Ideal snake recommendation for me

So starting one last new thread as I've been disrupting the boards lately, causing a "poo off" contest.

I'm looking to get my first snake, and wanted to have a clean slate discussion.

Requirements:

• can be up to 4-6 feet if thin or maybe a male ball python
• Ideally not super smelly, but at this point I feel like I should de-prioritize this
• Can hang out with me and ideally "drape" around my neck or body
• Doesn't need massive enclosure

Contenders:

• MBK - generally gorgeous and super cool looking, small enough, seems friendly
• Cali King - a bit longer, needs larger space? I may be getting incorrect information about how they poop more or are smelly
• Cornsnake - palmetto corns are the coolest thing ive ever seen, everyone seems to say they stink and poo too often
• Ball Python - seems like the best one in terms of just chilling on my neck, but if it gets to 2,200 grams can I keep em around my neck still?

Thank you all in advance again. It's been great meeting you all, gotten very helpful responses from everyone.

Craig also mentioned a great point in the other thread that balls are slower and probably handle easier.

If my ideal state is having a snake hanging around me while i play video games on the computer, sounds like ball? Kings and corns seem to want to move around rather than hang.

No snake is going to want to hang on you for extended periods of time while you play video games. Pythons and Boas are the most likely to just 'hang out', but even they will be looking for a way to get down and hide. Snakes aren't clothing.:P

From personal experience with my boa VS bp... My bp seems to poop all the time and it reeeeeks lol you just have to pick up ANY snake's poop as soon as you find it don't ever leave it when you see it.

Thanks for setting my expectations. At this point poop is poop and I'll get used to it lol.

Yea I don't expect balls to be pet rocks, I think more of what I meant are which breeds like to wrap around you, whether it's neck or hands. I really want that for some reason.

Hognose for example just seem to lay flat and flop.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by silentchief

Thanks for setting my expectations. At this point poop is poop and I'll get used to it lol.

Yea I don't expect balls to be pet rocks, I think more of what I meant are which breeds like to wrap around you, whether it's neck or hands. I really want that for some reason.

Hognose for example just seem to lay flat and flop.

---

My bps wrap around me but not for super long times. I'll get maybe 20 minutes before they're looking to get down.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3a5f1bf583.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...718bf1ca5e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dbe65e26f4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ed7a7a08a9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8279e953cc.jpg

Sent from my LG-M151 using Tapatalk

Male Mexican or Central American locality boa is also an option for the size, but they may or may not stay put. Most snakes are pretty active.

Thanks Pezz, if 20 mins at a time is all I can hope for so be it.

Will look into Mexican boas, but that reminds me, how abot rosy boas? No one really talks about them much and there are also very few of them on youtube.

Forgot about the Tarahumara BCR, definitely seems like a good fit for me.

Rosies are nice. I have them. However, they are not good for hanging around your neck. Mine like to curl around my hand for short periods of time.
Helpful hint: if the Rosy starts to show excessive interest in your hand, sniffing and tongue flicking, she's considering a slo-moe bite. 😂

My recommendation to another forum member recently:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aedryan Methyus

I would recommend getting a Boa 100%. They are very easy to care for, they never miss a meal, they are amazing to handle, as they are very alert, attentive and active and they reach a larger, yet manageable size...

---

I highly recommend the same for you. If getting something that will most likely only reach 4' - 6' is important to you, I would go with a male BCI. Since you are drawn to snakes that like to wrap around you (as am I), a Boa is the clear choice unless you would be interested in getting into Super Dwarf Retics. I wouldn't rule out a Ball Python, either, though. All of my Ball Pythons wrap around me and like hanging out and exploring almost as much as my Boas. Ball Pythons are definitely very pet rock-esque and timid as babies, though. The biggest difference between Ball Pythons and Boas (handling-wise) is, Ball Pythons are much calmer and nowhere near as active, alert and attentive or at times, a bit flighty compared to Boas. As far as ease of care goes, Boas are the winners in my opinion simply due to the fact that they rarely (if ever) refuse a meal. As far as odor goes, I am currently working with 6 different species and sub-species of snakes and all of their feces and urine stinks, but as soon as I clean their enclosures the smell is gone. Personally, I use newspaper as opposed to substrate and as soon as I notice or smell anything they immediately get moved into a fresh, clean tub and I wash the dirty tub with Dawn dish soap and hot water. Generally, my Boas and Ball Pythons (if they're eating) will poop and pee once a week, maybe twice...

Have you considered a Woma? They only reach 4' - 6' and are a more slender species. They don't really wrap around you a whole lot (unless they're trying to eat you... lol), but they love to hang out and crawl around on you and explore. They are a joy to handle and watch and they're very social. And, not to mention, they're absolutely beautiful!

The only snake I know of that has no smell, won't out grow any enclosure you give it, and can be worn as clothing all day is located in the toy aisle at Walmart. Just giving you the honest truth. All snakes come with a responsibility. With that comes some level of smell, it's own genetic encoded growth, and its own personality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by silentchief

So starting one last new thread as I've been disrupting the boards lately, causing a "poo off" contest.

I'm looking to get my first snake, and wanted to have a clean slate discussion.

Requirements:

• can be up to 4-6 feet if thin or maybe a male ball python
• Ideally not super smelly, but at this point I feel like I should de-prioritize this
• Can hang out with me and ideally "drape" around my neck or body
• Doesn't need massive enclosure

Contenders:

• MBK - generally gorgeous and super cool looking, small enough, seems friendly
• Cali King - a bit longer, needs larger space? I may be getting incorrect information about how they poop more or are smelly
• Cornsnake - palmetto corns are the coolest thing ive ever seen, everyone seems to say they stink and poo too often
• Ball Python - seems like the best one in terms of just chilling on my neck, but if it gets to 2,200 grams can I keep em around my neck still?

Thank you all in advance again. It's been great meeting you all, gotten very helpful responses from everyone.

---

I've kept all members of the list except the MBK, and that is so close to the Cali king that it makes no difference in temperament and husbandry.

If you want something to hang around your neck, anything thicker than your first finger is out of the question. Meaning no ball pythons or boa constrictors.

IMO, cornsnakes poo no more than king snakes, probably less.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Momokahn

The only snake I know of that has no smell, won't out grow any enclosure you give it, and can be worn as clothing all day is located in the toy aisle at Walmart. Just giving you the honest truth. All snakes come with a responsibility. With that comes some level of smell, it's own genetic encoded growth, and its own personality.

---

They eat rats after all, so how good could their feces possibly smell? lol But, considering the garbage we humans put in our bodies and what comes out, theirs smell like roses compared to ours... :P

It is not on your list but an adult woma python is like a kingsnake trapped in a pythons body. All the size and girth you would want in a python with the ease of care, inquisitive nature and chill attitude of a kingsnake.

Out of your species you listed, ball pythons are more likely to stay put, or at least move slower. I think if you want a corn or king to just "drape" on your neck, it will be gone down and off somewhere in about 10 seconds LOL.

Most terrestrial snakes want to move off from a high place and try to get down from our neck/arms, especially once they're bigger. Even my dumeril's boa, who is extremely inactive, would want to get down if I have her around my shoulders. There honestly isn't a snake species who will just drape on your neck and not move, unless they are wrapped all the way around. I wouldn't recommend letting a larger snake wrap all the way around your neck- you'll figure out quickly that it can get risky once you own one LOL.

When they are really tiny babies, they can stay put on your neck for longer, since the neck and hair is a larger area to them to hide under/sit on.

Hey everyone, been out for a while so was glad to see all the helpful responses come back.

Still in the final phases of deciding here, heavily leaning to ball python still. Kingsnakes not off the table, BCIs honestly kinda scare me a bit.
I'm not sure what it is about their look, but they give me that irrational snake fear that other snakes do not :confusd:

Woma python...very interesting, I've seen them in videos plenty but never thought of actually getting one. Again, anyone handle an MBK have any idea if they're active or more chill?

Thanks for all the contributions, will let you know when I decide and finally get the snake!

In having my BCI and eldest BP my BP is the one that stays out most, kinda, not really at the moment....lol I think he’s in breeding mode so he’s actually outta his hides and all over his enclosure....along with the other two BPs I have....all males. My Boa on the other hand is ALWAYS active and searching for her next meal....lol opportunistic hunters lol but she’s fast moving. I’ve been looking at Angolan Pythons lately and they’re bigger and more active but not sure for your situation, they’re about the size you want though and so beautiful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by silentchief

... Still in the final phases of deciding here, heavily leaning to ball python still. Kingsnakes not off the table, BCIs honestly kinda scare me a bit.
I'm not sure what it is about their look, but they give me that irrational snake fear that other snakes do not :confusd:

---

In my experience, I would have to say my Ball Pythons are much more "sketchy" acting when I reach in to grab them than any Boas i've ever had. I feel like i'm much more likely to receive a defensive bite from a Ball Python, because they are so much more timid, shy and jumpy than Boas. Of the 6 different species i'm currently working with I trust my Boas the most...

Ah, thanks for the feedback guys but to clarify I'm not afraid of getting bit.

After having spent some time looking at and researching BCIs, I'm scared of them purely based on how they look. Beautiful patterns, but something about their face shape and eyes just instills irrational fear in me.

Makes me uncomfortable so at this point I think I've eliminated them. Tarahumaras and Hog Islands were definitely appealing, but even dwarf boas are rather large.

I'm sure if I get an MBK I'll get bit fairly often when they're a juvenile, so be it :)

Same with ball pythons, I ain't scared!

Reading up on black milk snakes too, they sound super awesome except it seems like you need a massive enclosure for them.

Too bad..

Most of the snakes on your list will enjoy an enclosure that is ~ 4'x2'x 15"... Even kings will explore and climb. Dwarf boas need more space as they will climb and use it all. BPs are the least active of the ones you listed, and can be kept in a CB70 sized tub as adults, but I wouldn't go smaller than that.

Have you looked into childrens / spotted pythons? I'm not sure how active they are, but they are small and climb and are said to tame down really well.

Colubrids tend to musk more than pythons / boas (at least from my experience) so if musking is what you mean by "smelly" avoid colubrids and garters.

Actually for a hot minute I got turned on to Brooks Kingsnakes. But mixed anecdotal stories about them being super nice, but having such a massive feeding response I can't even pet my cat or else it will smell that scent and attack me thinking I'm food.

Also 6-7 feet seems a bit on the big side.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by silentchief

Actually for a hot minute I got turned on to Brooks Kingsnakes. But mixed anecdotal stories about them being super nice, but having such a massive feeding response I can't even pet my cat or else it will smell that scent and attack me thinking I'm food.

Also 6-7 feet seems a bit on the big side.

---

You should wash your hands with soap and water after handling other animals before handling any snake.. For health reasons and also for scent purposes. I own a cat and have never had a problem with any of the species I keep, but I always wash my hands before I handle my reptiles.

Agreed, was being a bit hyperbolic there.

So after so much thinking, I'm starting to believe that a black milk snake would be ideal for me. Love that they live in cooler temperatures.

But they're so hard to find, looking around on Fauna Classified and listings are very few and far in between.

I've decided on it for sure! Going for a black milk snake.

If all goes well I should be getting one in the next few weeks. A little bit nervous about getting a hatchling in the fall, hope it doesn't just immediately want to brumate.

Will definitely be asking for advice here and posting pics.