Possibly looking at a new snake... give me your thoughts

I have a 29 gallon terrarium with a screen lid (that's 30" L x 17" high x 13" deep) free in my classroom. I was going to use it for my cuban knight anole, but I picked up a used 24"x18" ET that he went into. So I think I would like to put an arboreal display snake into the 29 and make it "naturalistic" with plants and such. I need something that will be comfortable in that size tank for life (I could possibly upgrade 2-3 years down the road) and that will be tolerant of the "motion" of a classroom of respectful HS students. My students like to watch and look at the animals, but aren't of the type to bang on glass, poke at it, etc. This tank in particular sits up high on two file cabinets and all they can really do is view from afar. But I don't want an animal that would be too spooked to feed in a classroom environment (like a dumerils).

I figure there are three big varieties of arboreal constrictor-- the ETB, the ATB and the GTP. I don't know a whole lot about any of them, except general care and feeding. Would any of these be appropriate for this environment? If you have a suggestion for an animal I've not thought of, also let me know.

I have no expectations of anyone handling this animal, except for occasional cage cleanings, for which I am happy to hook, so temperament isn't an issue. I know the arboreals can be bitey.

That size would only be suitable for juvie~sub-adult ETB/GTP/ATB, but it's a little short in depth and height for the majority of adults to live in permanently. It could work if you can find an extra small male GTP or ATB. ETB's are much bigger. I'm actually looking for a small GTP male myself.

If you're fixed on an arboreal-ish snake, rough green snakes would work, but I don't know much about their husbandry or temperament other than their size LOL. They eat insects.

Also, I wouldn't say a dumeril's would be too spooked to feed in a classroom at all. My dum will eat anything, anywhere. Juvies of any species are generally easy to spook. My ball pythons are harder to feed than her.

I think they arboreal snakes you brought up will outgrow a 29-gal tank in short order. They also get stressed pretty easily.

For what you want and the tank you have, look into the smaller colubrids like a male king snake. A high white California king will stand out nicely if you put dark décor in the tank.

I have a Cali King and she just hides all the time. I was looking more for something that could be a display animal.

Any other animals stick out?? Lizards?

I wonder if I could do something with a water feature and keep a garter in the tank? What say you all about that? Are garters fairly outgoing for display purposes?

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

I wonder if I could do something with a water feature and keep a garter in the tank? What say you all about that? Are garters fairly outgoing for display purposes?

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Mine are not. After three years the only way they'd be "outgoing" is if they could get out of the tank to go outside and disappear.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Mine are not. After three years the only way they'd be "outgoing" is if they could get out of the tank to go outside and disappear.

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So perhaps a rough green snake would be the way to go. I am going to need to research them, though. Don't know a lot about them.

Two out of three of my checkered garters are pretty outgoing. One of the two comes up to the glass every time I come over. All three are eternally hopeful that I will be feeding them, so they flick their tongues against the glass and then scooch their faces up it.

They were actually even pretty interested the time the cat I was fostering jumped up on the dresser their tank is on (Cat got yelled at and got off immediately - she also was never trusted to be in the same room alone). They also spend a decent amount of time climbing around on things, especially after they've just been fed because they're hoping for more food.

Basically, they're fat little kiddos and food is their #1 concern at all times, so they're visible a lot and get over anything they don't like really quickly because maybe there's food. They're not underfed - two of them are unfortunately chubby even, which I'm working on. It's just how they are.

Every snake will have its own personality, but it's definitely at least within the range of possibility for CB garters to be good display snakes.

I personally love Kings, but yes, they do tend to stay hidden. I have been looking into getting a hognose as my next snake. I don't know a whole lot about them, I'm in the very early research stages now, but I think they might work well for what you're looking for. They are pretty small, so I believe a 29 would be fine for life. Also, from what I understand they are pretty active during the day, so might be great for a classroom setting.
Again, I know very little about hognoses, so you'd need to do your homework. They are definitely a fascinating species from my limited experience with them.

My Western hognose is very active during the day and a male could stay in that tank for life. I wouldn't bother putting a water feature in with a hog though

That size tank would be fine for an ATB but probably too small for GTP and ETB. However ATBs tend to sleep all day and usually lay in a hide or coiled up on the ground so they don't make for an impressive display (during school hours at least).
It looks like you were already moving on from those ideas but I just wanted to add those $0.02.
Another idea that might work is a giant day gecko?
Good luck!

If you're looking for a nice display snake a Jungle or Irian Jaya Carpet Python could probably live in that enclosure for a year or two. As adults they'll need a 3x2 or maybe even a 4x2 for larger specimens. Most average 5-6 ft. You can't go wrong with a carpet python IMO.

I agree with the jungle or irian Jaya carpet python if you're willing to upgrade it's enclosure down the road. Great display snakes and hatchlings are tiny.

My Jungle Carpet will not use a hide. She is either on her perch or in her water bowl, always in the open. I expect that to change very soon when she gets her new AP enclosure. I will install a skyhide.

My Coastals don't use traditional hides either. But they will use the skyhides from time to time. I think it is more of a curiosity/boredom thing when exploring. They also use them to hunt out of.

Just can't go wrong with a Carpet for a display snake.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1031d4bf50.jpg
Esmarelda, Jungle Carpet

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a56752f256.jpg
Etta, Coastal Carpet on the hunt

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b935df7634.jpg
Etta sniped that rat!

That hanging upside down hide is awesome. What a great idea.

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Originally Posted by cletus

That hanging upside down hide is awesome. What a great idea.

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I somehow ordered the wrong size hides from Reptile Basics website & shipping will cost more than its worth to return them so Im going to hang 2 of the Extra Lrg hides in my T12.
Do yous use Mirror Clips on 2 sides and just slide it out to clean?
(Not trying to Hijack)

Would you consider maybe a black milk snake?

They get quite a bit larger than cal kings (up to 7ft), actually change color from tri-color to jet black as they age, are extremely hardy and prefer room temps without the need for extra heating, and tend to be very docile and good eaters.

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

I somehow ordered the wrong size hides from Reptile Basics website & shipping will cost more than its worth to return them so Im going to hang 2 of the Extra Lrg hides in my T12.
Do yous use Mirror Clips on 2 sides and just slide it out to clean?
(Not trying to Hijack)

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Yes, that way they just slide in and out for cleaning. For big snakes you need Lots of mounts, even on the back edge. Don't ask how I found that out. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by ShaneSilva

My Western hognose is very active during the day and a male could stay in that tank for life. I wouldn't bother putting a water feature in with a hog though

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Hogs are out. I'd never bring anything even slightly hinting of "venomous" into a public school classroom. Just asking for trouble!

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Originally Posted by Sallos

Would you consider maybe a black milk snake?

They get quite a bit larger than cal kings (up to 7ft), actually change color from tri-color to jet black as they age, are extremely hardy and prefer room temps without the need for extra heating, and tend to be very docile and good eaters.

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Do they hide as much as other milks and kings do?

Re: Carpet pythons, how many years would I have for a hatchling to live in a 29 before I'd need to upgrade? What size viv for an adult?

Also what do you all think about a Brazilian rainbow boa?

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

Also what do you all think about a Brazilian rainbow boa?

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They definitely wouldn't fit in your tank, unless you're willing to upgrade later on. They're also thicker-bodied than all the species named so far, and can get pretty big!

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

Hogs...........

Re: Carpet pythons, how many years would I have for a hatchling to live in a 29 before I'd need to upgrade? What size viv for an adult?
..........

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I would not plan for more than a year and a half for a Carpet in a 29 gal. It depends on the snake, could be less or could be longer.
Most can end up in a 2 x 2 x2 if you are limited on space. I have a 7 footer and an 8 footer each in their own AP T-25. That is a 6 x 30"W x 18" H only because I have the room.

if I was looking for a snake to keep in a 29 gal for life, I would go either kingsnake (so many choices) or milksnake (so many choices). many others would go corn/ratsnake (so many choices. yes, I know a cornsnake is a ratsnake). those would be my three choices.

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Originally Posted by DennisM

if I was looking for a snake to keep in a 29 gal for life, I would go either kingsnake (so many choices) or milksnake (so many choices). many others would go corn/ratsnake (so many choices. yes, I know a cornsnake is a ratsnake). those would be my three choices.

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also, if I was looking for a snake to keep in a 29 gal for life, i'd be starting it as a hatchling in nothing more than a 16 qt tub.

I'd also turn that 29 gal on it's side when the snake reached adulthood

A green bush ratsnake would be beautiful in the classroom

A Rhino Ratsnake would make a tremendous display snake !!
Unusual yet stunning looking , very active during the day and very inquisitive . Mine is even a joy to handle as well ... Spends most of the time in branches but likes to eat under water !!!!! Crazy !

I heard that those Brazilian rainbows need humidity all the time and will die if they dry out even for just a few days.

I have California Kings and Arizona Mountain King snakes. They are some of the most beautiful snakes and great with kids, but I used to have them in glass tanks and in the day time I would go into the snake room and it looked like I had a bunch of empty tanks all over LOL. So I put them in a rack system since I never saw them anyway LOL.

Persoanlly I'd go with the Florida Green Snake, "Opheodrys a. carinatus". They like to climb and live up above the ground and are active during the day. Max length is about 3.5 feet long, but they stay skinny. And I just love the bright green color. Plus you can get them cheap for about $20.

http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/sna...-for-sale.html

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-for-sale.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...opheodrys1.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...rtmax_2619.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Fhqdefault.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%253D%253D.2.c

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

A Rhino Ratsnake would make a tremendous display snake !!
Unusual yet stunning looking , very active during the day and very inquisitive . Mine is even a joy to handle as well ... Spends most of the time in branches but likes to eat under water !!!!! Crazy !

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Yeah, I like the idea of a Rhino Rat too!! Beautiful green color and that unique "nose" make them a pretty neat species for a classroom setting. I have no experience keeping them, but as Zincubus mentioned, their active, inquisitive daytime behavior would be great too. And if they're primarily in the branches they would probably make great display snakes too.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

A Rhino Ratsnake would make a tremendous display snake !!
Unusual yet stunning looking , very active during the day and very inquisitive . Mine is even a joy to handle as well ... Spends most of the time in branches but likes to eat under water !!!!! Crazy !

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Yeah, I like the idea of a Rhino Rat too!! Beautiful green color and that unique "nose" make them a pretty neat species for a classroom setting. I have no experience keeping them, but as Zincubus mentioned, their active, inquisitive daytime behavior would be great too. And if they're primarily in the branches they would probably make great display snakes too.

I would definitely consider the Arizona Mountain Kingsnake bc they are a gorgeous tri colored snake that is non aggressive. They are great climbers as well and depending on how you setup the display you can and will see more of them. The albino and hypo lines are really very attractive.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

A Rhino Ratsnake would make a tremendous display snake !!
Unusual yet stunning looking , very active during the day and very inquisitive . Mine is even a joy to handle as well ... Spends most of the time in branches but likes to eat under water !!!!! Crazy !

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Having trouble accessing my photos for some reason but this is a nice photo off the internet - adults all look the same anyways .

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...deee8fe864.jpg


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