Help identify a snake? North East Florida, found in the pool.

No animal is alive after decapitation.
Why did you kill this snake? You don't even know what it is.

I should also mention he tried to play dead at first by twisting on his back. Poor guy, this wasn't fun for either of us :(

>>2222700
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/26/newser-cobra-kills-chef/14619677/

Snakes survive decaptiation very well. Last one I decaptiated tried to actively bite the shovel, very alive. I have three dogs that obviously use the backyard, and cannot take the chance. The last snake was a cotton mouth.

File: Juvenile Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)012.jpg (71KB, 500x365px) Image search: [Google]

71KB, 500x365px

>>2222696
My guess is juvenile cottonmouth.
The yellow tip tail is rare.
Colors vary widely, but if you compare the edges of the markings they share common traits.
The jaggedness and lighter highlights are not shared with many other species.

Even though I believe its a cottonmouth/water moccasin- you really should learn the snakes in Florida.
I kill venomous snakes when I find them on my property, but there's many harmless snakes in your area.
If you're worried about safety of loved ones and pets, don't kill everything. Kingsnakes actively hunt venomous snakes for example, you want as many of those guys around as possible.
http://www.floridabackyardsnakes.com
They have photos of all your neighbors.