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Scarlet King?

Tavia

Tavia

Elemental Exotics
I've got a really nice 10g tank that has my baby corn in it right now, but I'll need to move her in a year or so & I'll be stuck with this tank. So I was thinking that down the road when I move the corn I'd get some kind of snake to put in it, that won't outgrow the tank. I had thought about a Eastern Ribbon, then I saw that the SK doesn't get very big. But I did have a few questions for anyone who might know. How hard to come by are the SK? About how much does a neonate cost? Overall are they a good snake for someone that doesn't have a lot of experience? Keeping in mind that I like small snakes & a corn is about as big as I'd want. Also what other types of snakes would you recomend that only get about 30" or less? I have a year or so to research & decide, but I'm having a hard time finding the small snakes on the 'net, so some names would be good. Thanks!
 
Scarlets are teeny-tiny as babies, and aren't always good feeders right away.
I'd say a male rubber boa would make a better pet than a SK. A male rubber boa would happily live in a 10g for years and years, prolly outlive you.
You might be able to find a specimen fairly easily, as they're native to your area.
Also, they are easy, easy to care for. They don't need anything special and like it cool, much cooler than kings or corns, as far as cage heating goes.
My rubber boa male goes on a hunger strike for months at a time during the winter, but in the summer he's a regular feeder.
 
Scarlet kings can be difficult to come by as captive bred babies. Most people that I know of that own one...caught it wild.

They can also be very picky feeders, and some never switch over to rodents. They are lizard specialists in the wild, and that is what they prefer. This can also make them a little more difficult to care for, as if they ONLY eat lizards, they need to eat more often, and lizards can get expensive.

Any kingsnake in the Lampropeltis mexicana complex should suit your needs. Durango Mt. Kings, Mexican Kings, Variable kings, greyband kings...all of these guys are fairly small as adults...no more than 4' maximum, and *most* of them convert to rodent feedings easier than scarlet kings...but make sure you get them from a reputable breeder, just to make sure they are already willingly feeding on rodents. They are also WIDELY available as captive bred.

Rubber boas...males very rarely break 2'. Females can reach 3'. They can live for 40 years or more. They can be picky eaters though. They go off feed in the winter, but they are fairly easy to care for, and do seem to prefer cooler temps, so supplemental heating doesn't seem to be necessary in most cases. Rosy boas are slightly larger, reaching about 3' as adults, but require supplemental heating...and can also be less picky about eating.
 
I'd suggest a male tri-color hognose, like my Zee! He's three, and has _plenty_ of room in a ten gallon. He's a very short, stocky snake. With a funny personality. A vigorous feeder, except for his male springtime feeding strike, and his winter self-brumation.
 

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Scarlet Kings are absolutely beautiful, and I would love to have one someday but they can sometimes be a nightmare to care for and feed (as was stated above). I've only known of one person that was able to successfully (and easily) rear, breed, and reproduce multiple Scarlets, and he happens to live in Fl where walking on your front porch is like walking into a lizard haven. Of course, it poses a challenge which can either be rewarding or disastrous depending on how you look at it.

If you want to stick with colubrids, there are some smaller Lampropeltis species that are similar to Scarlet Kings, but are easier to care for. New Mexican Milks, Ruthven's Kings, Pale Milks, Central Plains Milks, and Louisiana Milks. All of these are have the typical banded tricolor patterns, and most rarely exceed 30 inches. Most readily accept rodents for food, are also fairly hardy, and can be a joy to own. Some may be hard to find, but usually a devout Lampropeltis fan will have some uncommon subspecies stashed away ;)

I was also going to suggest Rubber boas or Rosy boas. They are both very hardy, relatively easy to care for, and have very good temperaments. There are many locales to choose from that offer a variety of colors and patterns.

Another smaller species that is very common and can be easily cared for is just a plain Garter. Sure they have a bad reputation for being nasty, but they can be tamed down just the same. They eat a variety of things from fish to regular meat to rodents and are also very hardy. Like the Rubber and Rosy Boas, there are many different subspecies and locales that have beautiful colors and patterns. They are found everywhere and I'm sure you might even be able to acquire one locally on a herping trip once the weather starts to warm up a bit.

A few of my personal favorite uncommon small snakes are Red Belly Snakes, Ringneck Snakes, Smooth Green Snakes, Dekays Brown Snakes, Ribbon Snakes, Scarlet Snakes (sometimes confused with Scarlet Kings), Queen Snakes, Longnose Snakes (though they can be difficult to feed as well), and Trinket Snakes.

Hope this helps!
 
One word of warning about keeping smaller snakes in a 10 gallon tank.
Make double-dog sure the screen top is secure. They are all pretty much black belts in the dark arts of escape and evasion.
I forgot to mention that if you keep your house fairly warm, you could just put a rubber boa in a warm corner of your house and get away with no tank heater.

They will not bite you *ever*, and most are content to just wrap around your finger or wrist as you watch TV. They also naturally prey on mouse pinks, and as they get older, mouse fuzzies or rat pinks. No worries about lizard feeders.

I always wanted a tri-color hoggie, and would think they would be rather fascinating. I had no idea the males were small. That sounds like a great option, Nanci.
 
I pretty much told this story in another thread, but I had 3 wild caught garter snakes when I was 10, we kept them for a little over a year. They are really cool snakes, but they are a little hard to find here when you want to catch them, though you see them all the time if your not trying to find them. I was also a little worried with a wild one getting parasites that could cross over to my corns. I've only got one corn right now, but I'll be getting 2 more in 3 or 4 months. I like the thin bodied snakes the best. I don't usually like Boas but the Rubber Boa does sound interesting. I'll have to look at all the other ones mentioned as well. Thank you for all the replies! ;~)
 
Who could resist this face?

I had hoped to keep my male rosy boa, Noah, in a ten gallon for life, but it turns out Noah is a female, so there goes that plan...I still love my Noee, though- she is one of the coolest snakes ever! So different from corns/kings.
 

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Just check out some of the smaller, more unusual snakes at shows. From the moment I first held a rosy boa, it was just a matter of time till I got one. The only thing that held me up was choosing the locality, but then I spied Noah at Daytona and it was all over.

My Nelson's Milk is also a small snake, but not one I'd recommend, particularly. Pretty flighty and just wants to be left alone. But gorgeous!
 
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Just look at the puddin'!!

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For size referance...that is an adult male Rubber Boa my daughter found while we were herping one day. Less than 24" long, and mature...
 
Awww... between your itty bitty Rubber and Nanci's TriColor Hoggie, I'm getting a cavity here!
 
If I HAD to get rid of all my collection, and keep just 10 snakes, my little rubber boa would be among the ten keepers, that's for sure.
 
Is there much difference in temperament between a rubber, rosy or sand boa? The colors sand boas come in are really cool, but I think they may need it a little warmer than I'd be able to provide. Rosy boas would do alright & rubbers are easy. I like the colors I've seen with the rosy more than the rubber. But temperament might be more of a deciding factor. Thanks again everybody for all your answers! ;~)
 
My Rosy, Noah, is calm, never jumpy, slow-moving and deliberate, doesn't try to burrow or hide like the tri-color hoggy, is out quite a bit, even in daylight, is perfectly happy to just sit and watch TV and not go racing around. The tri-color hog I would describe as shy, wants to hide, if I am holding him he likes to be cuddled and covered up as much as possible, is afraid of falling, wants to burrow.
 
If the choice was given to me, I'd go with a rosy boa over sand/rubber boas.
That's just moi though
 
As far as captive pets...I'd go with a Rosy. They are more "substantial" than a rubber boa, and come in a wider variety of color morhphs. Rubber boas tend to be very cautious, and shy. Rosy boas can be a little more adventurous...which means there is more to their temperment.

Sand boas...I don't have a whole lot of experience with, though I tend to equate them as a fossorial version of a rosy boa...even though that may not be a fair comparison...
 
Scarlet kings have been a nightmare for me. They are pretty much exactly like a coral in their care/difficulty. Lizards, snakes and tree frogs are generally eaten well, but rodents... not so much. The first scarlet I ever caught ate live fuzzies like a champ. I wound up trading her and have yet to run across another one that easy to feed. I've hatched a clutch from a w/c female as well, and they were without doubt the toughest hatchlings ever. The eggs and babies are SO tiny. I even lucked into some baby house geckos and most had no interest in them! I force fed mouse tail sections until all eventually died. I'll leave those where I find 'em from now on.
I will add that I found what was almost certainly termite heads in the feces of baby scarlets I collected. I've long wondered if those came from the stomach contents of their prey or if perhaps that might be a food item for them.
 
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