet search much like my own:

"The snake that most frequently turns up in backyard swimming pools is the ringneck snake. The next most frequent intruder is one of the crowned snakes. During the night these little snakes crawl into the pool to get a drink and then are unable to climb out because they are too short to reach the lip of the pool. Ringneck snakes and crowned snakes are totally harmless. If one turns up in your pool, you can pick them out of the water and release them in your garden or under your shrubs."

Nothing about whether or not pool water will hurt them.

And also this other interesting bit:

"If the snake is a small species like a ringneck snake or a crowned snake, turn it loose in your garden where it can do its job eating little pests you do not want in the garden. However, do not turn it loose in your garden if you have recently sprayed or dusted the area with a pesticide. Most pesticides are lethal to snakes."

I'll be examing the pool much more frequently from now on,

Nat

Here is a link that might be useful: source of above info

Nat, if he was still breathing and moving on his own, he may well be fine in a few hours. Assuming he doesn't go for another dip in your pool. I say think positively! His chances are good.

Marcia

Thanks Marcia :)