Display snakes

So as I learn more and more about the world of snakes and read threads about this and that I find I'm constantly hitting Google for snake information. In a few threads recently there have been discussions about this morph or that snake being a good option. So....what are your suggestions for beginner to intermediate level snakes that make good presentation snakes. Snakes that can be handled, don't get giant, can be kept easily, and are simply cool to look at and have a disposition that makes them more likely to stay out in the open. If you have pics of course please post them.

Cheers.

What do you consider to be giant? Is there a length/thickness that you want to stay under?

For me...when I think intermediate I would want to be able to handled the snake solo.

My high white California King is very pretty, easy to handle, a snap to keep in a 40-breeder, has a solid appetite, and now that he's gotten older he's more likely to be out, either active or on display, and less likely to be hiding. Other than the BP's he's one of the first snakes I'll pull out to show off to newbies.

I think carpets make cool display snakes, BRBs, My childrens python is always out and about, but they top out at 3 feet...Womas

I know GTPs are great display snakes. I think they were be considered in the upper intermediate level of care.

My carpet is constantly out and about. can easily be held by one person and has a very nice temperament.

What comes to mind for me, for display snakes, gets lost with these requirements- Doesn't get giant, can be kept easily, and easy to handle. Boas get big, but are good for display, as well as being a handled. Gtp's are beautiful, but are typically considered more advanced in care, as well as, more often than not, are not really handle-able. As in they don't enjoy it, and will let you know with their nice big teeth. I'm not a fan of, or familiar colubrids, but I think that's who you need to come chime in here, is the colubrid people. They may be what you are looking for.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DooLittle

What comes to mind for me, for display snakes, gets lost with these requirements- Doesn't get giant, can be kept easily, and easy to handle. Boas get big, but are good for display, as well as being a handled. Gtp's are beautiful, but are typically considered more advanced in care, as well as, more often than not, are not really handle-able. As in they don't enjoy it, and will let you know with their nice big teeth. I'm not a fan of, or familiar colubrids, but I think that's who you need to come chime in here, is the colubrid people. They may be what you are looking for.

---

Yup. Corn snakes are excellent display snakes. They can be a bit tricky if you get a baby, since the babies can be a little twitchy and are escape artists until they get older. That being said, my first snake was a sunglow corn that only bit me three times in the several years I owned him. The first time he was a baby and had just been carried around a reptile show all day, the second was after his six week escape episode, and I almost stepped on him when I found him. The third time he bit me was after I had just handled his food, so it was my fault. Corn snakes come in a wide variety of colors, stay slim and small as adults and are very easy to care for. I used to hang out with my friends (in front of my apartment in the spring) with him wrapped around my hand. He tolerated being taken out and handled by strangers very well.

Have to agree with a carpet python. Mines always active and there are localities that stay on the small side. Most carpets will stay in the 6-7ft range except coastal carpets and bredli/central carpets where females could get up to 10-11ft. As babys they are a little nippy bit with work and age theytame down pretty nicely

Sent from my N9100 using Tapatalk 2

My fiancé and I always love showing off our blood pythons. Good size snake that are easily handled with one person, and still get an impressive size to those non-herp people. My two sub adults are extremely tame and don't mind being draped over a friend's shoulder...or being a belt to one of my fiancé's children.

This was taken last summer. Both the girl and the snake have grown a bit.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l8...e/IMAG0046.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PhoenixGate

Yup. Corn snakes are excellent display snakes.

---

Would you please tell this to my corn? I don't think she knows... ;)
No but corns are beautiful! Mine is very much a hider; my ball python will lay out in the open at dusk/night, but the corn usually can't be seen. If you are lucky enough to get one that is more comfortable though, I could definitely see the display-potential!

In my limited experience, Kingsnakes, milk snakes and rosy boas seem to be good snakes to meet your requirements.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

My high white California King is very pretty, easy to handle, a snap to keep in a 40-breeder, has a solid appetite, and now that he's gotten older he's more likely to be out, either active or on display, and less likely to be hiding. Other than the BP's he's one of the first snakes I'll pull out to show off to newbies.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PhoenixGate

Yup. Corn snakes are excellent display snakes. They can be a bit tricky if you get a baby, since the babies can be a little twitchy and are escape artists until they get older. That being said, my first snake was a sunglow corn that only bit me three times in the several years I owned him. The first time he was a baby and had just been carried around a reptile show all day, the second was after his six week escape episode, and I almost stepped on him when I found him. The third time he bit me was after I had just handled his food, so it was my fault. Corn snakes come in a wide variety of colors, stay slim and small as adults and are very easy to care for. I used to hang out with my friends (in front of my apartment in the spring) with him wrapped around my hand. He tolerated being taken out and handled by strangers very well.

---

x2 on both of these. I have a cali king which has begun to hang out in the open over the last year or so and an albino black rat snake which is very pretty to see when he's hanging out and curious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dillan2020

My carpet is constantly out and about. can easily be held by one person and has a very nice temperament.

---

Without and keeping experience and limited handling experience, I agree with this. I'd also say that almost any snake which lays out wrapped around a branch or basks on a shelf would be worthy for display. Some rat snakes also enjoy climbing things and hanging out in curtains which I know from experience. :)

I have many species of snake and my hands down favorite display snake is my Taiwan beauty. Always always always moving around, day and night. Good eaters, good size, easy husbandry. Check em out.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention old world rat snakes. There are few people who have Taiwan beauties and satomi has a bamboo something which is awesome looking.

Good suggestion jackal. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pyrate81

Oh yeah, forgot to mention old world rat snakes. There are few people who have Taiwan beauties and satomi has a bamboo something which is awesome looking.

Good suggestion jackal. :gj:

---

Thank you!
She's a Thai Bamboo Ratsnake. One of the old world Ratsnakes. I totally agree with you. The old world Ratsnake and colubrids make the most gorgeous display animals. My next old world addition is probably going to be a Beauty Snake. Lovely species.

Here is my Thai Bamboo Ratsnake. The species doesn't really like to be handled so they're best off as a display only animal. They can be a little flighty. But some individuals are mellow and handleable. They prefer lower heat requirements. So 65-80 is ideal. Over 80 and its too hot for them. They need higher humidity since they are from a tropical region. They are about the same size as corn snakes.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps26db22bd.jpg

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

When you say "display", do you want something that will be out and about in their enclosure for people to look at, or more of a handle-able snake that can hide but is easy to take out for others to touch / hold?

From my very limited experience, I'd say that if you can find a smaller locality boa (males in particular stay smaller) with a good temperament (i.e. hog island, tarahumara, etc.) that might fit your requirements. I recently picked up a BCA male (he's about 3 feet now) and am loving his temperament. he isn't out all the time (usually just chills in his hide with his head and neck sticking out) but they are supposed to lay out in their enclosure more as they mature..and he's a dream to handle.. Likes to climb on you, "reaches" trying to get to higher objects he sees, etc. and doesn't want to go back in his enclosure. Some of the smaller localities (the island ones and the tarahumaras) can be nippy, I've heard, so asking a breeder specifically for a calmer animal might be a better option. They DO require bigger caging though..At least 4x2x2 as adults (for a male of a smaller locality) so that is a factor to be considered. My south Brazilian BCA male should get about 5-5.5 feet and will be on the chunky side (probably about 20lbs), but still handle-able by a single person. I've heard male BCIs recommended as well, they can get longer (like 6') but are skinnier than my BCA will get and still handle-able by one person IF you get one with a good temperament, etc.
Here are a couple pics of my male south Brazilian BCA, Jax.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...agecropped.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...ingcropped.jpg

My black milksnake seems to always be out and about. He was a poop slinger as a baby but is calming down quickly as he gets older. They end up being beautiful jet black snakes, easy to care for. Room temperature is perfect for them. I do have a heating pad on mine for the dead of winter.

GTP is hands down the best display snake IMO. They require a bit more thought into set up and are a little more fragile. Getting a captive bred one is a must. As far as handling it seems to be up to the individual.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artgecko

Some of the smaller localities (the island ones and the tarahumaras) can be nippy, I've heard, so asking a breeder specifically for a calmer animal might be a better option.

---

The one in QT now is a pistol, very hissy pissy little girl though she's never struck. Imagine a boa with a Napoleon Complex and you have her. She is also always hidden. As she gets older she might be out and about more, but I wouldn't recommend a young one as a display snake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by h20hunter

So as I learn more and more about the world of snakes and read threads about this and that I find I'm constantly hitting Google for snake information. In a few threads recently there have been discussions about this morph or that snake being a good option. So....what are your suggestions for beginner to intermediate level snakes that make good presentation snakes. Snakes that can be handled, don't get giant, can be kept easily, and are simply cool to look at and have a disposition that makes them more likely to stay out in the open. If you have pics of course please post them.

Cheers.

---

Sanzinia is an option if you want something less common. I only have experience with 1 individual but it was a super easy keeper, spent a good deal of time in the open and was very relaxed. They prefer cooler temps(upper 60s to lower 70s) with a basking spot right around 85F. So long as you give them a cooler gradient and don't overheat them, they should be fine. They are nocturnal so if you want them to display well you should provide good cover out in the 'open' with thick foilage where they can sleep during the day whilst feeling secure.

They come in a green phase and yellow phase. Mine was a yellow and last I heard was out in California working on making more CBB animals.

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100_0712.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100e0715.jpg

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/100e0718.jpg

Thats a cool looking snake. Thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NH93

Would you please tell this to my corn? I don't think she knows... ;)
No but corns are beautiful! Mine is very much a hider; my ball python will lay out in the open at dusk/night, but the corn usually can't be seen. If you are lucky enough to get one that is more comfortable though, I could definitely see the display-potential!

---

Maybe it's a female corn thing. My second corn snake was very aggressive, always striking at the cage and shaking her tail when she saw me too close to her tank. :D She always wanted to bite when I went to handle her. I had to catch her in the right mood, literally. Once I had her out she was usually okay, if she didn't see my hand in front of my face. On average corn snakes are well tempered.

I don't think Macklot's pythons get enough love. I'm set on getting one this summer. Nippy as juveniles, but tame down as they reach maturity- great since they mature really fast. Great iridescence and decent patterns in my opinion. They can get up to 8 feet for adult females, but only weight in the range of about 12 to 16 pounds so they are not that thick and cat be handled by one person alone. I've heard they are really intelligent and a joy to keep so definitely worth looking into.

We use a pretty good variety of snakes at our shows. Corns,kings,balls,Dumerils and Sally our 12 ft burm. They all work well and everyone holds them.

I just wanted to chime in on the Carpet Python love - the babies can have a bit of attitude, but as they mature they're gorgeous. Irian Jayas and Jungles tend to be smaller as adults, and both are very pretty. If you set up their enclosure with a suitable basking area, they'll hang out and perch where you can see them easily.

Many north american colubrids will come out to bask if you set them up in a more naturalistic style enclosure. Put a daytime basking bulb on them, and use a heat pad only at night to keep them from getting too cold. When you set them up that way, they come out in the morning to bask, cruise around, then bask some more, then hide out, etc. I've kept california kingsnakes that way, cornsnakes, and ratsnakes as well, and they will all engage in basking behaviors when set up that way.

-Jen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LLLReptile

I just wanted to chime in on the Carpet Python love - the babies can have a bit of attitude, but as they mature they're gorgeous. Irian Jayas and Jungles tend to be smaller as adults, and both are very pretty. If you set up their enclosure with a suitable basking area, they'll hang out and perch where you can see them easily.

Many north american colubrids will come out to bask if you set them up in a more naturalistic style enclosure. Put a daytime basking bulb on them, and use a heat pad only at night to keep them from getting too cold. When you set them up that way, they come out in the morning to bask, cruise around, then bask some more, then hide out, etc. I've kept california kingsnakes that way, cornsnakes, and ratsnakes as well, and they will all engage in basking behaviors when set up that way.

-Jen

---

This is why I love colubrids. Most (not all, of course) have fairly simply heat and temp requirements, because they are more native to the Western and similar conditions. Thanks for the info!

Lampropeltis getula nigrita ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slim

Lampropeltis getula nigrita ;)

---

Couldn't just say the common name, could ya? Had to go and be like that.
;)

(Mexican black kingsnake, for anyone who doesn't feel like Googling)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slim

Lampropeltis getula nigrita ;)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NH93

Couldn't just say the common name, could ya? Had to go and be like that.
;)

(Mexican black kingsnake, for anyone who doesn't feel like Googling)

---

Doesn't hurt anybody to do a little research and learn something new either. ;)

I'll chime in with more carpet love, prolly my favorite python genus (Morelia I'm not sure I could narrow it down any more) most if the time if you give them a hide box and a perch they hang out on top of the hide box not in it!! They almost the perfect python for a display set up. Babies can be kinda picky, and as adults you might have to watch that initial feed response as you open the cage but once your past that most are tame!!
If you want a cool colubrid try out pituophus (gopher, bull, and pine snakes) these guys are awesome captives and can be kept in a wide variety of conditions, and are simply awesome snakes. (These guys are my dirty secret in my room, but I keep the less common ones like Mexican pines!!)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DooLittle

Doesn't hurt anybody to do a little research and learn something new either. ;)

---

I copied and pasted the words into my Google bar... that was the extent of my learning today. It's a wonder how I've gotten near the end of my university degree :P
(I kid)