Uncommon/Underrated Snakes?

This will probably be my last thread for quiet a while as I feel I am posting too much. However I wanted to ask what snakes you think should be kept more often in the hobby or are underrated? I see many people looking for snakes such as Russian Rats but I dont see many people breeding them?

Oh wow, russian rat snakes look sick.

Obligatory, scrub python. And ringneck snakes are pretty cool, but I read they just don't do well in captivity.

viper boas. Nex to impossible to breed from wht I heard, but they are really cool animals, especially the red phase.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

Oh wow, russian rat snakes look sick.

Obligatory, scrub python. And ringneck snakes are pretty cool, but I read they just don't do well in captivity.

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Originally Posted by sur3fir3

viper boas. Nex to impossible to breed from wht I heard, but they are really cool animals, especially the red phase.

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Scrubs are awesome, I dont know much about them though. Viber boas are something I learned about recently, they look really great but I've only seen one or two sellers on morphmarket/fauna.

Also I just learned how to double quote :D

Dumerils boas, they’re perfectly sized and extremely docile. There aren’t many breeders though and no morphs that I’m aware of. There’s definitely opportunity with breeding them as people look for something “new”. I think BP have become so popular that some avoid them because they’re too common, so something medium sized and uncommon might have higher demand.



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I think most kinds of rat snakes are way under-rated. People know about corn snakes, & yes, they're great but many aren't aware of things like Baird's & Trans Pecos
rat snakes that make great pets, or even Everglades rat snakes (talk about bright orange!). In fact, that's why I chose my handle here- Bogertophis subocularis is a
Trans Pecos rat snake...I figured some might be curious & look it up. Some rat snakes are feistier than others, & knowing that this forum's focus is on ball pythons-
a notoriously docile snake- may I once again heartily recommend both Baird's & Trans Pecos rat snakes for those wanting a mid-side and docile pet, other than a
ball python. :snake:

Australian spotted pythons are in this category too, though some have said theirs are nippy, I haven't found that at all with the one I've kept for 10+ years so far.

Id really love to see Angolan Pythons more readily available.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I think most kinds of rat snakes are way under-rated. People know about corn snakes, & yes, they're great but many aren't aware of things like Baird's & Trans Pecos
rat snakes that make great pets, or even Everglades rat snakes (talk about bright orange!). In fact, that's why I chose my handle here- Bogertophis subocularis is a
Trans Pecos rat snake...I figured some might be curious & look it up. Some rat snakes are feistier than others, & knowing that this forum's focus is on ball pythons-
a notoriously docile snake- may I once again heartily recommend both Baird's & Trans Pecos rat snakes for those wanting a mid-side and docile pet, other than a
ball python. :snake:

Australian spotted pythons are in this category too, though some have said theirs are nippy, I haven't found that at all with the one I've kept for 10+ years so far.

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Trans Pecos are beautiful, I'm partial to larger snakes but if I ever got another smaller coloubrid they would be on my list.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Id really love to see Angolan Pythons more readily available.

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I actually had to look these up. They almost look like a bit like a BP. Really cool looking pythons.

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Originally Posted by MarkL1561

Dumerils boas, they’re perfectly sized and extremely docile. There aren’t many breeders though and no morphs that I’m aware of. There’s definitely opportunity with breeding them as people look for something “new”. I think BP have become so popular that some avoid them because they’re too common, so something medium sized and uncommon might have higher demand.



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Durmerils are a snake I considered before getting my BP, very nice although I wish they had morphs. An albino durm would be sick.

And TopazEye, I really don't think you're "posting too much" at all. :confusd: Forums are here for conversations of all kinds...silence kills them, so bring it on! :cool:

The Antaresia Pythons. Childrens, Spotted, Stimsons and Pygmy. Such cool pythons. Like miniature retics. Seems like they should be more popular in the US. They aren't very expensive, easy to keep. Gorgeous animals.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ens-Python.jpg

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Originally Posted by cletus

The Antaresia Pythons. Childrens, Spotted, Stimsons and Pygmy. Such cool pythons. Like miniature retics. Seems like they should be more popular in the US. They aren't very expensive, easy to keep. Gorgeous animals.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ens-Python.jpg

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I was going to buy a childrens, but it wouldnt let you hold it. It would try to bite all the time.

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Originally Posted by cletus

The Antaresia Pythons. Childrens, Spotted, Stimsons and Pygmy. Such cool pythons. Like miniature retics. Seems like they should be more popular in the US. They aren't very expensive, easy to keep. Gorgeous animals.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ens-Python.jpg

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Yes! As I mentioned briefly above, my spotted python is a great pet in a "pint size". Docile to handle & feisty to feed easily on frozen-thawed mice, & a fairly active
climber so she's fun to watch. Highly recommended pets that don't need huge cages (30-40 gal. size is fine, & yes, glass tanks can work fine). :gj:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yes! As I mentioned briefly above, my spotted python is a great pet in a "pint size". Docile to handle & feisty to feed easily on frozen-thawed mice, & a fairly active
climber so she's fun to watch. Highly recommended pets that don't need huge cages (30-40 gal. size is fine, & yes, glass tanks can work fine). :gj:

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Very cool. I think there is def a Spotted in my future.

Two species I would like are Bismark Ringed Pythons and False Water Cobras.

Bullsnakes and Gopher, they are present in the industry but not enough yet they are large colubrids with personality, I think the main issue is that a lot of people are uncomfortable around them since they are very vocal and have that "mean/aggressive look" which is all bluff.

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Originally Posted by cletus

Very cool. I think there is def a Spotted in my future.

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Mine is a "granite phase" (not that it matters); I actually like the normal patterns better, but it didn't make a bit of difference to me, mine was a yearling "rescue".*
The granite phase is more of a dark greenish color with speckling, and very nice iridescence. She's smaller than many adult corn snakes.

*She had refused to make kills (pinky mice!) & the breeder was so annoyed he talked about sticking her in the freezer, & he wasn't kidding. :O I mention this so you know
that as hatchlings in the wild, these start off on lizards, & only later get brave enough to tackle small mice. Though I suggest people don't feed new snakes until they
settle in, in all honesty, the very afternoon she arrived (shipped) I could tell she was very hungry, so I didn't follow my own advice, lol. She ate 3 f/t pinkies quickly &
would have taken more but I didn't allow her to...THEN I let her settle in quietly to rest & digest. She has never refused food & has a strong response, as if killing it...
to my mind, she's a perfect pet. In 10 years, I've only had one accidental nip from her, my fault for not identifying my hand as not incoming food. She's usually in "food
mode" lol, but she's done public meet & greets to perfection, as do all my rat snakes. No bad behavior, they "change channels" very well, in my only experience w/ these.

She needs warmer cage temps. compared to my rat snakes, but nothing at all difficult. She uses UTH and basking heat both, & I don't bother to humidify her cage, I just
give her a humid hide at all times, which she uses often. (it's half-heated by the UTH also) I like that these climb & you see them out, not hiding like BPs often do. That's
also why I like rat snakes so much...they're more active so you see them in action.

One thing I'll add, in comparing these to the rat snakes I love: they're all constrictors, but the spotted python has (or uses) way more grip strength in the
course of handling. While my Trans Pecos rat snakes will "constrict" their f/t mice before eating, they seem to almost "tip-toe" thru their cage branches or
when handled, whereas my little spotted python is not about to lose her grip at any time. One time she decided she wanted to hang onto my long hair & it's
not something I'll let her repeat, lol...she was hard to get out, whereas my Trans Pecos would just slide on thru. Funny how different snakes can be from
each other. :snake: That's why one is never enough...;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Australian spotted pythons are in this category too, though some have said theirs are nippy,

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I heard this too, but the only thing mine is nippy with is his food. Or the rare occasions he thinks I'm his food. The being nippy aspect is one of the best things, as far as I'm concerned, because that little trash compactor will eat any and every time.

Not that I would do it mind you, but I suspect he would even eat out of my hands if I wanted him to do so. He seems not to have a care about the world around him once his mouth is on a mouse.

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Originally Posted by scobro

I heard this too, but the only thing mine is nippy with is his food. Or the rare occasions he thinks I'm his food. The being nippy aspect is one of the best things, as far as I'm concerned, because that little trash compactor will eat any and every time.

Not that I would do it mind you, but I suspect he would even eat out of my hands if I wanted him to do so. He seems not to have a care about the world around him once his mouth is on a mouse.

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For sure.:gj: Most rat snakes don't have to be "asked twice" to eat either, & years ago, my first Trans Pecos DID eat out of my hands...very carefully, she'd take it from
between my fingers, without pouncing & as if "she knew" to be careful. (?) If I put the same food on the palm of my hand, my scent was stronger & she'd not take it. She
amazed me, since most snakes wouldn't care one bit if we get in the way of their food, lol. It sure wouldn't stop my spotted python...:rofl:

Thanks for the info!!!

Garter snakes, bullsnakes and the African house snakes.

Junk snakes = the snakes that live out behind my barn.
Exotic and desirable snakes = the snakes that live out behind someone's barn a thousand miles away.
:D

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Originally Posted by TopazEye

I actually had to look these up. They almost look like a bit like a BP. Really cool looking pythons.

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Yeah, they're very similar as far as docile temperaments and husbandry, they just get a bit bigger than balls without getting to the size of burms and retics.

Gabino Vipers
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/pnBl1gs.jpg

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

Gabino Vipers
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/pnBl1gs.jpg

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http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=704400

Saw that today. Was way too close to making a bad decision.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=704400

Saw that today. Was way too close to making a bad decision.

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It's very pretty, but for me, there's a really big difference between admiring something & actually wanting to live with it. ;)

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

Gabino Vipers
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/pnBl1gs.jpg

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They're actually called Gaboon Vipers. One of the most lethal venomous snakes out there.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

They're actually called Gaboon Vipers. One of the most lethal venomous snakes out there.

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No, what was shown was a Gabino. This is a hybrid of the Gaboon viper and Rhinoceros Viper. And yes, potent, but not one of the most lethal.

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Originally Posted by Ian14

No, what was shown was a Gabino. This is a hybrid of the Gaboon viper and Rhinoceros Viper. And yes, potent, but not one of the most lethal.

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I stand corrected. Apologies.

And I was under the belief that drop for drop their venom is among the most lethal. If I'm wrong I apologize. I try not to share info unless I'm confident I'm right. There's already enough false info on the internet, I don't need to be adding to it. Hahhahaa.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

very carefully, she'd take it from between my fingers, without pouncing & as if "she knew" to be careful.

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That would be cool to see.

I've always like the look of a Mandarin Rat. Never seen one first hand but the videos et al, the yellow and black is just radiant. And I'm not even a Steelers fan.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...1&d=1486216866

While I haven't kept any (yet ;)), Savu pythons seem like an underrated snake. All the fun and beauty of Liasis pythons in a small, apartment-friendly package. :gj:

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Originally Posted by scobro

That would be cool to see.

I've always like the look of a Mandarin Rat. Never seen one first hand but the videos et al, the yellow and black is just radiant. And I'm not even a Steelers fan.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...1&d=1486216866

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Mandarins are gorgeous!!! I love the black and yellow, it just pops so beautifully.
Mangroves are another I'd like to see more commonly in captivity. Another example of beautiful black and yellow.

No Steelers fan here either (Go Pats!!) but I am a die hard Boston Bruins fan! So the black and yellow works there!!

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

I stand corrected. Apologies.

And I was under the belief that drop for drop their venom is among the most lethal. If I'm wrong I apologize. I try not to share info unless I'm confident I'm right. There's already enough false info on the internet, I don't need to be adding to it. Hahhahaa.

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I was doing reading about gaboon vipers, and they have the "highest venom yield of any snake."

That might be what you're thinking of.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I was doing reading about gaboon vipers, and they have the "highest venom yield of any snake."

That might be what you're thinking of.

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Thank you. I knew I saw something along those lines.

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Originally Posted by scobro

That would be cool to see.

I've always like the look of a Mandarin Rat. Never seen one first hand but the videos et al, the yellow and black is just radiant. And I'm not even a Steelers fan.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...1&d=1486216866

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Those are stunning!

Savu pythons and Mandarin rats have already been mentioned but I will echo them.

I would love to see more species of Oligodon other than purpurascens enter the hobby. Would be nice to see Rhamphiophis become more readily bred in captivity as well. Would also like to see alterna get back some of the respect they used to have back in the day.

Someone mentioned African House snakes and I agree... super under-rated and easy to keep. An albino African House snake has been on my list of wants for a bit, but I need to get my reptile room/office reorganized first.

Those Mandarin Rats are awesome!!

I used to think, for the most part, all snakes were beautiful looking in their own way, but then I saw the Elephant Trunk snake; not all snakes are beautiful looking in their own way. That little bugger just looks wrong. They are uncommon, not sure about the underrated part.

Does anyone know/like these flabby skinned creatures?

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Originally Posted by scobro

I used to think, for the most part, all snakes were beautiful looking in their own way, but then I saw the Elephant Trunk snake; not all snakes are beautiful looking in their own way. That little bugger just looks wrong. They are uncommon, not sure about the underrated part.

Does anyone know/like these flabby skinned creatures?

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Ha! Great reply! And I gotta agree, those buggers are, well... less than pretty. It almost looks like they never fully evolved or developed, hahaha.

Once I find a stable supply of quail eggs, (looking at a few stores nearby when I get a chance). I'm going to try to pickup

a pair of Egg eating snakes, they can be housed together , and eat strictly smaller eggs. Chicken eggs are too big. hopefully next spring maybe

still working on getting the 2 baby pythons I acquired a month ago stable and going before adding anymore.

But I think these guys are really Cool.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...v3TdC8=s460-no