"Larger snake" suggestions?

I'm thinking I might want to pick up a larger snake. I've been thinking of getting another snake apart from the balls, but I'm stumped for ideas. I'm looking for something that gets about the same body mass as a 7 foot burm or slightly smaller. I have my coastal carpet, but she's still pretty wee, and at 7 feet will be considerably more slender than what I'm aiming for.

The seattle reptile expo is coming up soon, and I will be looking for some beauties there, but looking for some suggestions (and pictures are always welcome) on snakes that fall into this category. Not a big fan of most red tails, but I'm not excluding them entirely. Not opposed to colubrids, but I know there are very few that fall anywhere even remotely close to this category.

What are your thoughts?

Blood pythons are awsome animals. Ever gave them any thought?
spooky

Boas are usually good "larger" snakes to start out with, such as redtails and dumerils. You could also try blood pythons, though they are fat sausages :)

love me some sausage!!!!!
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/w...y/DSC00088.jpg
spooky

I know you said you aren't a fan of them - but I'd suggest you look into boas a little more, there are some pretty morphs that don't cost too much (hypo) and they are a lot of fun to keep, as they are good display animals and a lot more active and interactive when handled. A BCI, either a male or a female would probably be suitable. They are usually docile, easy to feed, and easy to maintain temps/humidity. The females get larger of course, but you wouldn't be in over your head as most max out around 8-9 feet.

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Originally Posted by mr.spooky

Blood pythons are awsome animals. Ever gave them any thought?
spooky

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I have thought of bloods. They just don't WOW me.. the colors are really gorgeous, but as for body structure, maybe just a little too sausagey :P

We've rescued a big cranky burm and had an albino labyrinth girl that shot from 5.5 ft to 7 feet in the short amount of time we had her. For a short while, fostered a juvie retic that was amazing. I really do like the burms, but I'm a slender 5'7 female... admittedly one of the weakest people I know. I need a snake that I can still handle safely. Not necessarily conveniently, but safely and by myself if necessary.

Super Dwarf Retic :D

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Originally Posted by rebelrachel13

I know you said you aren't a fan of them - but I'd suggest you look into boas a little more, there are some pretty morphs that don't cost too much (hypo) and they are a lot of fun to keep, as they are good display animals and a lot more active and interactive when handled. A BCI, either a male or a female would probably be suitable. They are usually docile, easy to feed, and easy to maintain temps/humidity. The females get larger of course, but you wouldn't be in over your head as most max out around 8-9 feet.

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I totally agree with this. I absolutely adore my boas! They are just packed with personality and all of mine are very gentle and curious. They make an excellent "step up" from BPs...

As far as colubrids, black tailed cribos and indigo snakes both reach in the ball park of 7 feet. I want a black tail myself - they are awesome animals. Skiploader here on BP.net breeds them if your curious for more info.

Another nice option might be a rainbow boa. They might hit 5-7 feet but they'll be a bit more slender bodied than red tails and, of course, more colorful.

I have both boa's and bloods. I love them both, but when it comes to handling one for any period of time it always ends up being a boa.....

So no bloods, no boas...you're gonna have a tough time, lol. You can always check out brown water pythons or Macklot's python. They'll stay a little more slender than what it seems you're looking for, but they'll get 7-9 feet and are fascinating animals. I've heard they can be a bit nasty, but any I have handled were extremely docile and explorative.

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

So no bloods, no boas...you're gonna have a tough time, lol. You can always check out brown water pythons or Macklot's python. They'll stay a little more slender than what it seems you're looking for, but they'll get 7-9 feet and are fascinating animals. I've heard they can be a bit nasty, but any I have handled were extremely docile and explorative.

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I never said no boas, I just need a suggestion as to one that isn't so.. 'standard'.:P I enjoy Hogg island colors, for example, and it's one I'm considering. Argentines are gorgeous as well. I definitely love the 'bread loaf' shape of 'red tails', and a big beefy girl red tail, just that most of them don't pop out as being terribly unique (Maybe I've been spoiled by BP morphs and how they can vary so drastically). I don't know the slightest thing at all about boa morphs, and have a very loose understanding of locality characteristics and color differences. But if it's a 'read tail' (including all subspecies and similar locales here), it can't just be what most people think of as the default/standard 'red tail'.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

I never said no boas, I just need a suggestion as to one that isn't so.. 'standard'.:P I enjoy Hogg island colors, for example, and it's one I'm considering. Argentines are gorgeous as well. I definitely love the 'bread loaf' shape of 'red tails', and a big beefy girl red tail, just that most of them don't pop out as being terribly unique (Maybe I've been spoiled by BP morphs and how they can vary so drastically). I don't know the slightest thing at all about boa morphs, and have a very loose understanding of locality characteristics and color differences. But if it's a 'read tail' (including all subspecies and similar locales here), it can't just be what most people think of as the default/standard 'red tail'.

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Good places to start...

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com

http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Good places to start...

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com

http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com

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Oo thank you. Longicauda was on my list a while back... but hadn't looked into them much further since.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

Oo thank you. Longicauda was on my list a while back... but hadn't looked into them much further since.

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Longicauda are awesome, as are Peruvian Red Tails, though they may be a bit too "run of the mill" for you:D. I'm also becoming a BIG fan of the Bolivians the more I see them.

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Longicauda are awesome, as are Peruvian Red Tails, though they may be a bit too "run of the mill" for you:D. I'm also becoming a BIG fan of the Bolivians the more I see them.

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Of course I can't find the photo/website now.. but I think I gave up my search because I found a gorgeous anery longicauda... and it with all of its offspring, were in Germany.. and it's distance made me sad.

Here are my 3 boas. The first 2 are hypo BCIs and the last is an Argentine. None are what I consider run of the mill. I'm pretty picky and didn't want the "normal" type boa either, lol... :P

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/.../peaches01.jpg
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...t/jasper09.jpg
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...List/Mojo2.jpg

I vehemently second the super dwarf retics!! If you get a female, she'll more than likely end up around the top end of 6' or up to 7', but some can be slightly larger (a true SD shouldn't be too much larger though). They have buttloads of personality and are super smart like their mainland brethren, but a much more manageable size.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

Oo thank you. Longicauda was on my list a while back... but hadn't looked into them much further since.

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Longicauda are my favorite boa subspecies!! Possibly one of my favorite snakes ever. I've got a little het anery girl, she's wonderful! But keep in mind longis are very slow growing and are considerably more slender than most other boas.

A few things to keep in mind, briefly...

While I agree that big thick boas are adorable, the 'bread loaf' shape is absolutely not healthy in Colombian boas (Colombian Bci are the 'red tails' you see all the time, though they are actually not red tails, true red tails are Bcc, which are much higher quality and less common). Obesity is a big problem in boas, and a more slender Colombian for the first portion of their lives is the healthiest. If you're going for a super heavy-bodied snake, I'd recommend a more stout boa such as a Bolivian or a Dumerils, or a short tail python (bloods are not the only short tails... Borneo and Sumatran short tail pythons are not quite as common as bloods, that's why I love my Borneo).

If you want to be able to handle the snake alone, Colombian Bci get pretty large; even males have potential. I'm slender and 5'7 as well. I do have a Colombian and she's the sweetest thing, but since she's started getting big I have stopped handling her when I'm the only one home.




I think Bolivian boas (B. c. amarali) are your best bet. They are gorgeous boas for one, uncommon, unique, shorter than Colombians but just as wide.
Some Bca links...
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/boacamarali/
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_short.htm

You sound just like me!! I love my balls but I have been fighting the husband on getting a larger pet....and now berms are out of the picture for us (we move too much with the military) so I have recently decided on trying to find a motley boa. I love the really dark pattern!! Maybe we will see each other at the Seattle show! I just recently moved here and dont really know anybody here....

SD Retic or a SD/D mix

http://www.prehistoricpets.com/brows...ns/super-dwarf

SD Retics are going to be pretty slender animals, though! Normal retics are very slender....just extremely long, so they wind up huge.

One note on the SD Retics--you will need to hook train them just as you would a mainland retic, because they will try to eat you whenever you open their bin/cage. They aren't aggressive, just perpetually hungry, lol. Once in hand, they're sweet.

Something that isn't run of the mill? Olive python. Don't get turned off immediately just because they are "brown-ish", they are a top tier and unique species. Give olive pythons two hours of your time and you just might fall in love with them.

Boelens can get some nice size to them after some years, but still comparable to coastal carpet pythons. I think coastals are overrated with regard to how "big" they get, and on average it seems that the adult boelens I see are bigger than practically all coastals I see. There are issues with acquiring boelens of course, mostly availability (and almost exclusively captive hatched and then exported) and cost (3 grand or so?).

I've never heard anyone call BCCs "run of the mill", considering that known localities can command half a G or more in price for babies. They would be a top choice for me if I wanted a larger snake. Suriname, Guyana, and Peru localities are what I'd be interested in. Pucallpa BCCs are gorgeous, especially the high yellow ones, but Iquitos are a favorite of mine.

Red blood pythons are the bomb, but you are either into them or not. My girl is somewhere between 1-2k grams and an absolute sweety, my favorite to handle.

I love my Super Salmon Boa and my SD Retic. As stated over and over...Boas are a great snake to break into keeping larger snakes. Our is puppy dog tame and has a nice heavy body.

Our SD Retic is AMAZING and full of personality. I don't need a hook to handle her although I have heard from most they should be hook trained. When she is looking for food she will come out of the tub and you better be ready. They may not be the best snake if you are looking for a "Larger" snake though. She is basically a Reticulated Ratsnake in that sense...Long and skinny! Awesome though.

SD or dwarf Retic! They are super cool and a little more rare than your boa.

Woma python or a good ole boa. My preference would be a boa.

Lots of people are suggesting various retics, but here's my take.

SD retics are small.

Dwarf retics are huge.

Nothing in between if someone is looking for a 20-60lb snake if that's what you're looking for.

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Originally Posted by Crazy4Herps

Longicauda are my favorite boa subspecies!! Possibly one of my favorite snakes ever. I've got a little het anery girl, she's wonderful! But keep in mind longis are very slow growing and are considerably more slender than most other boas.

A few things to keep in mind, briefly...

While I agree that big thick boas are adorable, the 'bread loaf' shape is absolutely not healthy in Colombian boas (Colombian Bci are the 'red tails' you see all the time, though they are actually not red tails, true red tails are Bcc, which are much higher quality and less common). Obesity is a big problem in boas, and a more slender Colombian for the first portion of their lives is the healthiest. If you're going for a super heavy-bodied snake, I'd recommend a more stout boa such as a Bolivian or a Dumerils, or a short tail python (bloods are not the only short tails... Borneo and Sumatran short tail pythons are not quite as common as bloods, that's why I love my Borneo).

If you want to be able to handle the snake alone, Colombian Bci get pretty large; even males have potential. I'm slender and 5'7 as well. I do have a Colombian and she's the sweetest thing, but since she's started getting big I have stopped handling her when I'm the only one home.




I think Bolivian boas (B. c. amarali) are your best bet. They are gorgeous boas for one, uncommon, unique, shorter than Colombians but just as wide.
Some Bca links...
http://www.cuttingedgeherp.com/boacamarali/
http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/boas_short.htm

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THANK you for the break down of different boas, very helpful. Finally found a website i remember browsing a while back that showed some beautiful snakes, but I couldn't remember the different subspecies/locales - http://www.boasandballs.com/CollectionBoa.html. Are most bolivians as gorgeous as the one listed on their boa page? Are bolivians like the hogg islands or longicaudas, that change color drastically from neonate to adult? Will the parents of a particular hogg/long/bolivian be a fair representation of what a hatchling might look like as an adult, or is it more complicated or random? My biggest concern with any snake that undergoes a color change, is that I have no idea of what it might look like as it ages.

I definitely understand about the bread loaf being too large, but in general, I like the box/square shape compared to the typically rounded tube of python.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Something that isn't run of the mill? Olive python. Don't get turned off immediately just because they are "brown-ish", they are a top tier and unique species. Give olive pythons two hours of your time and you just might fall in love with them.

Boelens can get some nice size to them after some years, but still comparable to coastal carpet pythons. I think coastals are overrated with regard to how "big" they get, and on average it seems that the adult boelens I see are bigger than practically all coastals I see. There are issues with acquiring boelens of course, mostly availability (and almost exclusively captive hatched and then exported) and cost (3 grand or so?).

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I actually have looked into Olives, and I appreciate their 'subtlety', I just haven't been lucky enough to ever see one in person. As for Boloens.. I LOVE how they look, also haven't seen in person, and haven't worked up the nerve to fork out the money on one.

How about a Dumeril's Boa. Males tend to stay around 5/6ft while females grow 6/7ft (sometimes larger) and have the girth you're looking for.

http://www.moonlightboas.com/care-in...care-sheet.php

Here's our girl, Tetra. She is pushing 5ft at 2 years old and has the greatest disposition out of all our snakes.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m..._in/snakes.jpg

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Del-or-pickup

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Something that isn't run of the mill? Olive python. Don't get turned off immediately just because they are "brown-ish", they are a top tier and unique species. Give olive pythons two hours of your time and you just might fall in love with them.

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I'm a huge fan of olive pythons, particularly the Papuan variety over the australian...but again, they can get BIG. Not retic or burm big, but 12+ feet with decent girth. Definitely on my list to buy when I get around to it.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

http://www.boasandballs.com/CollectionBoa.html.

Are most bolivians as gorgeous as the one listed on their boa page? Are bolivians like the hogg islands or longicaudas, that change color drastically from neonate to adult? Will the parents of a particular hogg/long/bolivian be a fair representation of what a hatchling might look like as an adult, or is it more complicated or random?

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Maybe you can shoot an e-mail to Vin russo, Rio Bravo, or the Kubics with these questions?

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Originally Posted by Gbusiness

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-Del-or-pickup

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Hehe, as gorgeous as your yellow annies are, I think they may get a little too large for what I'm looking for :P

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Maybe you can shoot an e-mail to Vin russo, Rio Bravo, or the Kubics with these questions?

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Good idea. Will do.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

THANK you for the break down of different boas, very helpful. Finally found a website i remember browsing a while back that showed some beautiful snakes, but I couldn't remember the different subspecies/locales - http://www.boasandballs.com/CollectionBoa.html. Are most bolivians as gorgeous as the one listed on their boa page? Are bolivians like the hogg islands or longicaudas, that change color drastically from neonate to adult? Will the parents of a particular hogg/long/bolivian be a fair representation of what a hatchling might look like as an adult, or is it more complicated or random? My biggest concern with any snake that undergoes a color change, is that I have no idea of what it might look like as it ages.

I definitely understand about the bread loaf being too large, but in general, I like the box/square shape compared to the typically rounded tube of python.

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I'm not exactly the person to ask about Bolivians, but if you go with a top notch breeder (as mentioned, Cutting Edge Herp and Rio Bravo have some of the nicest boas on the market, you really can't go wrong with them) there are some darned nice amarali out there. Bolivians do change color as do most boas (though not to the same extent that longi's change). Parents are by far the best indicators of what a boa will look like when it's older. Also, generally speaking, the nicest looking babies tend to grow up to be the nicest looking adults; the adult is typically a more richly-colored representation of the baby. From what I've seen it seems like Bolivians tend to start out silver / grey and develop more creamy gold and tan colors with age. But again, I'm not the best person to ask about that.

And I'm totally with you; I love heavier-bodied snakes, it's the main reason I got into keeping boas. :)