Display snakes

[gaiaeagle]

My fiancé and I always love showing off our blood pythons. Good size snake that are easily handled with one person, and still get an impressive size to those non-herp people. My two sub adults are extremely tame and don't mind being draped over a friend's shoulder...or being a belt to one of my fiancé's children.

This was taken last summer. Both the girl and the snake have grown a bit.

[NH93]

Yup. Corn snakes are excellent display snakes.

Would you please tell this to my corn? I don't think she knows...
No but corns are beautiful! Mine is very much a hider; my ball python will lay out in the open at dusk/night, but the corn usually can't be seen. If you are lucky enough to get one that is more comfortable though, I could definitely see the display-potential!

[sorraia]

In my limited experience, Kingsnakes, milk snakes and rosy boas seem to be good snakes to meet your requirements.

[Pyrate81]

My high white California King is very pretty, easy to handle, a snap to keep in a 40-breeder, has a solid appetite, and now that he's gotten older he's more likely to be out, either active or on display, and less likely to be hiding. Other than the BP's he's one of the first snakes I'll pull out to show off to newbies.

Yup. Corn snakes are excellent display snakes. They can be a bit tricky if you get a baby, since the babies can be a little twitchy and are escape artists until they get older. That being said, my first snake was a sunglow corn that only bit me three times in the several years I owned him. The first time he was a baby and had just been carried around a reptile show all day, the second was after his six week escape episode, and I almost stepped on him when I found him. The third time he bit me was after I had just handled his food, so it was my fault. Corn snakes come in a wide variety of colors, stay slim and small as adults and are very easy to care for. I used to hang out with my friends (in front of my apartment in the spring) with him wrapped around my hand. He tolerated being taken out and handled by strangers very well.

x2 on both of these. I have a cali king which has begun to hang out in the open over the last year or so and an albino black rat snake which is very pretty to see when he's hanging out and curious.

My carpet is constantly out and about. can easily be held by one person and has a very nice temperament.

Without and keeping experience and limited handling experience, I agree with this. I'd also say that almost any snake which lays out wrapped around a branch or basks on a shelf would be worthy for display. Some rat snakes also enjoy climbing things and hanging out in curtains which I know from experience.

[jackal_727]

I have many species of snake and my hands down favorite display snake is my Taiwan beauty. Always always always moving around, day and night. Good eaters, good size, easy husbandry. Check em out.

[Pyrate81]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention old world rat snakes. There are few people who have Taiwan beauties and satomi has a bamboo something which is awesome looking.

Good suggestion jackal.

[satomi325]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention old world rat snakes. There are few people who have Taiwan beauties and satomi has a bamboo something which is awesome looking.

Good suggestion jackal.

Thank you!
She's a Thai Bamboo Ratsnake. One of the old world Ratsnakes. I totally agree with you. The old world Ratsnake and colubrids make the most gorgeous display animals. My next old world addition is probably going to be a Beauty Snake. Lovely species.

Here is my Thai Bamboo Ratsnake. The species doesn't really like to be handled so they're best off as a display only animal. They can be a little flighty. But some individuals are mellow and handleable. They prefer lower heat requirements. So 65-80 is ideal. Over 80 and its too hot for them. They need higher humidity since they are from a tropical region. They are about the same size as corn snakes.



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[artgecko]

When you say "display", do you want something that will be out and about in their enclosure for people to look at, or more of a handle-able snake that can hide but is easy to take out for others to touch / hold?

From my very limited experience, I'd say that if you can find a smaller locality boa (males in particular stay smaller) with a good temperament (i.e. hog island, tarahumara, etc.) that might fit your requirements. I recently picked up a BCA male (he's about 3 feet now) and am loving his temperament. he isn't out all the time (usually just chills in his hide with his head and neck sticking out) but they are supposed to lay out in their enclosure more as they mature..and he's a dream to handle.. Likes to climb on you, "reaches" trying to get to higher objects he sees, etc. and doesn't want to go back in his enclosure. Some of the smaller localities (the island ones and the tarahumaras) can be nippy, I've heard, so asking a breeder specifically for a calmer animal might be a better option. They DO require bigger caging though..At least 4x2x2 as adults (for a male of a smaller locality) so that is a factor to be considered. My south Brazilian BCA male should get about 5-5.5 feet and will be on the chunky side (probably about 20lbs), but still handle-able by a single person. I've heard male BCIs recommended as well, they can get longer (like 6') but are skinnier than my BCA will get and still handle-able by one person IF you get one with a good temperament, etc.
Here are a couple pics of my male south Brazilian BCA, Jax.

[HVani]

My black milksnake seems to always be out and about. He was a poop slinger as a baby but is calming down quickly as he gets older. They end up being beautiful jet black snakes, easy to care for. Room temperature is perfect for them. I do have a heating pad on mine for the dead of winter.

GTP is hands down the best display snake IMO. They require a bit more thought into set up and are a little more fragile. Getting a captive bred one is a must. As far as handling it seems to be up to the individual.

[bcr229]

Some of the smaller localities (the island ones and the tarahumaras) can be nippy, I've heard, so asking a breeder specifically for a calmer animal might be a better option.

The one in QT now is a pistol, very hissy pissy little girl though she's never struck. Imagine a boa with a Napoleon Complex and you have her. She is also always hidden. As she gets older she might be out and about more, but I wouldn't recommend a young one as a display snake.