I'd spend hours trying to find him in a book, but maybe someone recognizes him.

The planks on the deck are about 19 cm wide, so he's probably 60 or a bit more long. Very narrow, pencil thin. The stripe down the side which appears almost black seemed more iridescent blue. And he's got that bronze touch on his head. Anyone? I do like snakes and want him around, just want to feel comfortable knowing he slipped down the cracks and under my deck.

Too late to do an edit, but I have looked through a small book I've got, and have a very strong belief that this is a Painted Bronzeback. I think I've seen them before, but somehow remembered them being thicker in the body. But the picture in my book sure looks like the one I took and posted here, particularly in the head.

http://en.wikipedia....relaphis_pictus

Is it venomous? I have seen this snake in Thailand 99.9%. When I get close it disapeares like magic into the grassa nd then I still don't find it when I mow the grass 10 mins later.

Very timid snake.

Maybe an "elegant bronzeback"? They're skinnier, making the head look wider than the body.

Could have been the Elegant Bronzeback, but my book shows them a bit more green, whereas the Painted Bronzeback is more brownish. Heads look very similar, and my book has a closeup of the Painted head, so I compared that. Not certain, but I'll still go with the Painted.

And for PTG - totally harmless unless you're a frog or lizard.

I do enjoy having snakes about the place - seen four varieties that I'm aware of: Painted Bronzeback, Green Tree Racer, Rat Snake, and Red Necked Keelback. Only the latter is somewhat dangerous.

I call them common garden snakes. I see that type quite often around the house. They are shy and don't stick around long once they know that you see them.