My boyfriend wants an Amazon Tree Boa as his first snake

Anyone but me see a problem with it? I mean they are great looking and all but not really a first time snake. Other then Corns what are good first time snakes that I can show him?

Milksnakes, kings, that sort of thing. I have an ammie and he's great. You're right in that they aren't a great first snake, although they make a great first arboreal. They are somewhat more forgiving of husbandry issues than the green trees or emeralds are. It's important that if you get one, that it's U.S. Captive born and bred. Temperaments tend to be better than imports and they are healthier.

I dont know much about they but they have one like this one at my pet store god, i havent seen a grouchier snake besides the yearling bci and the ball python that tried to bite me lol. I think in general they are pretty ill tempered. Again I dont know much just wanted to share what I think of them.
://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiUTm3VG5KgAIxCjzbkF/SIG=130fd7005/EXP=1182198931/**http%3A//www.proexotics.com/retail_products/Boas/new_boa/amazon_tree_boa_3.jpg

whoops the picture dident work lets see if this goes.

For a first-time snake owner, I would definitely recommend one of the more common colubrid species over ANY boid...especially a tree boa.

As mentioned, milks, kings, and corns, and any variety therein make fantastic first snakes due to their relatively docile nature, ease of care, and forgivness of mistakes.

Ball Pythons are not my first recommendation for a first-time snake owner, but generally do fairly well with nominal experience. However, they are a fantastic introduction to Boid species, along with BCI, in my humble opinion...

The ones in your pet store are imports. Again, I stress, NEVER buy an import...get a US captive bred animal. They will be healthier, and have a far better temperament.

You can see it's quite vicious!

Yea Meg it's yours that made him want one in the first place. I talked him out of it, I think and now he wants a red tail boa. Is that any better? I know nothing about them other then they are huge. Either way I know I'll end up caring for it at some point so I mean I am going to have to learn about the kind of snake before he gets it. he wants a slightly large snake that is not "lazy". Any thoughts?

Well, back in the day, *I* wanted to lose my virginity to Marilu Henner. :grin01:

While I'm all for one's reach exceeding one's grasp, I'd stay away from any arboreal snake as a first snake.


regards,
jazz

Marilu Henner!!! She could have wooped yer butt in two seconds!! Redtail boas get very large. Not really what I'd pick unless you have the room. You will definitely need two people to feed once it gets full sized. How about a bull snake. They get pretty big, but have decent temperaments and aren't too hard to care for. Certainly not any harder than a cornsnake. Setup is almost the same, and they make a cool hissing noise when they get annoyed. Should thrill your boyfriend immensely. Plus they look kind of prehistoric.

MegF. said:

Marilu Henner!!! She could have wooped yer butt in two seconds!!

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All the more reason for me to have chosen her. :grin01:

:sidestep:

regards,
jazz

jazzgeek said:

All the more reason for me to have chosen her. :grin01:

:sidestep:

regards,
jazz

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:roflmao:

Oh, I've missed you, Jazz!

Hmmm, there is that! A sick, but logical reason....

jazzgeek said:

Well, back in the day, *I* wanted to lose my virginity to Marilu Henner. :grin01:

While I'm all for one's reach exceeding one's grasp, I'd stay away from any arboreal snake as a first snake.


regards,
jazz

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Marilu Henner?? Give me a real lady with Experience any day.. I wanted Bea Arthur.

NFS07 said:

Yea Meg it's yours that made him want one in the first place. I talked him out of it, I think and now he wants a red tail boa. Is that any better? I know nothing about them other then they are huge. Either way I know I'll end up caring for it at some point so I mean I am going to have to learn about the kind of snake before he gets it. he wants a slightly large snake that is not "lazy". Any thoughts?

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Just remind him that the cute little snake in the store will get about 10 feet and poop bigger than a Great Dane. And my RTB hides most of the time, he is basically out about 15% and thats it.

Now if your boyfriend wants a big snake, then I recommend the Black Milk Snake or a Bull/Gopher/Pine Snake. These snakes get a good size and are filled with personality. My Black Milk is around 6 feet and eats 1 pound rabbits or large rats and I feed my Gophers the same.
Ok here are a few..
Pacific Gopher


Black Milk (and yes in this photo this snake is 6 feet)


Florida King Snake


But please have him stay away from the really large snakes as his first snake. Cause I am betting he does not have the physical room where he lives to have a large cage for a Big Boid.

A bull snake might work just a matter of finding one. While I'm trusting enough to buy online from breeders he wants to be able to hand pick him snake. Bull snakes would be at a snake show right?

He does not have the room to house such a large snake at the moment which is what I told him many times and then explained to him that there is no way he could fix a 50g tank in his room. Of course I was only guessing when I picked the size tank that he would need for the RTB and the ATB but it sounded about right.

I would like him to get a BP because that was the other type of snake I wanted before Jenn made me love Corns but as long as he does not want a huge snake I'm fine. I like the way Bull's look and BPs are to "lazy" as he put it; I like them though. Are there any good site for Bull snakes? I think I'm going to try to push him kindly toward them. Are they more active in the day or night? What is their manner like?

Bull snakes are a lot like corns. They are kept pretty much the same way and are diurnal/crespuscular in nature. I don't know if Stephen has any for sale this year or not. I know he had some that he was going to breed. He'll do you right if he does. He's a member of this forum or if you can't find him, let me know and I'll pm you his e-mail address.

Russian rat snakes are diurnal/crepuscular. They get fairly long and they are supposed to be active with great temperments.

I'd also recommend a tawian beauty or blue beauty snake. They can be somewhat nervous, but maybe he can find a calm adult. If he held one he'd want to get it. They have a really long slender body and they're surpisingly strong.

NFS07 said:

A bull snake might work just a matter of finding one. While I'm trusting enough to buy online from breeders he wants to be able to hand pick him snake. Bull snakes would be at a snake show right?

He does not have the room to house such a large snake at the moment which is what I told him many times and then explained to him that there is no way he could fix a 50g tank in his room. Of course I was only guessing when I picked the size tank that he would need for the RTB and the ATB but it sounded about right.

I would like him to get a BP because that was the other type of snake I wanted before Jenn made me love Corns but as long as he does not want a huge snake I'm fine. I like the way Bull's look and BPs are to "lazy" as he put it; I like them though. Are there any good site for Bull snakes? I think I'm going to try to push him kindly toward them. Are they more active in the day or night? What is their manner like?

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From what I hear this guy is pretty good. And this site can give you a good look at the different types of Bulls, Pines and Gophers.

Guess this is where I step-in and become the only one on your boyfriends side

My first snake was and ATB

There is NO REASON why he should not get one. You're on a Cornsnake forum, so, of course, people here are going to say no way.

I, on the other hand, suggest he go for it!

The important part for both of you to understand is that ATBs are NOT corns. Not in any way shape or form. Their care is different, their attitudes are obviously different, everything is different.

No colubrid or terrestrial boa that are normal "starters" are going to be able to prepare him to keep an Amazon.

I suggest he read up on them - check out corallus.com and urbanjungle.com for starters. Both are excellent resources, and all of Danny Mandez's info on UrbanJungle is spot on.

It's essential he learns that these are NOT snakes to be handled. Sure, there are a few out there that are "tame" but they are exceptions to the rules. You can usually get away with handling for a short time, but the ATB will likely get the best of you for the most part. I have a couple that I can handle for a few minutes (make sure sheds are OK and no mites) but for the most part they are hands-off, display animals.




Thats Caution
my first snake

I had two or three more Amazons before I ever had a cornsnake - and even that was a rescue...

I think people can get a boid as a first snake IF they are willing to do thorough research and willing to spend time getting to know and understand the habits of the snake. Also know that it's not going to be easy. You might get a bad feeder, a rotten tempered or frustratingly inactive pet. At least with an amazon it will be in plain sight most of the time.