Whats a good Intermediate Level snake?

So Im looking to size up a little with a new snake. Ive had a good number of snakes since I was a kid. Corn snake, rosy boa, hognose, and my ball python that I still have and spoil rotten.

But Im wanting to branch out a little into a slightly more advanced snake but I dont really know what I want.

I really enjoy snakes on the bigger side, but live in a smaller apartment and the largest enclosure I can comfortably house is about 65 gals (A modified plastic christmas tree container 53.5 in wide, 21.75 in deep, and 14.75 in tall.) Im looking for a pet, so something that is handle-able but still has a good food response.

My gut is saying boa constrictor, but Im worried that might be too big for my current enclosure size.

if you go boa, you gotta go imperator, along with an island locale, and a male. all those combinations will make it about 5-6 feet. BUT i still dont think that’s enough space for them as theyre semi arboreal and enjoy climbing. what about a giant madagascar hognose?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea, if its not enough space I dont want to go with a boa. Id rather keep something that that size isnt the absolute bare minimum. But Ive genuinely never heard of a giant hognose.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JayFireBird

Yea, if its not enough space I dont want to go with a boa. Id rather keep something that that size isnt the absolute bare minimum. But Ive genuinely never heard of a giant hognose.

---

theyre a different species than a western, but same look and everything. heres a baby and adukt, they get to about 5ft long https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1993d9b823.jpg https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2b2fc33bf7.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

also, whats the dimensions on the tub? rather than just gallons.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baldegale

also, whats the dimensions on the tub? rather than just gallons.

---

53.5 in wide, 21.75 in deep, and 14.75 in tall

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JayFireBird

53.5 in wide, 21.75 in deep, and 14.75 in tall

---

that should be enough for the hognose. but i will say, they run about ~$400+


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You could keep a boa in there. Not really something like a Peruvian but pretty much anything else would work. Boas grow slow as molasses. My female Suriname is about 3.5 years old and still comfortably lives in a 48x24x15. She is pushing 4 feet. My Longicauda male is in the same size cage and he is a little over 3.5 years old and also about 4 feet.

And if you looked in Central American aka dwarf boas, they top out around 4 feet. Can’t really go wrong with a boa if you are looking for a more social snake. It’s not going to chase a ball or go for a jog with you but it generally isn’t going to try and eat you or run away at top speeds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

It’s not going to chase a ball or go for a jog with you but it generally isn’t going to try and eat you or run away at top speeds.

---

*laughs in carpet python*


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It sounds like a Tarahumara boa would be a great fit for you! They used to be BCI back in the day, but now they're considered to be Boa sigma. Tarahumaras are all the fun of a full-sized boa in a smaller package. They're one of the few true dwarf boas - as opposed to "dwarfish" or semi-dwarf boas - with females typically maxing out around four feet or so. One could comfortably live out it's life in a 4'x2' footprint enclosure. So, the tree container you have now would work.

If you're interested in Tarahumaras and other dwarf boas, Vin Russo at Cutting Edge Herp is a great guy to go to. The new addition of his book - The More Complete Boa Constrictor - is a great resource for anyone serious about dwarf boas or boas in general. A couple of forum members here keep dwarf and dwarfish boas around here (myself included), so there are a few dwarf boa threads to be found. Good luck!

Oh nice! Thank you for the resources!

And btw, about those giant Madagascar hog nose snakes...they're "mildly" venomous, & depending on your sensitivity, it could be a problem. Just so you know.

Yea, I dont think id be interested in a venemous snake (though i recognize its only mild). Ive had western hog noses but i never had any reaction to that. But I dont know much about the madagascar giants and i dont think I wanna play around with that since this will be a pet.

And someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure they're almost always WC. If you find a CB or CBB it'll cost a bit more.

My vote is for the Dumerils boa. I also am planning to use those Xmas tree totes when my boa is grown to full size. Male reaches about 5 feet on average, female about at 6 feet. As mature adults, they have some girth but nothing like a boa constrictor. Very slow growing, takes about 5 years to mature for both sexes and longer if you plan to breed the female.

Great thing about them is their disposition. They are known for their docile reputation. Not one to bite, not even close to a strike, and they are a bit reserve and shy than your boa constrictor. This is what many keepers of this species claim and love about them. I can attest to that. What mine will do is lightly hiss and puff inside his cage but that immediately stops after I pull him out. He can strike easily if he wanted to, for example I offered a rat and I accidentally dropped it on his head (lol). I offered again and he pummeled that rat and went to hide.

There are currently no known morphs, breeders refer them as bloodlines, depending on the pinkish coloring or lack of pattern, etc. They like to hide in 3-4 inches of substrate. Humidity is about 50-60%. Hot side temps at 83-85F and 77F at cool end.

The con about them are difficulty to find and feeding issues. When I purchased Scruffy, I was frantically looking and asking around at the Daytona show that has hundreds of booths. Only 2 booths sold them (Not the breeders), and they both have about 3-5 babies for sale, maybe 1-2 female in the entire show.

Babies are shy and may refuse food like a ball python. Once they start eating, they do well. You should not be paying more than $250 for a baby.

The 'cousin' of the Dumerils boa is the Madagascar Ground Boa (I think... I'm pretty sure it is). Similar in look but different pattern, and longer than the Dumerils boa. Those are harder to find, and imports are banned. I heard they need a little more work in taming. It is definitely a rare one to keep if you manage to get a captive bred specimen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JayFireBird

So Im looking to size up a little with a new snake. Ive had a good number of snakes since I was a kid. Corn snake, rosy boa, hognose, and my ball python that I still have and spoil rotten.

But Im wanting to branch out a little into a slightly more advanced snake but I dont really know what I want.

I really enjoy snakes on the bigger side, but live in a smaller apartment and the largest enclosure I can comfortably house is about 65 gals (A modified plastic christmas tree container 53.5 in wide, 21.75 in deep, and 14.75 in tall.) Im looking for a pet, so something that is handle-able but still has a good food response.

My gut is saying boa constrictor, but Im worried that might be too big for my current enclosure size.

---

Brazilin Rainbow Boas are awesome and beautiful. They can get some size to them but not to big. I do suggest buying one that is 1 to 2 years old. They can die easily as a hatchling if not cared for properly and sometimes if they are. Humidity is vital to their survival for sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baldegale

theyre a different species than a western, but same look and everything. heres a baby and adukt, they get to about 5ft long https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...1993d9b823.jpg https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...2b2fc33bf7.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Oooooo….. amazing looking critter for sure. Would love to have a female.

I'd go with a boa, or carpet python. If you like modestly large colubrids a bull or pine snake would fit in there nicely too.

A BRB/CRB or Tarahumara would do nicely in there for life. I keep Dumerils boas and even my males need a bigger enclosure than that; they don't get too long but they are thick-bodied so they need both length and width in the enclosure.

A male carpet python would fit but they are active and semi-arboreal; mine perches a lot, so they really appreciate having extra height.

Yea, I was thinking carpet python as well, if you can afford the bigger enclosure necessary.