Favorite Snakes - That Are Different

[jjspirko]

OK I have started a long process of writing a book about snakes, everything from field herping, to husbandry, to selecting a snake. I want to do a whole section on lesser known snakes. So can you provide for me your favorite snakes that are "not typical".

To me typical is ball pythons, corn snakes, all the regular kings and milks, common boas (red tails), common pythons (burms, balls, retics, etc.)

For some examples here are some I have planned to do already

Carpet Pythons (as a general species, not broken into all the "phases"), I know to us they may be common but to a lot of people they never see one in a pet shop etc.

Black Milk Snakes - The responses I get to photos of mine are WOW even from snake people.

House Snakes - Specificly the three most common ones

Asian Rat Snakes - Blues, Taiwans, etc.

Trans Pecos Rat Snakes

When you submit your ideas also state what level of care is required, beginner, intermediate or advanced. Let's not make this a debate just give your opinions and your thoughts on why you like the species and how difficult or easy the care level is.

Thanks for your input,

[jjspirko]

Oh hey also like you picks for

"big snakes that don't get too big"

These would be snakes that get bigger then a corn but not like a big boa or python.

Some would be on both lists, Asian Rats for Instance and Carpet Pythons would be examples of both.

[Holbeird]

I was keeping a friend of mines Brazilian Rainbow Boa, and when I would take him out to do pictures, or to the pet store, you'd be surprised how many people didn't know what it was. Also I'd say Hognose snakes. I personally loved them when I was a kid because we had some around our house, but when I was at the last reptile show there were a couple and a lot of people had to ask what they were.

[JLC]

Baja Cape Gophersnake -- Pituophis catenifer vertibralis

Gorgeous colors...don't get too big. They're not as thick as more common gophersnakes. Mine is a male and is four years old....he's about four feet long and about as big around as a fat marker-pen.

I'd say very much a beginner snake. He was hissy and defensive as a little guy, but got over it fairly quickly and adjusted to being handled. Was a very shy eater for years, but as he's matured, he's become more confident in that area as well and pounds his food. Don't try to feed too much or too often, though....has been the lesson I learned with this guy. Our most consistent feeding routine has been to feed a decent sized meal (a mouse a little bit wider than his thickest part) every other week.

Does extremely well at room temperatures, so heroric efforts at achieving the exact right temps aren't necessary. In fact, they don't like heat so much. We keep a red heatlamp above one side of the tank on a dimmer to add a few degrees of gradient and to use if the household temps drop below 70.

Humidity has never been an issue in a glass tank with a screened lid. They're from an arid part of the world and shed fine without any efforts at increasing humidity.

Loves a thick layer of aspen bedding to root around in and bury himself in as well as a couple of snug hides.

Not a "lap snake" by any stretch of the imagination...very active and constantly moving when being held...but still very docile. Even if stressed, he will vibrate his tail like a little rattler, but has never attempted to strike or even hiss since he was a little baby.

Hope that is what you were looking for!

[jjspirko]

Those are two great ones.

I would call the BRB an "advanced snake" due to husbandry requirements but have never kept one so it is all hear say. Would you concur?

The hoggies are great and a good beginner snake too.

Anyone else?

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I think various Asian Colubrids is a great idea as well as the various African Colubrids(All of em are cool!).
Also, I think having some sort article on Spilotes

[SerpentesCiconii]

I second the Spilotes. Put them as advanced. Different kind of husbandry when you get into these fast metabolism snakes. Also, they can't be afraid to take some bites and may want to wear goggles lol.



And of course the beauties are definitely a good idea. They could maybe be intermediate.

John

PS. Got any updated pics of the 06 Tai?

[jjspirko]

John thanks any info you can send me on Tiger Rats would be appreciated, they are on my some day list. I would not have considered them an "advanced" snake so I may be lacking some data on them. My instinct is go CB if you can with a neonate and you will end up with a less bitty snake, .

Beauties are deffinitely in! On Tai he is just now 14 months and turning into a big boy to say the least. He should shed in the next day or so and I will have my wife shoot me and him together to give a good feel for scale. Best guess is he is just under 6 feet already.

[ladywhipple02]

If you're going to do Morelia Spilota (Carpets) I'd cover ALL the Morelia... especially my fave, Morelia Amethistina---Scrub pythons!


Also, the Liasis pythons... Liasis albertisii, White-lipped Python
Liasis olivaceus, Olive Python.


I LOVE Australian pythons!

[SerpentesCiconii]

Yeah Jack I would say advanced, a lot of things combined. First is their size. Able to get over 12 feet, that also requires a huge enclosure with some good height. Second, They have that fast metabolism, always moving like coachwhips and racers. They do better with heat from above like a basking light or ceramic heater as opposed to an undertank heater because they bask in the branches. Third is they are uncommonly available CBB and may cost a little more. Fourth is they can be bite when they want and you can't really avoid it like you can other snakes due to their speed, and they will aim for the face. You may have to use a hook just to get them out of the enclosure.

Not to discourage anyone from getting them, just let them know what they are buying and suggest experience with other big colubrids which aren't quite as fast as them like beauties. They are definitely worth it. Imagine an angry 10 ft snake that is lightning fast biting at your face, that is their potential. Mine is CBB so he has a pretty good temper. I've only taken a few bites and headbutts so far and he tail rattles some but I'm sure he will calm down. I only recently got him so hes still adjusting from the move.

Tai is huge, can't wait to see the pics.

John