Hard to choose one

So I'm in the market for another snake pretty soon. But I can't decide on whether or not I want another ball python another kingsnake or a hognose... I can't decide any advice on choosing one?

I would hit the expos and see if anything in particular catches my eye.

Things I've been super passionate about lately are Antaresia (Anthill/Pygmy, Children's, Spotted, and Stimson's Pythons), Honduran Milk Snakes, Locality boas, and Pituophis :)

Cant go wrong with a king snake, ours has such a great personality... me persoanlly im thinking a sunglow boa or a Jungle carpet python for my next snake

I vote hognose. I really would like to get one myself. I love how they look like little rattlers.

I vote hognose :D I just got one earlier this month and I love him so much. Such a fun personality and always keeps you on your toes lol.

I've had hogs, and even though they are ridiculously cute I just found they weren't the species for me, too high maintenance. I have really been enjoying carpet pythons lately also :)

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Originally Posted by Marissa@MKmorphs

I've had hogs, and even though they are ridiculously cute I just found they weren't the species for me, too high maintenance. I have really been enjoying carpet pythons lately also :)

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By high maintenance I mean their attitude and high strung demeanor.

I'm thinking maybe a boa. But I know nothing about them and I'd have to convince my mom to let me get one. She's a big time herper tho so I think I can do it

I know my next snake will be either a pueblan milk snake or a male het axanthic, depending on when my next snake purchase is. Still have like two years before my girl is ready to breed.

I love hognose's cute little faces!!!

Hogs are cute, but IME, high maintenance in terms of feeding. There are many keepers that have issues getting them to eat regularly. Mine is a male and has not eaten regularly in about a year... Stresses me out lol. If you do get one, I'd get a well-started female that is feeding on f/t regularly. Males seem to have the most feeding issues.

I vote boa... Try going for a smaller locality and a male. Yes, they do get larger and need a pvc cage as adults (racks just don't provide enough space for an adult), but they have loads of personality and are a blast to handle. I would handle any you're considering buying first, but most boas I've come across were very chill and easy going. I find them much more fun to handle than my ball pythons or hognose. I also have a jungle carpet (jag) and he is fun as well, but they start off nippy and flighty, so might be more work than you're looking for.

The Non-ball pythons that I've picked up most recently have been Kenyan Sand Boas and Honduran Milk snakes. Hondurans can be a little twitchy but I love their colors and the Kenyans are just cool little worms and seem to be really easy to take care of.

I'll have to do my research on boas now. How long could you keep one in a 36x18x18 enclosure

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Originally Posted by That_One_New_Guy

I'll have to do my research on boas now. How long could you keep one in a 36x18x18 enclosure

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You will hear different things from different people.... I grow my boa constrictors slowly, and they have longer healthier lives because of it! If you are looking into a common boa constrictor (BCI, which are the ones that are most common and have the majority of the morphs), I would say at least 2-3 years. I have 2012 BCI that are only about 3.5-4 feet, eating small rats, and I still haven't put them in their 4x2 enclosures yet. I feed young BCI every 7-10 days, and after they are a year old I move them to feeding every 14 days. One appropriately sized rodent that does not leave a noticable bulge.

On the flip side, there are people in this hobby who think it is okay, and even normal, to way overfeed their boas to get as much growth as quickly as possible.

Here is a photo of my two 2014 female BCI. They are both feeding on f/t rat fuzzies every 10 days, and once they are ready for pups they will be moved to a 14 day feeding schedule. Boas should be lean and muscular, with a defined "loaf of bread" or rectangular body shape, not round.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...c074c8e7e8.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...3895af3672.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...9fc8635b8a.jpg

Edit: that size enclosure should be fine for at LEAST 2-3 years.

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Originally Posted by That_One_New_Guy

I'll have to do my research on boas now. How long could you keep one in a 36x18x18 enclosure

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A small male could probably stay in something that size for life, while a large female would need to move up in a couple of years. (or more or less depending on how fast she grows)

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Originally Posted by That_One_New_Guy

I'm thinking maybe a boa. But I know nothing about them and I'd have to convince my mom to let me get one. She's a big time herper tho so I think I can do it

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I went with a Boa for my second snake. I find her more fun and active than my BP. I don't regret the move at all. I still love my BP, but glad I got something different

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...556601f030.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/05...fa375ebb18.jpg

I was doing some reading up on them. And the one thing I can't find a good answer to is how big they get... I've heard 3-13 foot and 9-10

The problem is, there are sooo many groups, species, sub species.

My understanding is that the Common BCI male USUALLY will get up to 6 ft, maybe 7. Females closer to the 8-9 range. Of course there are exceptions and feedind amounts and frequency will relate to size.

BCC's tend to get bigger, as well as certain locales.

Chances are someone will come along and with different/adjusted info.

I would love to have a Indigo snake. IMO, they are the most amazing and breathtaking of all species. The fact that they are a protected species makes me want one more. Actually I need a pair of them. I believe part of the licensing to own them requires that they are used in a educational program or a breeding program or both. They are beautiful as juveniles and turn majestic as adults. They are the true GHI of the herp world. :gj:

Don't overlook blood Pythons if you want something that has the look of a large snake while not actually being a large snake.

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Originally Posted by That_One_New_Guy

I was doing some reading up on them. And the one thing I can't find a good answer to is how big they get... I've heard 3-13 foot and 9-10

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The size varies by locality. Something like a Sonora or Tarahumara BCI locality female will not outgrow a 36"x18"x18" enclosure, they top out under six feet and the males stay even smaller.

Another option, assuming the enclosure is truly for reptiles and can easily retain high humidity, is a rainbow boa.

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Originally Posted by tbowman

Don't overlook blood Pythons if you want something that has the look of a large snake while not actually being a large snake.

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I strongly disagree with this.

Bloods are not a species I would recommend to a beginner. More specific husbandry requirements, typically more cranky personality that you have to handle much differently to gain their trust, and an animal that easily is 15-25 pounds of power as an adult is not for everybody.

I know many experienced keepers who have kept bloods for a while, including myself, and they are not for everybody. I would recommend a carpet over a blood any day as far as a more intermediate difficulty snake.

Thank you guys for all the great info. The diverseness of the boa is astounding. But as I'm about to go off to college in a year or so I have to keep it smaller or as large as a BP because my mom doesn't want to take care of it for me while I get situated. It might be something I consider down the road. They are beautiful animals

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Originally Posted by Marissa@MKmorphs

I strongly disagree with this.

Bloods are not a species I would recommend to a beginner. More specific husbandry requirements, typically more cranky personality that you have to handle much differently to gain their trust, and an animal that easily is 15-25 pounds of power as an adult is not for everybody.

I know many experienced keepers who have kept bloods for a while, including myself, and they are not for everybody. I would recommend a carpet over a blood any day as far as a more intermediate difficulty snake.

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I understand the point you are trying to make. But at the same time, I would not recommend anybody pick up any animal without first doing their research into the proper care and typical behavior of a species.

With a little knowledge going into it, Blood Pythons are not terribly difficult snakes to keep. And most captive bred specimens do not live up to the reputation of imports of previous generations.

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Originally Posted by tbowman

I understand the point you are trying to make. But at the same time, I would not recommend anybody pick up any animal without first doing their research into the proper care and typical behavior of a species.

With a little knowledge going into it, Blood Pythons are not terribly difficult snakes to keep. And most captive bred specimens do not live up to the reputation of imports of previous generations.

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I speak from personal experience with captive bred animals, as well as at least a dozen other experienced keepers who have worked with cbb bloods. It's not about doing research, it's about putting it into practice and making sure you have enough actual experience.

Especially if the OP's mom is going to be caring for them, I would look into Antaresia, milk snakes, or corn snakes.

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Originally Posted by Marissa@MKmorphs

I speak from personal experience with captive bred animals, as well as at least a dozen other experienced keepers who have worked with cbb bloods. It's not about doing research, it's about putting it into practice and making sure you have enough actual experience.

Especially if the OP's mom is going to be caring for them, I would look into Antaresia, milk snakes, or corn snakes.

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I can agree with the point of the Op's mother caring for the snakes, as that was not mentioned in the initial post. Also I was not mentioning bloods as an absolute beginner species and was not aware that the OP has only been into snakes for a couple of months.