Re: So many to choose from!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reptilian
Hey all-
I am interested in getting another herp, but there are so many to choose from! From Crested Geckos to Colubrids, lol, I can't decide.
So what is your favorite Colubrid and why? I currently have 3 corns and want to add to my collection.
If I could choose...I'd go geckos AND more snakes! :P
But for favorite colubrids.... well, I have a cape gophersnake and he's a real doll to keep and extremely calm about being handled. He's never musked at all, and has not tried to bite since he was a nervous little baby. He's a gorgeous little snake, and not very common at all in most herp collections. But he's extremely "lazy" and most often it's not much different than having an empty tank in the room.
But the colubrids I dream of most to put into my collection someday are some of the Asian ratsnakes. VBB's...cavedwellers...mandarins...to name a few. They can get impressively large without being dangerous to humans...they're beautiful, unusual snakes...and they are typically fairly active and a pleasure to watch even inside their enclosures.
Re: So many to choose from!
as far as colubrids go i am a big fan of the arizona mtn. king or an albino nelsons milk snake. normal nelsons are pretty too.
Re: So many to choose from!
Awww who could resist this????
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...5monthsOld.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...0MonthsOld.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../EmiJan072.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ikeyJan071.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s/EmiandMe.jpg
Various shots of Emi, the 05 female Albino Nelson's Milksnake. Total sweetheart as far as temperment, hardly ever musks and has never nipped...gobbles down her f/t mouse hoppers weekly. I'd always recommend these great eye popping colubrids - she's truly even more lovely in person - I can't capture the brightness of her colors.
Re: So many to choose from!
As a kid I fell in love with what a lot of people call a Coach Whip, I haven't seen any at the shows I have gone to.:)
Re: So many to choose from!
Re: So many to choose from!
My favorite colubrid by far is Spilotes Pullatus. Not sure what most people call them so I'll stick to the latin name. A medium species from central and south america that is black and a combination of whites, yellows, and oranges. Nippy but can tame and are my favorite.
Re: So many to choose from!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread
My favorite colubrid by far is Spilotes Pullatus. Not sure what most people call them so I'll stick to the latin name. A medium species from central and south america that is black and a combination of whites, yellows, and oranges. Nippy but can tame and are my favorite.
They're called the Tropical Chicken Snake or the Tiger Rat Snake :D
Re: So many to choose from!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phreak
They're called the Tropical Chicken Snake or the Tiger Rat Snake :D
Thanks. I've heard them called so many things, I just call them by the latin name instead lol
Re: So many to choose from!
I was considering a MBK or a Leunestic (sp) Texas Rat. Or both calling 'em Onyx and Diamond. There are some many herps I'd like to get, but space is a big concern for us now (we're in a one bedroom and have devoted my closet to the collection).
I think I'll just make my wish list, stick to visiting shows, and put my efforts toward working on the reptile rescue.
Re: So many to choose from!
Great Subject!
Let me toss out a few that I consider to be underrated cloubrids.
Of course first and foremost with me I find the African House Snakes to be way underrated and exceptional pets. Keep them warm, feed them and give them water and they will thrive. Males tend to top at 3 feet, females tend to top at 4 with only the most exceptional getting near 5.
Here are three of my top picks for "normal" [non morph] house snakes
First a "red phase" dotted house snake from Tanzania these are the most common house snakes in the trade today.
http://www.jackspirko.com/images/sna...d_female_1.JPG
Next here is my favorite this is a "Zululand" House Snake. More properly known as a Cape House Snake or Lamprophis Capensis.
Next is L. linitus or the striped house snake. These are a bit harder to come by, I should have some hatchlings this fall.
http://www.jackspirko.com/images/sna...female-2-2.JPG
Now some others I find way under rated also would include the black milk snake. These are just stunning getting 5-6 feet at maturity and honestly are as beautiful as any indigo snake. Very easy to care for too.
And the Taiwan
Switching Gears there is the Egyptian Diadem Snake. Cool snake they are supposed to be kind of mean but my pair are pretty tame. Here is one of them.
Next up would be a Madagascar Cat Eyed Snake. Just got my first one this summer and I already know I need to get a male to breed her with. Isn't she just adorable.
http://www.jackspirko.com/images/sna.../cateyed-2.JPG
I also think bull snakes are over looked quite often. They are easy to keep, beautiful, get big but not massive and are pretty gentle to handle. Here is my lovely het amel kingsville red from the John Ginter line.
http://www.jackspirko.com/images/sna.../redbull-2.JPG
I guess my point is think outside of the box a little bit there is a lot of underrated really cool snakes out there. This massive and cool diversity is part of why I get upset when I see parents letting 14 year old kids buy a burm or a retic. All the snake above are a much better choice for most people to consider. And honestly I have only scratched the surface of even my own collection. And yes I too still want more!
Re: So many to choose from!
Re: So many to choose from!
i think some people on this forum will already know that my fave is the taiwan beauty snake! The picture of her below was from when she was just over 6 feet long, a few months ago, not she 7.5feet and shedding more regularly than my 9 month old BP!! get one of these :).....
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...G2263small.JPG
Re: So many to choose from!
I love the looks of the beauty snakes. I love that they get big but are not girthy enough to be dangerous. or am I wrong about that?
my current favorites (though I own none yet) are the green cat eyed snake, the rhino ratsnake, and the lovely Thai red rountain ratsnake
Re: So many to choose from!
Quote:
Originally Posted by fishmommy
I love the looks of the beauty snakes. I love that they get big but are not girthy enough to be dangerous. or am I wrong about that?
No you are as my Brittish friends would say, "spot on". A massive beauty will have the girth of about a coke can or standard water bottle like they sell water in at the store when fully grown and well fed.
Also a ton of the length is very narrow tail. That thin little tail just goes on foever. It is also one point of concern, you really need to give them enough humidity to make sure they shed well. Tiny tail tip could easily be subject to rot or damage from poor shed.
They can be really agressive if you buy a wild caught or if you buy one that has grown up in the care of a large scale breeder with no real handling. My advice get a baby OR if you buy an adult make sure you have the opportunity to handle it BEFORE you buy.
It would also be ok if you were looking for breed stock to deal with an agressive animal if that got you an adult and that was your goal. Yet a mean 10 foot snake that can lift its head about 4-5 feet off the ground is not much fun.
In my experience any baby handled frequently is as gentle as any typical rat snake.
Back to your question there is no danger from any beauty snake doing any real damage. A bit from a big one could need a stitch or two, may be. Yet there is no danger of constriction to an adult.
