What kind of snake is this?(on trail in California)

[Thetopher125]

okay so I went on a hike yesterday and saw this guy right next to the trail in the water I have no idea what he is I just got him home and set him up in a tank I put together real fast cuz I wanted to get hime out of the container he was in I just put a rock so he can get closer to the heat and get in and out of the water if he wants since I found him in water and built a plexi lid so he couldn't get out so if someone could help me out and identify this snake for me that would be really helpful

Here is the tank I put together

 

[Fuzzyviper]

What part of California are you from/did you find it? It's a pretty large state so location is a key factor in identification. It looks like a wandering garter snake to me. http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.e.vagrans.html

 

[TASTIGER]

if you could get a picture of its head and eye that would help

 

[TASTIGER]

i almost want to say its a Gopher Snake

 

[Fuzzyviper]

Yeah, a head close up would definitely help. It just has such large jaw muscles from these pictures that I'm almost wondering if someone's pet got loose and it's a Children's python/anthill python. It certainly has the same head and markings. I have no idea what one would be doing wandering around in the woods though.

 

[Thetopher125]

i will take a close up soon im not sure what he eats dosnt like crickets at 1 meli of like 4 im not really sure what else to try feeder fish?

 

[TASTIGER]

most likely mice

 

[Fuzzyviper]

Yes, I would try pinky or fuzzy mice. He looks like a very small snake so he'll probably only eat very small feeders.

 

[Thetopher125]

do you think at his size he could eat a pinky?

 

[TASTIGER]

i would try a pinky

 

[Thetopher125]

feed him a feeder fish last night and he loved it and it was half the size of a feeder mouse and he still had a little trouble so im going to wait probably a month or 2 to give him pinkies or as soon as i can i should say but he is doing great speaking of that its time for the beardies launch )