My next Snake?

I have just had this floating around in my head for a while and just thought I would think out loud so to speak. My next snake won't be for a while due to financial constraints but it's nice to think about it because sooner or later one of these guys is coming home.

My first choice is a BCI they sound exactly like what I want good feeder, good with kids, and don't get super huge. A while back one of the places I get dinner for my boys at had one. I say had because I found out it's a BCC which I cannot do. To double check to make sure I was not crazy I even took the Mrs. with me and we both looked at the markings on his back (can't remember what their called) it was in fact a BCC. So to get one I will have to go thru a breeder which is not a problem if I could find any with just plain ol BCI's.

My second choice is a Blood Python I had not ever heard of them till I saw them on here. I love their colorings and from the info I have read they don't get to huge. The only drawbacks to me would be that I have read sometimes they are goofball eaters like Ball Pythons and I already have one picky eater LOL. And that they like to burrow which Nanners already drives me crazy with LOL. IF I am misinformed on these points please correct me like I said I love these animals and think they are beautiful.

My third choice is at another local place where on occasion I get food for the boys and the Mrs. gets crickets for Cricket and it's where I got Nanners as well. They have a beautiful Yellow Anaconda still smaller than Bob he is in a tank with a Green Anaconda but make no mistake I would never dream of getting a Green. I have done some research on these guys and I found out that males only get to be 6-8 foot. Now that is at the very limits of my size requirements and guess what this one is a male.

I have also read that Yellows while much less aggressive than Greens can still be booger heads and bite ya. Which really is not a fantastic thought of a 7 foot anaconda taking a swipe at me. But like I said he is still pretty much a baby at this point and I feel that with enough TLC he could would be a great addition to the family.

Now I must admit that a small part (10%) of the reason I love this guy so much is because well he's an Anaconda. There is a "cool" factor with this guy but it's not like he is a hot or something. And that certainly does not mean that once he got big and not as "cool" I wouldn't want him any more
I love all my animals and I would never get rid of one just because it's not a cool thing to have anymore.

So will it be contestant number 1 contestant number 2 or contestant number 3 :D.

This is nothing that is happening anytime real soon but like I said I just wanted to think out loud and get some input. Thanks for any idea's and suggestions you want to throw out.

I would suggest a BCI......your other 2 choices are not as good IMO. Bloods can be tricky to keep and are a large step-up from a Ball. And they can get huge.....Reds can get up to 10 feet and weigh as much as a 16 foot Burm. An Anaconda, Green or Yellow would be a horrible choice.....the size you listed for males is very generous......they can get up to 10 feet as well. They are also unpredictable.....you can not "tame down" a 'Conda like you can other snakes. I have heard them described as "spastic chainsaw snakes." They also have a tendency to musk...ALOT....and from I've heard, Anaconda musk is not something to look forward to.

Are you only looking into boids? There are tons of colubrid species out there that are great snakes.......Corns, Kings, African House Snakes, Hognoses, etc.

The only reason I am not looking into any more Colubrids right now is the burrowing the musking and pooping every 5 minutes LOL. I swear Nanners is just like a bird. If you just finish washing your car a bird will crap on it and as soon as I finish cleaning his cage he poops :evil:.

Drives me nuts but I still love the little guy.

You know not all colubrids are burrowers and muskers, right? :D

HAHAHA I know exactly what you mean - ours together constitute quite a p00papalooza marathon!

I would also be pretty wary of the Anaconda route - if for no other (of the very valid reasons listed) reason than the full-scale commitment you'd need on housing (given their aquatic proclivities). Granted all this is "what I've heards" and generally if it comes from me an exception will strut in on my heels to discredit me - but I do like larger snakes with "personalities" . . . even if I HAVE been told I can't get a scrub lol.

Hopefully Kara will be able to come and give some first-hand advice on the Anacondas.....but I just think that would not be the best choice.

You still might want to look into the African house snakes. I've been thinking about them since before Jonah's recent minor obsession. They seem very cool and pretty handleable, without difficult husbandry. And of course, there are a number of good locale choices among BCIs.

Ditto what Marla said. :D

Ok now I do feel like a dummy I was not aware that
#1 All Colubrids don't musk
#2 that Anaconda's musked

I also would like a thicker snake like Bob, Nanners is always gonna be a little skinny squirmy butt :D

I think the next time I'm in there I am gonna ask to hold the yellow just to see. From what you guys are telling me I am gonna have to get all Steve O on him "yoor a nauughty boy yoor alright mate yoour alright"

More than likely it will end up being a BCI but where can I find a breeder for plain ol BCI's? I looked on NERD but didn't see anything and most of the breeders sites I go to have all "fancy" snakes.

There are BCI breeders all over. They're very common snakes so finding one shouldn't be hard. Check out the Kingsake.com classifieds or contact your local herp society to see if there are any local breeders.

I think the only option here is a liasis macklotti, it's obvious.
http://alexhuereptiles.com/Pythons/pythons/mac-8m.JPG
http://alexhuereptiles.com/Pythons/pythons/mac-9f.JPG

Now that is cool Godfather how big do they get?
Another one I thought of is a Carpet Python the same store that has the Yellow has a Carpet but he is an adult and I want to raise em up myself.

Maclott's can get over 8 feet. A Carpet is another good option. Irian Jayas only get 4-6 feet long. Jungles get 5-7 and Coastals get considerably larger (9-12 feet). Jungles & IJs make awesome pet snakes.

Slender though. And so damn sleek and sexy.

They got nothing on the Savus or Water Pythons though. ;) :D

Well then no Maclott then but now the carpet is a definet option just have to make sure it's not a Coastal. Ok now I am looking on Bob Clarks website and he has listed
CARPET PYTHON (Morelia spilota) $100.00

JUNGLE CARPET PYTHON (Morelia spilota cheynei) $125.00
which one is which?

The "Carpet Python" is likely a Coastal....it wouldn't hurt to ask him though, lol.

Hehe - Notice here how quickly this has become an exercise in vicarious snake lust! HEHEHE.

In keeping with that form I am going to have to suggest a white-lipped or scrub (NOT SERIOUS NOT SERIOUS).

I understand your angle though, I too am more partial to the thick-bodied snakes.

I take it any of the Carpets would be good eaters and not have any problems being handled?

Yeah, the majority of Carpets are great eaters.....I have heard of some people having problems switching them over to rats though, so its best to switch them over as early as possible. Babies can be a bit nippy but calm down easily.

Also I noticed that NERD does sell Yellow Anaconda's I would love to get KLG's opinion as well.

And I just noticed I am a seargent now WOO HOO

And if I can get Nanners to calm down I think I can calm down anything LOL. When I first got him he was a nutjob now only every once in a great while does he do his rattlesnake imitation. And doesn't strike like he used to either.

BCI. Enough said.

Ok please no one laugh but what is a BCI? a common boa?
I love boas but I heard you have to be careful with them if you have Pythons because they can give them a RI that can kill them quick, that's why I was considering a JCP
Thanks !

I will never laugh at the BCI question because it is confusing.. it stands for Boa Constrictor Imperator (I think that's right) they are also called red-tailed boas here is a link to the same sort of question with an amazing post by Randy.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/PNphpBB2...ic-t-1896.html

Thanks!

Perfect place to start learning of em (BCI, BCC etc) - acronyms are always deflicted like that. The RI I think you're referring to Jotay (I'm almost unqualified to biol water at this point in the week heh) is IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) which wreaks havoc on their nervous system and can only be confirmed via biopsy (i.e. post death :(). TONS of folks keep both without incident so it's hardly a given but it is spooky they can be carriers and not exhibit a single sign. Developing a safe procedure (keep seperate, handle/maintain Boas last. lather, rinse, repeat) is your insurance there. No need for panic at all, just foreknowledge and self-education.

You should get a bci. I love mine. He would eat a toy mouse if I dangled it in front of him. :)
I'd recommend getting one from a breeder. Alex Hue is a great one; I just got my new BP from him, and was leary about getting snake online for the first time, but it all went really well. He has a few bci's in stock too.
As long as you know the proper caging requirements and potential size (which I am sure you know already :) you should be very happy with a bci!
But they should be keot away from your BPs, in case they carry IBD. It's fatal to BPs. I just keep mine in a seperate room and wash hands thoroughly between snake handling.

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But they should be keot away from your BPs, in case they carry IBD. It's fatal to BPs. I just keep mine in a seperate room and wash hands thoroughly between snake handling.

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WHile its not necessary to keep boas away from pythons, it is necessary to quarantine new purchases and practice safe sanitation when it comes to handling. Also, IBD is fatal to just about anything it infects. I think some of us here are too schizted out by IBD....not ALL boas carry nor do ALL pythons.

What's your experience level? Anacondas are something I probably wouldn't recommend to 90% of the snake keeping population. They have such a propensity to be unpredictable & persnickity that getting your feet wet with some "intermediate level" species - i.e. Olive pythons, blood/short-tail pythons, some of the various boas, etc. would be a very good idea before taking the plunge into anaconda-dom.

Should you decide to get one, start with a yellow, simply because they are somewhat calmer than greens & don't get as big. Just don't expect a ball python in any way, shape or form. You can get away with a lot more with other species than you can with Anacondas - they don't tend to be as forgiving of husbandry errors.

Just my $.02

K

The Anaconda would definetly be a long shot just something on my list lol. More than likely I will end up with a BCI or those carpet Pythons are looking pretty cool too.

Heck maybe I will end up with a carpet and a BCI :D

You need to start playing the lottery so we can afford these pets that you want, lol. ;)