What is Your Dream Reptile?

What is your dream reptile(s) to have in your collection? If there were no constraints--money, caging, food, enrichment, supplies, veterinary care, etc.--if all of the needs of the animal were taken care of, what would you keep?

I think I have all mine to be honest .. I’ve had just about everything over the years and I’m really happy with my current snakes so I’ll go with this ..
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:rofl::rofl::rofl: That's quite a choice, Zinc...

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I think I have all mine to be honest .. I’ve had just about everything over the years and I’m really happy with my current snakes so I’ll go with this ..
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Sooo many questions, so little time.


Mine would definitely be a boelens python hands down. They are stunning animals and I would do nothing all day but ooh and ahh at the edge of it's enclosure while watching it.

I think about this question very often. I listen to a lot of Morelia Python Radio and it's one of the closing questions for their guests.

At the moment I'd have to say Oenpelli Python or maybe Australian Scrub Python, though I wouldn't turn down a Boelen's. Moluccan Scrubs are absolutely beautiful too. I've heard them called Golden Boelen's and that description makes them really appealing.

Simalia in general are fascinating to me. Just a bit edgy for my liking though I haven't personally worked with them. No heat seeking missiles for me for now.

A rainbow boa. The only way I would be comfortable owning one is if I could find an adult and if I had an enclosure with a running water system. I'm too paranoid to get a hatchling and I don't know how I could ever go away for a week without being afraid the snake wouldn't dehydrate and die.

I’m a reasonable girl: an albino alligator snapper, green anaconda, cottonmouth, and Nile crocodile.

So, apparently all of my dream reptiles fit into bins:

• If I had a spotter on demand: the "nerd crush" big temperate constrictors (diamond python, Argentine boa, Boelen's). Don't think I'd actually want to keep a Boelen's, though. That Simalia edginess is just too much for me!
• Mid-sized constrictors with big teeth and an even bigger price tag: rough-scale python, CBB GTP, CBB ETB
• If they came with a magic insect vending machine: panther, veiled, and/or Jackson's chameleon
• Technically have it already, but I'm thinking of building out a pair and paying for the genes I want will not be fun: high contrast anery BIL, ghost leopard Sonoran (yup, pure Sonoran ghosts exist!)

And, just for fun:

• Technically have it already, but oooooh, hey! That gene's theirs?...Wait, a pair of hets cost how much?!?: pied Sonoran (yup, the one pied boa on record is a Sonoran!)

I've been struggling to answer this question, & since I've already had my dream reptile, can I bring him back from the dead? :D He was an adult rattlesnake when he was given to me, & I "only" had him around for 17 years...I'd like another 17 years with him, OK? :D He was about 25 when he passed away. He was a Crotalus helleri (Southern Pacific), btw. :snake:

like this: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...is_helleri.jpg

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I’m a reasonable girl: an albino alligator snapper, green anaconda, cottonmouth, and Nile crocodile.

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I love all ALBINOS even human ones :)

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I would love some tree monitors and an anaconda.

Philippine Sailfin dragon, hands down, then a lower basin ETB. (But the ETB is going to be a reality in the next few years actually[emoji3059])


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I would love to have enough outdoor room, and to leave in a place that I could keep it up year round, to have a tegu. I think they're so neat and fun to interact with. My taste in snakes I think is a little less fancy than everyone else's too lol, I'd love to have a big garter snake enclosure. All of this is 100% doable I just don't have the time to invest in it. If I did though, a group of garter snakes I think would be super fun to have.

I would love to get my hands on a pair of angolan or papuan pythons.

Probably an odd assortment, but if I didn't have to worry about space or common sense, I'd love a cohab group of San Francisco Garters (the endangered ones), an Eastern Indigo, a breeding group of Anthill Pythons, a Savu Python, a Vietnamese Blue Beauty, a Pygmy Rattlesnake, and a Gila Monster.

Honestly I love everything in the Simalia genus. I would also really really really love to own a Perentie and a Saltwater crocodile.

Since we're pulling out all the stops on this "dream" as far as budget: many years ago I had a very vivid dream about having a custom-built house in the shape of a square "donut"- a house with a large enclosed court-yard center that's sun-filled from a glass ceiling, partitioned with large walk-in habitats with trees & plants & water features, like the very best zoological exhibits, & occupied by my scaly pals. Of course, now that I'm hooked on lap-swimming, I have to fit in a lap pool too...:D as long as I'm dreaming?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Since we're pulling out all the stops on this "dream" as far as budget: many years ago I had a very vivid dream about having a custom-built house in the shape of a square "donut"- a house with a large enclosed court-yard center that's sun-filled from a glass ceiling, partitioned with large walk-in habitats with trees & plants & water features, like the very best zoological exhibits, & occupied by my scaly pals. Of course, now that I'm hooked on lap-swimming, I have to fit in a lap pool too...:D as long as I'm dreaming?

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Sooooo many questions ...

What is ‘lap-swimming’ ?


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Sooooo many questions ...

What is ‘lap-swimming’ ?


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Swimming back & forth across a pool in marked-off lanes, like they do in Olympic races. Recreationally, you can swim either for time or distance or both. I love the exercise & usually swim laps for 1.5- 2 hours- about 2 miles or so. I usually run out of time (adults only swim session) before I run out of energy. You should try it some time. Our town pool is outdoors, so we have to wait for summer- but we're trying to get a big new indoor complex approved & built, as our existing pool is getting up in years & our town is growing. Swimming is great exercise, plus for adults, it's much easier on your body (joints & all) while still being aerobic. Getting in shape is so much fun this way.

Any more questions? Not sure what will happen this year, with the pandemic & all- we all swam last summer & no one got sick except for one lifeguard who had another job where he was exposed- he was fine after he quarantined. At the rate this year is going though, we may not be so lucky.

:hijackd: (oops!)

My tastes are simple - I'd like to have a pied or a BEL. But if I had unlimited funds and room I'd be more likely be the neighborhood cat lady, so it's just as well that I don't. :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Swimming back & forth across a pool in marked-off lanes, like they do in Olympic races. Recreationally, you can swim either for time or distance or both. I love the exercise & usually swim laps for 1.5- 2 hours- about 2 miles or so. I usually run out of time (adults only swim session) before I run out of energy. You should try it some time. Our town pool is outdoors, so we have to wait for summer- but we're trying to get a big new indoor complex approved & built, as our existing pool is getting up in years & our town is growing. Swimming is great exercise, plus for adults, it's much easier on your body (joints & all) while still being aerobic. Getting in shape is so much fun this way.

Any more questions? Not sure what will happen this year, with the pandemic & all- we all swam last summer & no one got sick except for one lifeguard who had another job where he was exposed- he was fine after he quarantined. At the rate this year is going though, we may not be so lucky.

:hijackd: (oops!)

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Ahh

I had this image of you floating , sat bolt upright , legs crossed and paddling forwards with your hands :)


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Ahh

I had this image of you floating , sat bolt upright , legs crossed and paddling forwards with your hands :)


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That would be impossible. :rolleye2:....:rofl: Um, whatever? I actually swim all my laps with training fins too, that's more "work" for leg muscles & gets you in the best shape. ;)

One thing about using an outdoor pool- sometimes we get to rescue frogs or snakes first thing in the morning. :D The chemically-treated water is BAD for them so the faster we get them out, the better.

Anyway, back to dream reptiles! :snake:

Burmese python in terms of giant snakes/being too big for me (for many reasons). Boelean's Python for out of budget and probably too big. Water Monitor or Tegu for lizards that need enclosures that are too big and/or need more time and work than I have.

I would also like a hognose snake, but I am concerned about the rear-fanged venom thing, even though they rarely bite. I had a kidney transplant and do not need to risk a bite and see what my reaction could be.

Venomous reptiles I want are a Green Mamba and Gila Monster. The latter isn't happening and the former scares the heck out of me. Beautiful animal though.

blue tongue skink, red ackie, or a female pied ball python *leaning currently towards the skink - they seem so personable

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Originally Posted by dakski

I would also like a hognose snake, but I am concerned about the rear-fanged venom thing, even though they rarely bite. I had a kidney transplant and do not need to risk a bite and see what my reaction could be.

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You can always wear gloves if you really wanted one. This was a concern for my wife as well, but hognoses don't have your typical venomous snake teeth, their teeth have grooves in them and they have to chew their venom in vs. injecting it like a rattlesnake would. I apologize if I'm telling you something you already know, just wanted to put your mind at ease if you really want one!

I've been tagged a few times but I considered them more bluff strikes. They have those hard little noses that'll make you think you got bit at first, but they really have to work to get any venom in you.

My dream snake starts with this caveat: I don’t really want to support the pet trade in general outside of the supplies I need for my animals. I know there are many ethical, responsible breeders, but I still feel icky about it (even though I know I don’t need to.) As a result, I now like to take in animals that people are trying to get rid of: all of my animals except for the tarantulas I’ve had for years were rehomed to me.

SO, my dream reptiles are a female common boa, a male wild-type Burmese python and a false water cobra.

They’re quite attainable ... but the way I go about getting new petss means it may never happen.

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Originally Posted by Deanna

My dream snake starts with this caveat: I don’t really want to support the pet trade in general outside of the supplies I need for my animals. I know there are many ethical, responsible breeders, but I still feel icky about it (even though I know I don’t need to.) As a result, I now like to take in animals that people are trying to get rid of: all of my animals except for the tarantulas I’ve had for years were rehomed to me.

SO, my dream reptiles are a female common boa, a male wild-type Burmese python and a false water cobra.

They’re quite attainable ... but the way I go about getting new petss means it may never happen.

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You never know, someone that has one of these may be looking to re-home theirs, especially knowing they're wanted by someone who's really caring enough to take in those needing homes rather than just buying the "next fanciest thing". :snake: Though in my own experience with taking in snakes, some of the ones I never expected or "wanted" turned out to be some of the best. ;)

I hope so! I’m in no hurry though. I like seeing what other people’s dream animals are, this is always a good type of thread

Many of mine have been said and there are some great picks on this thread!!

However, my current dream and hopefully soon attainable animal is a bells phase lace monitor ! I just love the contrasting black and white and find them gorgeous and fascinating.

I’ve cut my teeth so to speak in the last year as I’m raising a baby white throat monitor. I’ve had my two quince monitors for 2.5 years now or so and wanted bigger and boy did I get bigger my guy is a chunker but a sweetheart.

a croc monitor is also on my short list but they do worry me a bit. If I could get a captive born baby out of the egg I think I would give it a go!!

my dream snake right now would have to be an eastern indigo

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Many of mine have been said and there are some great picks on this thread!!

However, my current dream and hopefully soon attainable animal is a bells phase lace monitor ! I just love the contrasting black and white and find them gorgeous and fascinating.

I’ve cut my teeth so to speak in the last year as I’m raising a baby white throat monitor. I’ve had my two quince monitors for 2.5 years now or so and wanted bigger and boy did I get bigger my guy is a chunker but a sweetheart.

a croc monitor is also on my short list but they do worry me a bit. If I could get a captive born baby out of the egg I think I would give it a go!!

my dream snake right now would have to be an eastern indigo

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Hey, long time no see here! We'd love to hear more about your monitors when you find time.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Hey, long time no see here! We'd love to hear more about your monitors when you find time.

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thank you! Miss you guys! I post here and there and lurk more than I post these days!! Call me lazy I suppose and or busy! My collection has grown quite a bit from the list below. I should update that.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have or whatever you want to know. I’m learning every day and by no means an expert but they are all thriving and I’m having fun so what the hey right ??

good to hear from you as well. Always love your thoughtful and well said posts and comments.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

We'd love to hear more about your monitors when you find time.

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Well I’ve got a newish , black , widescreen one for our main computer and an older type monitor for the second pc plus a few really old monitors in the attic ..

:)

Sorry I couldn’t resist ...


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Well I’ve got a newish , black , widescreen one for our main computer and an older type monitor for the second pc plus a few really old monitors in the attic ..

:)

Sorry I couldn’t resist ...


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:P You have me beat, I only have 2. :D

Boelens hands down. I already got one of my dreams for a long time, pure Kalatoa Retics. Pure Karompa Retics are certainly up high at the top but it's going to a be a good long while if ever those are available to the public here unless they overturn that import ban. Crossing my fingers that Garrett Hartle has some luck. I'd also really love to have a mainland, but I just don't see that happening for me. It's a very long commitment not just by me, but some other person to help me handle it. I just don't feel good about handling that big of a snake alone no matter how docile it acts. It just takes one time for an animal to get spooked and attack out of fear. I've been keeping snakes for 26 years, most of that a large number and not just a single animal, and in all that time I've NEVER gotten tagged by an adult! I trust my ability to read them a lot, but I'm just not willing to take that risk. Some day I'm being careless I could get surprised, especially as I age. My idiot moments seem to be multiplying every year. Same reason I don't do hots, despite absolutely loving cobras and bush vipers. Now if I could take a magic pill to stop aging entirely, then maybe!

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Originally Posted by nikkubus

Boelens hands down. I already got one of my dreams for a long time, pure Kalatoa Retics. Pure Karompa Retics are certainly up high at the top but it's going to a be a good long while if ever those are available to the public here unless they overturn that import ban. Crossing my fingers that Garrett Hartle has some luck. I'd also really love to have a mainland, but I just don't see that happening for me. It's a very long commitment not just by me, but some other person to help me handle it. I just don't feel good about handling that big of a snake alone no matter how docile it acts. It just takes one time for an animal to get spooked and attack out of fear. I've been keeping snakes for 26 years, most of that a large number and not just a single animal, and in all that time I've NEVER gotten tagged by an adult! I trust my ability to read them a lot, but I'm just not willing to take that risk. Some day I'm being careless I could get surprised, especially as I age. My idiot moments seem to be multiplying every year. Same reason I don't do hots, despite absolutely loving cobras and bush vipers. Now if I could take a magic pill to stop aging entirely, then maybe!

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I agree with so much of what you said here !! Sounds like you really thought about it and have a good approach so I’d stick with it and tend to agree on all fronts.

Mine is a strange one. I currently keep alot of species, but about 30+ years ago I had a pair of Sceloporus Poinsettii - Crevice Spiney Lizard - Would love to add a couple to the collection.

I've been searching for a while, but they just aren't common anymore - at least not in Canada :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...lWQtrSCQ5N41h0

Going to kind of cheat with this question and go with something I could feasibly get eventually and not so much a "never ever."

Vietnamese blue beauty rat snake. Probably not as grand as other dreams here I'm aware but considering I only just got into reptiles again last year, an oversized rat snake seems my speed. And they are gorgeous.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Going to kind of cheat with this question and go with something I could feasibly get eventually and not so much a "never ever."

Vietnamese blue beauty rat snake. Probably not as grand as other dreams here I'm aware but considering I only just got into reptiles again last year, an oversized rat snake seems my speed. And they are gorgeous.

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There's nothing wrong with "do-able" dreams. And you're most likely to get a hatchling, so it will grow up with you...you'll have plenty of time to adjust before it's "oversized". I used to raise & keep Taiwan Beauty rat snakes- very similar, gold colors with black- very pretty- they get big, but I didn't find them to be that difficult- not really biters- just fast & active snakes with great appetites.
I love all kinds of rat snakes...they're active & interesting, & normally very easy to feed.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

There's nothing wrong with "do-able" dreams. And you're most likely to get a hatchling, so it will grow up with you...you'll have plenty of time to adjust before it's "oversized". I used to raise & keep Taiwan Beauty rat snakes- very similar, gold colors with black- very pretty- they get big, but I didn't find them to be that difficult- not really biters- just fast & active snakes with great appetites.
I love all kinds of rat snakes...they're active & interesting, & normally very easy to feed.

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My thoughts are very all over the place in general as to where I'd like to go from here regarding snakes. A VBBRS would be something of a "crown jewel" so to speak.

Other dreams would be a GHI Mojave BP (preferably female as I have a naming convention in mind with future snakes), some kind of corn snake morph, and possibly others.

But one thing that sticks out in my mind is that, well, I want to adopt a rescue someday. To have that satisfaction of giving an unloved, unwanted snake a new home. Everyone goes on about dogs and cats needing homes, which is undeniably true. But imagine how difficult it is for something like a BCI to find a home in a world where many despise it on principle and yet more are completely ignorant as to their proper care.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

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But one thing that sticks out in my mind is that, well, I want to adopt a rescue someday. To have that satisfaction of giving an unloved, unwanted snake a new home. Everyone goes on about dogs and cats needing homes, which is undeniably true. But imagine how difficult it is for something like a BCI to find a home in a world where many despise it on principle and yet more are completely ignorant as to their proper care.

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Exactly. Years ago I took in an unwanted yearling BCI & had her for many years- she had changed homes a number of times in her first year, because everyone was afraid of her- she was very frightened so she bit everyone, or tried, & managed to scare off everyone but me, lol. I knew she was just defensive, & with a little patience & snake-psychology, she never bit me even once in all the years she was my snake- but she sure wanted to & tried to at first! :D She'd have been harder to work with if she'd been bigger, but it's hard to scare me with a 30" snake. :rofl: I truly felt sorry for her too, being bounced around so many times- it took me a while to mellow her out, but she got there- nothing but a big cuddler is what she turned into. And no matter how much fun it is to pick out your dream snakes, there's always something VERY special about those you "rescue"- they often end up having unique personalities too. All my dogs have always been rescues too. ;)

my dad really wants a Brazilian rainbow boa. but I have a really lame want.... I WANT A BUNCH OF BPs lol I'm getting a normal male BP soon, but I want a cute little piebald that I would name peanut after the brown (brown and white piebald) spots! my brother thinks Hognose are cool but I have no idea about my mom. :D

Say, I just realized that we never heard from mlededee- what's YOUR dream reptile? Anything on your list?

My dream is more of an ecosystem type building that would house a variety of species. Something like a butterfly aviary, built and planted to replicate a rainforest habitat. It would have native plants, water features, and would generally replicate the weather of the area it is modeled after (except for any violent or extreme weather). So, a recreation of a specific natural habitat as much as possible.

Inside of the habitat would live smaller gecko and lizard species from that habitat, as well as butterflies. There would be paths throughout, but the general feeling would be that you are walking through a piece of rainforest and enjoying the flora and a small selection of fauna.

I haven’t settled on which piece of rainforest I would be recreating. There are a lot of good choices, but not all of the lizard species I would like to have come from the same places. Obviously there are a lot of logistics to something like this, but that’s why it’s a dream situation. :)

That would be awesome! :gj: What a great idea.

If I ever branch out from snakes and am looking for a challenge, an ackie monitor would be an interesting prospect. The grandeur and awe of a monitor, without having to surrender half your house to accommodate it. :P