What are best pet snakes?

[toofDocta]

I have a baby corn, and once he has grown enough to need a bigger viv, I am considering getting a second snake to put in the smaller viv. The snakes I really like so far are:

Piebald Ball Python
Leucistic Ball Python
Gray-Banded Kingsnake
Green Tree Boa
Brazilian Rainbow Boa

What do you guys think are other great snakes to have as a pet? I'm very new to snakes, so feel free to share even what may seem "obvious".

Show me pics of your favorite pet snake, please.

 

[Saffleur]

If you're looking outside of Corns...Ball Pythons.

 

[Beothon Lover]

both the morphs of BPs you mentioned are expensive ones but beautiful.


what size tank is it? if its only a 10g a hatchling king snake would last longer in there then a hatchling BP so you wouldn't have to upgrade housing as fast.


for someone new to the snake world i recommend either BPs or king snakes as their easy to care for...where the tree boa and brazilian rainbow boa are tougher cause they require high humidity.

I love the 2 BPs and 4 king snakes i have

 

[toofDocta]

thanks Mike Jr... got any pics of your BPs and Kings?

 

[torsten]

the brb and gtb will both require much more care in husbandry and th conditions will be harder to maintain correctly but with the right care and conditions most snakes are fine as long as you research what you are doing and how you are doing it.

what is the maximum size you want it to grow to because there are things like dwarf Burmese pythons which grow to around 2m, boa constrictors (bcc or bci) ther are carpet pythons (jungle, coastal, diamond ....... and so on), the different types of rainbow boas. super dwarf retics, dwarf retics, the list is endless.....

it really depends on your preferences. what size you want it to be or not be for that matter. how concerned are you about being bitten by it(most will hurt more than your corn) do you bwant a snake to handle or is it mainly for display.

then when you have answered the above decide what you like thatthat fits the specifications you have set.

hope this helps

 

[Nanci]

I love my Cali King Choco and my Florida Kings Jake and Janine. And tri-color hoggy Zee is the coolest, as well as able to live in a ten gallon forever! A lot of people like MBKs.

 

[torsten]

if you are looking at small snakes then there are all the hoggies, kings and milks and other such stuff.

 

[Hypancistrus]

BP's can become stressed by lots of handling. They can get used to it, but for handle-ability, you can't beat a cornsnake. My second most handle-able snake is my jungle corn, which is a king crossed with a corn. I also have a California kingsnake who I don't trust at all, and certainly would not allow other people to handle. In essence, snakes are going to be individuals. I would suggest you research various species and find a snake that you will enjoy looking after. Remember that some species simply don't tolerate a lot of handling (I have a KSB and an albino Nelson's that I don't hold at all because it stresses them so) so if that is important to you, make sure to inquire from people who own them as to how handling affects them.

As a person new to snake keeping, I would probably avoid Jungle Carpet Pythons and Green Tree Pythons or Emerald Tree Boas. They are nippy (sometimes for life) and generally have very specific care requirements.

One other individual I'd add to your list is a male Children's Python. I have one and he's great-- really good feeding response. I'd trust him with other people so long as he's not hungry... when he's hungry, he chases my hand around the tank with his jaws wide open. They stay pretty small too, maybe three feet, and can live in a 10 gallon for a good long time. As adults, a 2' long cage would be appropriate.

 

[LBoz]

My almost yearling king is a total wench and bites often. I don't let others hold her. My adult king I got from Dean is a pussycat for me, but hates my husband and doesn't seem overly fond of my children either. I'm the only one that holds him. You can see an absolute difference in his demeaner when he's with the spouse and then comes back to me. I think it's because Dean let him live in the stove for awhile. :laugh: But kings are easy to care for, like corns. They also seem to be great feeders which is always a plus. I've heard BPs can be hit or miss feeders when young, but I have no experience, that's just hearsay.

When I asked some boa keepers about a good beginner boa, they suggested a Hogg Island, so maybe add that to your list?

I'm very very new to reptiles, but I really wouldn't go with something like an ETB right off the bat. This is an addictive hobby, so I'd save that type of snake for when you have more experience under your belt. JMHO.

 

[Chip]

GBKs can be tricky to get on feed, I completely gave up on raising those but keep a couple adults around. If you get one, get an established feeder! L getula (Cali, Fla, eastern, etc. kings) can be really pissy! Not all, but certainly a much higher percentage than corns. And they "test bite" to see if arms and whatnot are food sometimes. It's no big deal, but I wouldn't suggest it as someone's first (second) snake is all. If you go with BPs, just be sure you are getting captive bred animals. Obviously your morphs would be, but you may see the beauty in normals when you price those out. Rainbow boas are a choice, but again, I'd stick with colubrids for a few years. As for a green tree boa, that'd be my last choice on your list. Their traits include special habitats, ornery, "sticky" bite, and unpredictability. If you want something different, a milk or hog would be a great choice. Milks have great color, hogs are ideal in every way I can think of. Or if you can find a tri-color hog like Nanci has, they have it all!

 

[Msskellington]

Brazilian Rainbow Boa!!

lol, this was my second kind of snake...after corns...it is harder to maintain the conditions...but you sorta figure out how to play it by ear after a while...i can look at the tank without looking at gauges and tell what's going on....

 

[SnakesRule1234]

I say Ball Pythons... if you get an excellent one from a good breeder, you won't have problems.
I bought Spike from the crappiest pet store in my area, and he's never went on a fast, or refused a meal.

The two you listed are very expensive, though. How about a lemon pastel or a mojave? Both are very nice and still affordable...

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Get a nice Sunglow boa.

Or a moonglow (IMG taken from www.reptpedia.com).

 

[toofDocta]

WOOWWWW that's sooo much information everyone gave me! thanks a lot!!!
sooo...I am looking for a snake that will NOT get that big... Hopefully no more than 5-6'. I love the red-tailed boas but they get too big for me.
and yes, I am looking for one that I can handle quite often.... couple of times a week or so.

I am not familiar with most of the snakes everyone mentioned on here, and I will research them to find out more... thanks a ton everyone!

 

[RobbiesCornField]

WOOWWWW that's sooo much information everyone gave me! thanks a lot!!!
sooo...I am looking for a snake that will NOT get that big... Hopefully no more than 5-6'. I love the red-tailed boas but they get too big for me.
and yes, I am looking for one that I can handle quite often.... couple of times a week or so.

I am not familiar with most of the snakes everyone mentioned on here, and I will research them to find out more... thanks a ton everyone!

OOOH... okay... try getting a Japanese rat snake (also called Kunisar Island rat snakes). I've got a boy thats just about 5.5 feet, but he's a big old puppy dog and LOVES to be taken out.

 

[Chip]

I bred Kunisars for a while. My male was as trusted as any corn in my collection, my female was pure evil. I found the hatchlings were slow starters. Most didn't eat at all their first year.

 

[Nanci]

I'd avoid milksnakes, unless you bought an adult who was "tame." I don't mean in the sense of biting, but in the sense of relaxed when you handled it. I have a Nelson's, too, and although she would never, ever bite, she just doesn't want to be handled. You can feel it in her body- it's an offense to her. I respect that and only handle her for feeding and a photo session once in a while.

When I got my Cal King, the guy just gave him to me. He said she was the meanest snake in the world- struck, musked, bit, you name it. The first time I met Chox, when I went to pick her up, she musked a little, but ever since has been my lapdog snake. I just love her to pieces. She'll stay out for HOURS if I let her! She is always glass surfing when she realizes I'm around, in hopes of coming out. But the previous owner came over once, and I proudly got her out to show him how much she'd grown and how sweet she was, and she again coiled and struck and musked when I held her! Now I don't know why she would do this- this person definitely wouldn't mis-handle a snake- personality clash? I don't know. Still, because of my Cali, I look fondly upon all of them, seeing that potential for such a good companion.

Zee the tricolor hog is a funny, quirky snake. Ravenous appetite except during male springtime hunger strike, fun to handle, very small adult size. He "kills" his FT mice by envenomating them, which is very curious! He doesn't run, tries to burrow, is afraid of falling if placed in a tree- a good swimmer, good photo subject. They have come down _so much_ in price, too, since I got him!

 

[Chip]

Agree on milks, Nanci, except for the black milk. They are calm as a cooked spaghetti noodle. Get really darn big though, for a milksnake and don't stay tri-colored for long. This is one of mine at 3 years old:

 

[Nanci]

I've heard that about the MBMs, too. Everyone here who has one has a nice one! Hey- Joe (CaptBogart) has a GORGEOUS established male for sale. The ad would be under Other Animals For Sale, posted by Arpeggio Angel. Not _quite_ done changing to black yet.

 

[toofDocta]

Ok, I've been looking up the recommended snakes... so far I'm totally in love with the Hog Island Boa and the Nicaraguan Boa!

I was in love with the red-tailed boa, but I hated that they get to 10 feet long... now that I found out they have a cousin that's 5 feet long, I'm sold!

What do you guys think of these two snakes? anyone have either of them? Any pics/advice? Thanks.