Corn Snakes... The gateway reptile!

[Nythain]

I swear. Little Plissken has unlocked an obsession. The more I read and the more I watch, the longer and longer my list of planned acquisitions get. So I figured I'd share my current reptile plans...

1. First and foremost, I have got to cure this Garter fever! Since they're cheaper, and their requirements are more simple, my next purchase will hopefully be 2 female captive bred Common Garters. I feel the diurnal and curious nature will be a fun counterpart to Plissken's more docile crepuscular behavior. These two will be named Kodo and Podo. Garters sort of remind me of the reptile equivalent of ferrets.
   
2. Second up, my most recent obsession. The Blue Tongue Skink! Not sure what sub-species, and frankly it doesn't matter much. I'm in love with these guys. They remind me of reptile versions of sloths. So laid back, and actually intelligent! I really wanted a Red Eyed Crocodile Skink, but discovered they're more nocturnal, and not the best "handlers". Haven't thought much about a creative name(s) for this one yet.
   
3. Third is actually what was originally my "next" planned purchase. Hoping to track down a 1 or 2 year old Jungle Carpet Python. I considered an Irian Jaya, but I'm a bigger fan of the Jungles vibrant yellow and patterning. Not looking to get anything fancy though. Some of those Carpet breeds get pricey Since it is a python, it shall be named Jake... as in "the Snake".
   
4. Fourth up on my list is a tricky one to find. I'm very peculiar and specific with this one. I'm hoping to track down an actual Arizona Mountain Kingsnake. Specifically the Lampropeltis Pyromelana Pyromelana. Not much to say here, stumbled upon them while I was researching diurnal species and fell in love for whatever reason. It will probably get some generic name, who knows.
   
5. And lastly (at least until I discover something else I fall in love with) will be an Amazon Tree Boa. Hoping to get a great colored Halloween phase, but will be more than happy with a common Garden phase. These guys are quite possibly, hands down, my absolutely positively favorite snake I've read about/watched. I love everything about them. The way they "ribbon" their bodies on their perches (not a fan of the GTP's "curl" style). Their notorious aggressive temperament. Their colors and patterns. Their slender body builds. And mostly, their heads. If there is any single snake that manages to capture the essence of pure evil with just it's looks, it would be the ATB. The only reason this one is last on the list is because it will require the most financial and intelligent investment in it's setup. I have plans for this badboy already. He will be named Wo Long (Sleeping Dragon) after one of my favorite characters in Three Kingdoms. He will have a very traditional Asian themed viv. He will have a living viv, with a bioactive substrate, living plants, a small custom diy non-atomizing humidifier... THE WORKS!

Depending on how things go later in life, if I have the funds and the space, I'd love to get into larger reptiles like Monitors or Crocodilians. There are also so many other more rare or expensive or difficult, yet absolutely amazing snake species I would love to get eventually too. They haven't made it into my official "must have" plans yet... yeah, I'm looking at you Rough Green Snake.

 

[TwinBlades]

try this book, it helps with the snake-fever and makes snake keeping more fun.
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Snake...9501&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+snake+keeping

 

[nicklandovich]

I have to agree, I started with plans to buy a corn snake to bring my total number of pets to two. I ended up buying 2 corn snakes due to the overwhelming number of amazing morphs. The day my two corns arrived I went to Petco to get some supplies for the new babies and ended up with supplies for 3, and my third corn snake. Then I picked up a crested gecko and fell in love with them. Bought two more cresties and a samurai blue pacman. Sadly the frog wasn't healthy and lost him the other day. I got my first corns March 7th of this year.

No plans of stopping yet.

 

[Guruofchem]

Massive props for the Beastmaster reference - Marc Singer FTW!

 

[Zombiegirl]

I would like to have more corns...not really sure if I would want other reptile species. I love savannah monitors, but don't have the room to care for one properly.

 

[Tavia]

Forums are actually really bad for expanding an addiction! I found this one a month before getting my first corn snake and officially joined here a few days after buying it. And now look at my collection! Although, two of the snakes in my sig were my husband's before we got married. And that all came about from seeing the awesome critters other members also kept. An ATB is actually one of the remaining snakes left on my wish list/must have list, very good looking snakes for sure!

 

[Amanda47]

Gateway reptile for sure. I love my little corn, he's sweet and gentle, but I want a few others now.

I really like the Mexican Black Kingsnake (how cliché, I know! Still getting one)

I want something bigger (more on the slender side), but I won't get one until I can be sure I can make/get a good-sized enclosure with the proper heat. I like the carpet pythons, and I really like the BRBs (but oof, that humidity), would have no problem settling for a RTB. Won't get any of them without a good viv for them. I don't want anything that gets big enough to eat a rabbit, though.

I've already decided I'll get a bull snake or some other big colubrid. Someone suggested a christmas tree storage bin as a viv and that was what I was looking for. If I think it will work, I'm gettin' me a bull snake!

Lizards are cool, but I can't be bothered with UV light and day/night cycles. And bugs. I keep looking at crested geckos, but something always puts me off when I really start researching. Can't remember what it is now.

Oh, and I want another corn, either an extreme okeetee or a really good-looking miami.

That's my wishlist

 

[Nythain]

Someone suggested a christmas tree storage bin as a viv

That's ruddy brilliant!

Lizards are cool, but I can't be bothered with UV light and day/night cycles. And bugs.

The only real difference between most lizards and snakes is the UVb lighting. Even corns should have a proper day/night cycle. Just about any living thing should. And really only the diurnal species of reptiles (lizards and snakes) require the addition of it. Most snakes don't need it because they've evolved crepuscular or nocturnal and have adapted the ability to absorb vitamin d3 directly from their diet (due to a lack of regular sunlight exposure). The same applies to *most* (definitely not all) crepuscular and nocturnal lizards (definitely more than a few out there).

As far as bugs go, that's one of the advantages of the Blue Tongue Skink. They're omnivorous and will eat just about anything, so you can be a lot more selective with their food while still providing a diverse diet for them.

Here's a fun fact fairly related to the topic... 2 months ago, I didn't know any of this at all. I've been accused of easily obsessing over things, I call it a very active thirst for knowledge. Either way, who knew a seemingly harmless decision to get a pet snake would open the flood gates of reptile mania!

 

[Twovultures]

I'll admit, I'm secretly hoping that my corn will eventually outgrow it's terrarium so I can have an excuse to get another reptile. A ball python, Kenyan sand boas, leopard geckos and crested geckos are all potentially interesting second pets I could fill it with, though that day is going to be a few years away.

 

[Quixotic]

It's true... reptiles seem to be the hoarder's perfect pet since it's barely any trouble to keep more once you've got one. Good luck tracking down those species. Sometimes it's almost like a game to find exactly what you want... can get a little frustrating though. I was on the lookout for a Mexican Black Kingsnake for a while before finding anyone offering them for sale, and then I still had to check them out with the BOI and passed by a few of ill-repute before settling on a good seller.

 

[Alicia P]

My daughter wanted a snake so we started researching and decided on a corn. We now have 2 & I have plans to get a Black Milk and a Leucistic Black Rat sometime this summer and maybe someday an Extreme Okeetee too

Another daughter has decided she loves lizards, so we have been researching and she would like a Leopard Gecko and I think a Blue Tongue may find it's way into our home at some point as well :laugh:

:awcrap: <<< This is my husband when all us girls start talking about reptiles, he's coming around, but he's still not a big fan

ETA: I'd also kinda like to get a pacman or a pyxie frog. I have not really researched either yet though. I've seen pictures of both and they are so chubby and cute.....

 

[starsevol]

It has come and gone for me, pretty much.....started out with rosy boas and a corn.....since then had a grey banded king, cali king, desert kings, ball pythons, blotched king, 3 toed box turtle, malaysian box turtle, leopard gecko and blue tongue skink. Now I only have a three rosy boas and the blotched king in addition to a few dozen corns. I have loved everything I have kept, but with the exception of another blotched king, or possibly florida king, corns are the only reptiles I ever want anymore....they are perfect.

 

[Justine66]

aha! I'm glad I not the only one..

I too can become pretty obsessive when it comes to animals, when I find something that interest me IM OFF! lol and with getting Sirius my researching got out of control.. this forum didn't help!

now I'm in the market for something smaller, (I never want anything bigger than my corn,) at 5'3, 105 lbs smaller snakes are for me! I really want a male or female African house snake, their not much to look at but from what I've seen I just love their personalities and feeding responce! viscious!

after that I want a male western hognose, I love how tiny they stay! and their little faces!
and their diurnal so ill someone to whatch during the day!

I also love the look of pueblen milk snakes but their shy nature always stead's me away..
maybe one day.

and last but not least I will have a tortoise some day.. I know its not a snake, but I have ALWAYS wanted a turtle ever since I was a little girl, but I can't stand the idea of water changes 2x a week.. so I looked up tortoises, much easier to care for aside from diet, and price...... whitch is why its a "one day pet".. lol

 

[FamilyOfExotics]

aha! I'm glad I not the only one..

I too can become pretty obsessive when it comes to animals, when I find something that interest me IM OFF! lol and with getting Sirius my researching got out of control.. this forum didn't help!

now I'm in the market for something smaller, (I never want anything bigger than my corn,) at 5'3, 105 lbs smaller snakes are for me! I really want a male or female African house snake, their not much to look at but from what I've seen I just love their personalities and feeding responce! viscious!

after that I want a male western hognose, I love how tiny they stay! and their little faces!
and their diurnal so ill someone to whatch during the day!

I also love the look of pueblen milk snakes but their shy nature always stead's me away..
maybe one day.

and last but not least I will have a tortoise some day.. I know its not a snake, but I have ALWAYS wanted a turtle ever since I was a little girl, but I can't stand the idea of water changes 2x a week.. so I looked up tortoises, much easier to care for aside from diet, and price...... whitch is why its a "one day pet".. lol

You think like I do! I don't really want anything bigger, but I definitely want more! I will probably get more corns, since I LOVE all the different morphs. I really want a Lavender for my next corn! My boyfriend was a little hesitant with reptiles, but I have him fully converted now :rofl:

I always go crazy with research when I think about getting a new type of animal. I have a binder system actually, for all of my information! I type up everything I can find, then print it off and file it into the appropriate binder under the proper headings I am kind of an organization nut!

 

[Guruofchem]

Three words for you addicts - Kenyan sand boa...

Cutest little worms I've ever seen, they stay short but get chunky, and are just adorable. The anery form looks like the offspring of an earthworm and a Holstein cow.

 

[gsdbecca]

If you want an easy lizard, BTS is the way to go! Love ours! My hubby keeps my obsession in check. And with 2 busy young kids, a full time job, and an elderly German Shepherd, the one snake and lizard are enough.....but I certainly get the itch for a new one every time I see beautiful pics on here...so OPEN, it's a daily battle. Ha ha ha!

 

[Justine66]

I have seen Kenyan sand Boas, and I think their adorable!
but unfortunately my city doesn't allow people to own any types of Boas or pythons...
witch I think is a shame..

I would love a sand boa..its just not legal here whitch sucks!

 

[MegF.]

I have a halloween phase for sale right now but you do realize that they just become garden phase types once they mature? It is sadly true that corns are gateway drugs...er snakes! I started with a cornsnake many years ago, got way more, got an amazon tree boa...got a green tree python...got more of same..got more cornsnakes...got into hots....it's a sadly slippery or slithery trail I'm on!

 

[Zombiegirl]

Ok...KSB would be another species I would LOVE to have...When I picked up Omnom I had intended to find an anery KSB at the reptile show, but by the time I got there the only one (that I saw) had been sold already. One of the snakes that I have ALWAYS wanted (and finally obtained this Feb) is a Rubber Boa SUPER cute!!! and soooooo sweet

 

[Nythain]

I have a halloween phase for sale right now but you do realize that they just become garden phase types once they mature?

Unfortunately I lack the money for a purchase and more importantly a proper setup for the ATB right now or I'd contact you in a heart beat. And yeah, I'm aware that the Halloweens mature into Garden phase, but they're pretty when their young, and I'm actually a fan of the Garden phase. That's why I listed it instead of one of the "prettier" solid color phases. There's just something raw and primal about the garden phase ATB that really compliments it's body and posture.

On the topic of Kenyan Sand Boas (and any other stouter and girthier species), I'm not particularly a fan. I prefer slender bodied snakes, with the JCP being about as girthy as I prefer to go. Also not a fan of "stout" snakes, with short fat bodies, which is the one thing that kept the Western Hognose from making it onto my list.

On the topic of BTS... The more I read and watch, the more I really think these guys would be an excellent choice for me and am glad they made it onto my list. They're just so awesome. I have recently started researching Green and Brown Basilisks, but as with a few other lizards, I just don't have the proper room for them. I know they don't get exceptionally big, but with a lot of lizards it's not so much about the size to space ratio as it is just providing them with proper space to move around, exercise, and explore.

Ultimately, unless a lot changes in life... I'll probably never get bigger than the JCP and Corn. Also, a lot of what I fall in love with is based on posture, personality, and behavior more than looks. You'll notice my choices have a nice blend of diurnal and crepuscular, so I can enjoy them all at various times of the day.

Also, glad I'm not the only one who decided to get "a corn snake" and ended up exploding into reptile mania! I'm not sure if I'll ever get another Corn, there just aren't that many morphs I really really enjoy. They're all fairly pretty, but most of the current trends just aren't my personal cup of tea. I love my classic. Might consider getting an Okeetee sometime though.