Whats a good Intermediate Level snake?

[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.

[baldegale]

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?


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[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.

[baldegale]

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


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[baldegale]

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


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[JayFireBird]

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

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

[baldegale]

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+


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[Sauzo]

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.

[baldegale]

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*


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[WrongPython]

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!