Snake Identification help

[XJ4IV]

So I came home from work the other day to find this guy druising through my driveway... I decided to try to catch him and to my surprise they guy didnt slither like a normal snake but more moved like a sidewinder motion, Ive had it a few days now and decided to fill the holding facility I put him in with about a half inch of water to see his response... well it seems the guy is a water snake of sorts, so I googled him and can't find anything! first off Im no jeff corwin so I cannot tell you the breed by looking at him but Id like to know if Im harboring a venomous snake or one that is eating other bad insects near my house...
here is a picture I got of him, I took note of his lateral lines and tried to compare them to snakes Ive found on google... NOTHING

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m590/XJ4IV/2012-09-18%2020.36.44_zps81f59dd2.jpg
please let me know, as I ALSO had this guys HUGE brother come upon me about three weeks back!

http://xjtalk.com/images/special/scottssnake.jpg

[prerunner1982]

http://www.texassnakes.net/pictures.html

From what I can tell the head is not look to be wide enough to be a poisonous snake, but am by far no expert.

Hard to tell from the picture but maybe a broad banded water snake?

[cantab27]

let it bite ya......if ya get sick or fall over dead ya know its poisonous ..

[Mudderoy]

What do you think?

http://www.texassnakes.net/Blotched.jpg
Blotched Water Snake

http://xjtalk.com/images/special/scottssnake.jpg

[denverd1]

Looks like him the same snake to me

[prcjeep]

Looks like you got it right to me... So how hazardous is it. Poisonous? Or bite site infection prone?

[prerunner1982]

Based on the website I linked above it is non venomous. Average size is 30-48"

[Mudderoy]

Looks like you got it right to me... So how hazardous is it. Poisonous? Or bite site infection prone?

It's not poisonous, according to that link that Jon posted.

[NW99XJ]

.....i hear they taste like chicken,.......
:wink:

[cantab27]

It's not poisonous, according to that link that Jon posted.

yeah, but would have known that yesterday if he took my advice........:Di

[4.3LXJ]

.....i hear they taste like chicken,.......
:wink:

Nah, pretty tasteless really. Very little meat too

[denverd1]

chicken? ehh make yourself a wallet and pitch the rest

[Brasscatz]

You sure that wasn't your centipede all grown up and legless? :poke:

[XJ4IV]

yup... Son found the centipede down the end of the street same day... and Tony... I think you nailed that thing perfectly, this snake is right at home in the water, looks like I might just keep him in a terrarium and fill one side with water.
He's a pretty aggressive snake though and as for meat... youd be lucky to get an ounce of meat off this guy, Id say he is no longer than 15 inches and that might be pushing it!, Guess Ill put out a little research and see what they prefer to eat and fatten him up !

[BlueXJ]

Snakes freak me out, poison or no poison, just don't like them.

[XJ4IV]

AGREED... I aint touching him.. and it DAMN sure aint coming IN my house...this guy will live outside by the carport

[LizardRunner]

That is either a banded water snake http://www.247wildlife.com/photos/snake052.jpgwhich are usually not agressive, or most likely a Rat Snake http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/snake.pics/Eo_obsoleta.gif, which are highly agressive and will strike multiple times. Both are good swimmers, but the water snakes will tend to go under water and stay there quite a while. The easy way to spot a venomous snake is to check the eyes, venomous snakes in the US (almost all are vipers) have "cat eyes" vertical slit pupils, they are almost all pit vipers (triangular head, a nostril and a "pit") The one that isn't a viper is the coral snake that one is easy to identify "red touching yellow kills a fellow."

All non venomous snakes have round pupils and their eyes are almost always dark (black looking) If you want to learn your snakes http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/SoNA.html This is the site to go to, every snake is there in pictures.

[xj4life2]

According to my snake ID book , Its a rat snake very common and as previously stated highly agressive however not poisoness. They will give a nasty bite as they are "chewers",and will repeatedly bite and release. I would let him go on his way somewhere away from your house and people. He will be happier and so will you.

[jdougn]

.... I would let him go on his way somewhere away from your house and people. He will be happier and so will you.
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