Is there an animal that meets these requirements?

So I have seen many variations of this question but nothing that fits specifically with my desires. The answer could very well be that the animal does not exist. I am looking for an animal that challenges my skills as a handler without challenging my husbandry skills. Something larger than a ball would be nice however I live in Florida so the really big guys are out and I need to be able to control and care for the animal by myself. I do not have problem with the possibility of getting tagged. I do not mind if the animal gets long however I do not want it so thick and heavy that I could not control it with force if the need arose without hurting it. It would be nice if the animal could thrive in a similar environment to my balls which are in racks. I am an experienced keeper, however as far as snakes go I have only kept rat snakes and balls which are both pretty much baby food. I have had interaction with hots in their natural environment however keeping something like that in my house is not something I could entertain since I have young children. The final nice to have would be if the animal has an albino form. Any recommendations guys?

Three snakes come to mind. Texas Rat Snakes, Bull Snakes, and Carpet Pythons.

How about Elaphe carinata, the King Rat Snake? They get pretty big (6-8') but stay nice and slender. I don't know if they come in albino but their normal coloration of black and yellow speckles is very pretty. I've always heard they are a very interesting species to keep.
Not my photos so here's links:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/...f251e6d3fb.jpg
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...e/c1d08b2f.jpg

i have a jungle carpet and that seems to fit what your looking for

albino carpet python seems to fit all your needs

A male boa fits the bill nicely. Will do fine in a 41 qt tub for many years, and then will only need a 4x2x1 for the entirety of its life. Boas are amazing animals that are big enough to be interesting, but not overwhelming.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I am looking for an animal that challenges my skills as a handler without challenging my husbandry skills.

---

That's easy enough, find something with a strong prey drive and scent your hands before handling - that ought to keep you on your toes. :)


Pituophis -- Lots of morphs, several different types of albinos throughout the different catenifer subspecies. Varies from species to species but, overall, probably the most cantankerous of the three I'm listing.

Drymachon -- No albinos here but if you want to add a bit of risk factor without any serious danger, here you go. Males get anywhere from large to huge - depending on species - and if you're not on your toes during feeding, can slash you a good one that might require stitches.

Aspidites -- A couple of morphs with these as well as line bred traits. Handle easy enough but always seem to be hungry and everything is food. Get lazy and you could very well have a not so nice feeling latched onto you for the better part of an hour while it tries to figure out how to swallow the hand that feeds it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

albino carpet python seems to fit all your needs

---

Any idea how big a coastal gets weight wise? Less hefty than a red tail boa?

An albino carpet python is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Go pick up a male albino boa for a couple hundred and you wont be disappointed at all. Their personalities are much better than carpets IMO. I know there are a lot of people on here who love carpets, and I agree they are amazing animals, but nothing beats the disposition of a boa.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Any idea how big a coastal gets weight wise? Less hefty than a red tail boa?

---

I don't deal with either so i really don't know. Well my longest carpet is an ij/coastal but seems to of topped out around 8.5ft and my pure jungle girl is heavy than her, just not as long. if you wanted an albino they originated in darwin's but are being out crossed to other subspecies. A big coastal might be on the line of what some people will call controllable or not. Just do your research if that's what you are considering.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoshSloane

An albino carpet python is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Go pick up a male albino boa for a couple hundred and you wont be disappointed at all. Their personalities are much better than carpets IMO. I know there are a lot of people on here who love carpets, and I agree they are amazing animals, but nothing beats the disposition of a boa.

---

they are under 1k right now, hardly an arm and a leg and like every morph they become more affordable every year. He specifically wanted an animal that is more on edge. Not that I've handled a lot of boas, but they have mostly been pretty calm. Carpets on the other hand, being on edge I would call normal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoshSloane

An albino carpet python is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Go pick up a male albino boa for a couple hundred and you wont be disappointed at all. Their personalities are much better than carpets IMO. I know there are a lot of people on here who love carpets, and I agree they are amazing animals, but nothing beats the disposition of a boa.

---

I actually went this route a couple weeks ago. My wife wanted something other than a ball so she picked up a baby boa from my local reptile store who I normally have real good dealings with how ever on this occasion when she got it home I examined it and I was pretty sure it was at the beginning stages of an RI so I had her take it back (she was not real happy with me). I agree with the pricing on the albinos. Maybe I should just give in and let her find another albino boa.

Head to faunaclassifieds or kingsnake.com. You will find dozens of very healthy and fairly prices albino boas.

Ok thanks everyone. You have actually convinced me I "need" three animals. One of the smaller carpets and an indigo (if i can ever find one for less than a grand). These two should keep me on my toes for awhile. Then finally an albino boa(doesn't really fit the working on my ninja reflexes category but from the ones I have seen seem to be a larger snake that makes for a good pet) to keep the wife happy and off my case about buying snakes that don't fit into my ball breeding plans.

[QUOTE=John1982;2420804]That's easy enough, find something with a strong prey drive and scent your hands before handling - that ought to keep you on your toes. :)

ROFL. Not something I am going to try however you may want to submit the idea if they ever make another Jackass the Movie sequel.

LOL Isn't this always what happens though.

"Need a new snake!"

"No, actually, I need three..."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Any idea how big a coastal gets weight wise? Less hefty than a red tail boa?

---

The biggest I've ever owned was 9-10 foot and weighed in at about 25 lbs. generally they top out a little smaller than this, I have a few coastal females in the collection now that are about 8-8.5 ft and I'd guess about 20 lb. Males are generally smaller.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DennisM

The biggest I've ever owned was 9-10 foot and weighed in at about 25 lbs. generally they top out a little smaller than this, I have a few coastal females in the collection now that are about 8-8.5 ft and I'd guess about 20 lb. Males are generally smaller.

---

For me that is manageable. Thanks for the data.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoshSloane

A male boa fits the bill nicely. Will do fine in a 41 qt tub for many years, and then will only need a 4x2x1 for the entirety of its life. Boas are amazing animals that are big enough to be interesting, but not overwhelming.

---

Yeah, good suggestion , I'd say .

Ticks the boxes and easily affordable in Albino forum as opposed to a couple of the other suggestions above .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoshSloane

An albino carpet python is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Go pick up a male albino boa for a couple hundred and you wont be disappointed at all. Their personalities are much better than carpets IMO. I know there are a lot of people on here who love carpets, and I agree they are amazing animals, but nothing beats the disposition of a boa.

---

I'd have to agree .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Any idea how big a coastal gets weight wise? Less hefty than a red tail boa?

---

About this big ??

Hope the link works .

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...92#post2420892

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

He specifically wanted an animal that is more on edge. Not that I've handled a lot of boas, but they have mostly been pretty calm. Carpets on the other hand, being on edge I would call normal.

---

Anytime someone wants to handle one of my carpets, "Yes it's tame, but also a carpet python - I make no guarantees." They are pretty quick snakes and the wrong movement can sometimes trigger a reflexive strike - instincts are just stronger in some snakes.

See if you can find a Timor python. They are like a scrub/retic cross which is awesome. They are semi long and rather thin, and it appears they can hit 7-10 feet.

I've been eyeing them up and like what I see.

I think $399-$500 for one if I'm seeing current numbers.

They are somewhat rare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_timoriensis

See if you can find a Timor python. They are like a scrub/retic cross which is awesome. They are semi long and rather thin, and it appears they can hit 7-10 feet.

I've been eyeing them up and like what I see.

I think $399-$500 for one if I'm seeing current numbers.

They are somewhat rare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_timoriensis

https://www.google.com/search?q=timo...w=1280&bih=657

What about a Brazilian rainbow boa those are cool require a little bit of skill you can keep them in tubs just require a tab bit more humidity http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6eaa999245.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bredli python?

When I was a kid, I'd catch Texas Rat snakes and Bull snakes all of the time & Texas Rats were by far the worst of the two (I'd rank those large wild caught ones right up there with Western Diamondbacks I'd encounter). I don't recall catching a single one that I would consider "nice"...Then there were the Coachwhips, worse still, and FAST. I have no idea how they are now that there are multiple generations of captive bred animals being produced (All of the gophers and Bulls I've since owned as CB animals were pretty mellow by comparison). As far as captive bred snakes that I've owned over the years, the Jungle Carpet I had over a decade ago was by far the worst of the bunch. He would quite literally bite that hand the he was holding onto for support. So that would probably get my vote from the three you mentioned.

I will say this though, personality-wise? I always liked Coachwhips (even though I've never kept one in captivity) with Bulls coming in second...

Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mitsmaster9

What about a Brazilian rainbow boa those are cool require a little bit of skill you can keep them in tubs just require a tab bit more humidity http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6eaa999245.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

That was going to be my FIRST suggestion but he did mention Albino as well , I think .
BRBs have to be a contender though ;)

I have a columbian rainbow boa and it does take some skill but is a really fun snake to own I'm thinking down the road a Brazilian for myself as well [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Apparently Columbian Rainbow Boas come in albino and leucistic. Not sure about Brazilian - I couldn't find much about it. Eventually I want to get a BRB, but not for a while yet - and I like the normals best, myself.