So tell me what kind of snake I might like... :)

I am trying to figure out what snake I would like to have for ME. I have my son's ball python here in my office and I take care of her with him and enjoy her. I think she is pretty wonderful. But I want one for me. I am sure I will end up with some ball pythons for me, but what about other types?

Right off the bat, I know I am not going to be bringing any gigantic snakes home. They are just not for me. I don't want to have to depend on someone else to help me handle my own snake, yknow?

I kept eastern ringneck snakes, garter snakes, and little green snakes when I was a kid. Probably the ringnecks were my favorite. Ummmm, so I have been looking at blood pythons, childreni (which are so cool because they are teeny), and some of the ratsnakes. I would love to be able to have one of those rufous beaked snakes-- I like sharp intelligence in creatures and I think this snake seems fabulous. Met a cobra briefly and really liked her-- would have loved to spend more time with her. Supposedly the rufous beaked snake has the intelligence and personality of a cobra without that pesky fatal venom issue. And I have been looking at ratsnakes.

Sooo, all of you-- tell me about the different snakes you enjoy. Which snake do you find fascinating and why? I'd love to hear about them. :D

I love the way some of the rat snakes look and how they make great display snakes. When I got my BP, my plan was to next get an asian rat snake or an arboreal. HOWEVER, once I had my ball I found that I enjoyed the handling aspects much more than I had imagined. So, I got a boa next instead and have not been disappointed.

So, I'd ask you what do you like most about snake-keeping? If it's display then you can't go wrong with the ratsnakes. If it's handling then a small boa would be ideal. There are quite a few boas that are not likely to get very large.

I definitely like the handling. I don't think I would have a lot of fun just LOOKING at a snake. Hmmm.

to be fair, I should say that rat snakes are quite handle-able, it's just a different vibe than a boa. Rat snakes tend to be on the go while boas are really couch potatoes. So, imagine the characteristics of your ideal pet snake, and then look into species that fit those ideals.

some of the bigger rat snakes are pretty calm also (like mexican black milk snakes), though never as lazy as a boa ;)

Hognoses have a lot of personality and can be handled with no problem. They can be very animated in their behavior; sometimes they will feign death to ward off potential predators. I have a fantastic Tricolor hognose. The Western hognose is very popular. Additionally, hognoses rarely get longer than 2 or 3 feet.

I don't mind if a snake is more active than a ball python-- most would HAVE to be! I was somewhat shocked by how much she sleeps and how little she actually does.

How do ratsnakes compare with kingsnakes for activity level and handleability? How about hognoses? Where do they fit on that spectrum?

Thanks, you guys,for the input and the ideas. :)

my boa is way less active than my ball, if you can believe that!

Apparently not all boas are quite as lazy... mine will NOT sit still once you take him out of the cage, he's all go go go! And don't even get me started on trying to get him back IN to his cage :taz:

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Originally Posted by ZinniaZ

How do ratsnakes compare with kingsnakes for activity level and handleability? How about hognoses? Where do they fit on that spectrum?

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Being that my tricolor hognose is nocturnal, he is not very active during the daytime. As far is handleability goes, he doesn't mind it at all and has not once tried to bite me. He does like to slither around my hands and arms when I hold him, although sometimes he's very still and just likes to look around at his surroundings.

I like ratsnakes, but if your not paying attention while handling they can be gone in a heartbeat. All of mine are very fast. You must also be careful putting them back in their enclosures. They can be half way out the door while your trying to close it. But they are also gorgeous display animals too.:)

P.S. My kingsnake hides a lot. Also most kingsnakes I've had aren't pleasant to handle unless you like being musked. I know not all kingsnakes musk every time, but mine do.

Another snake you could consider is a carpet python. A little bit bigger than a ball, but not so big you need another person to help handle it. From what I hear they are much more visible also. A little nippy when young though. Chris has been wanting one for a while, will probably be the next species that he gets...

I keep BPs mostly, but also have a few corns. I find they are a really nice complement.

When my BPs are being anti socialable I know the corns will be up my arm and out of the enclosure ASAP (probably just looking for any rats I may have hidden on my person, but that is OK).

But I also like the heavier bodied snakes as well... bloods are a really nice forerunner for next species - or a Nic Boa. As well as SD Retics (not heavier bodied, but a really different vibe than a BP).

Bruce

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Another snake you could consider is a carpet python. A little bit bigger than a ball, but not so big you need another person to help handle it. From what I hear they are much more visible also. A little nippy when young though.

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I was going to suggest an Irian Jaya or Jungle, depending on your "max size limit". I have 2 IJ's and they are really great snakes both for handling and for display. My male is a bit over 2 years old and is around 4 1/2 feet, he probably won't get much bigger and my female is just over a year and probably around 3 1/2 feet or so-ish, she could get up to around 5 1/2 feet I'm guessing. They are both great to handle now (the female was a bit of a nipper but has calmed down), not as busy as a Corn snake but they don't just sit still either...they like to explore when they are out. They spend a lot of time on top of their hides and branches, the male really only uses his hides after a meal and when he's in shed, otherwise he's always draped over something! They truly are a great all around snake!

I am making a list and I plan to check each of these out either at the show at the end of august or at NERD. THANK you guys for the ideas-- more comments very welcome.

if your looking for somthing, fun to handle, not too nippy, and a very cool looking snake, id reccomend a milk snake of some sorts, or a gopher snake...

unless your ready for somthing thats really fun, and then id personally go for a blood python/ short-tail, or a irian jaya carpet python..

but bloods get about 6 foot, and i.j. carpets get around 5-7 foot.
but i highly reccomend them.
they are amazing snakes.

just my 2 cents...

maybe 3 cents if i find another penny...

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Originally Posted by Clementine_3

I was going to suggest an Irian Jaya or Jungle, depending on your "max size limit". I have 2 IJ's and they are really great snakes both for handling and for display. My male is a bit over 2 years old and is around 4 1/2 feet, he probably won't get much bigger and my female is just over a year and probably around 3 1/2 feet or so-ish, she could get up to around 5 1/2 feet I'm guessing. They are both great to handle now (the female was a bit of a nipper but has calmed down), not as busy as a Corn snake but they don't just sit still either...they like to explore when they are out. They spend a lot of time on top of their hides and branches, the male really only uses his hides after a meal and when he's in shed, otherwise he's always draped over something! They truly are a great all around snake!

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either your i.j.s are small...
or our friends, are giant!
lol

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Originally Posted by FIEND_FO_LYFE

either your i.j.s are small...
or our friends, are giant!
lol

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Well, he still has some growing to do but I don't think he's going to get much bigger. The female is still young, just a year old, so who knows with her...time will tell. I know she will be bigger than he is, it's just a question of how much bigger :)

You might find it worthwhile to look at this thread... 8 pages of suggestions of different colubrids:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=67180

Right now we have 1 BP and 1 corn. We love them both and I 2nd Bruce (loft lizard) in saying that they make a good complement to each other. The corn is much more active and less shy. I've even seen her poke her head out of her hide to see what is going on when I walk past her enclosure and make a shadow. And of course you get the difference between a heavy bodied snake and a more slender one. Plus corns come in a whole rainbow of colors, and since they've been breeding corn morphs for over 50 years (as opposed to I think it was '92 when the first albino BPs were bred), most of those morphs can be had very inexpensively.

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Originally Posted by Clementine_3

Well, he still has some growing to do but I don't think he's going to get much bigger. The female is still young, just a year old, so who knows with her...time will tell. I know she will be bigger than he is, it's just a question of how much bigger :)

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lol my friends is a male, about 16 years old, and he is pushing 6 foot...
hes a nice big ol boy!

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Originally Posted by kc261

most of those morphs can be had very inexpensively.

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I agree with you there. I think that if one wants to basically hand select a certain color and patter of snake... with a corn you can do it.

I mean I love snakes and celebrate them all... but there are times when you just really want a pink snake... a grey snake... a yellow snake... and it does not mean that you do not respect the snake. But *meh*... a bit of self-indulgence is not always a bad thing.

bruce

Who really wanted a pink snake... and has one.

I'd recommend a cali kingsnake ;)

They are very active, inquisitive snakes and they don't get too large (4-5 feet and built like rat snakes). They are also good looking snakes, depending on which morph you get. They are not as diverse as corn snakes or ball pythons, but there are definitely a good few choices.

Pick me! Pick me! :D

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../EmiMay083.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../EmiMay081.jpg

(Albino Nelson's Milksnake - female - named Emi)

Heheh. Now how could anyone resist a little candy cane snake???

Does anybody have a blood python? Wanna tell me about yours? Or a childreni? I heard the childreni were a bit of a pain to start eating...

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Originally Posted by FIEND_FO_LYFE

either your i.j.s are small...
or our friends, are giant!
lol

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I expect my female IJCP to hit 8 feet, but I've seen her parents. Her momma is 8 feet....imported in 99? from the wild as part of the first batch. Absolutely gorgeous.

I'm pretty sure my pair is around 6 feet now, but I don't expect rapid growth spurts anymore. You don't really think about how long they are until you've got one in hand. Even then I'm not really worried about the constricting power, it's more "length management". :P

i've had my ringneck for over a month and he won't eat. i've tried earthworms, feeder guppies, and mouse tails. i've tried hand feeding him and leaving the food in the cage. any other ideas?