Display snakes

[John1982]

So as I learn more and more about the world of snakes and read threads about this and that I find I'm constantly hitting Google for snake information. In a few threads recently there have been discussions about this morph or that snake being a good option. So....what are your suggestions for beginner to intermediate level snakes that make good presentation snakes. Snakes that can be handled, don't get giant, can be kept easily, and are simply cool to look at and have a disposition that makes them more likely to stay out in the open. If you have pics of course please post them.

Cheers.

Sanzinia is an option if you want something less common. I only have experience with 1 individual but it was a super easy keeper, spent a good deal of time in the open and was very relaxed. They prefer cooler temps(upper 60s to lower 70s) with a basking spot right around 85F. So long as you give them a cooler gradient and don't overheat them, they should be fine. They are nocturnal so if you want them to display well you should provide good cover out in the 'open' with thick foilage where they can sleep during the day whilst feeling secure.

They come in a green phase and yellow phase. Mine was a yellow and last I heard was out in California working on making more CBB animals.

[h20hunter]

Thats a cool looking snake. Thanks.

[PhoenixGate]

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!

Maybe it's a female corn thing. My second corn snake was very aggressive, always striking at the cage and shaking her tail when she saw me too close to her tank. She always wanted to bite when I went to handle her. I had to catch her in the right mood, literally. Once I had her out she was usually okay, if she didn't see my hand in front of my face. On average corn snakes are well tempered.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

I don't think Macklot's pythons get enough love. I'm set on getting one this summer. Nippy as juveniles, but tame down as they reach maturity- great since they mature really fast. Great iridescence and decent patterns in my opinion. They can get up to 8 feet for adult females, but only weight in the range of about 12 to 16 pounds so they are not that thick and cat be handled by one person alone. I've heard they are really intelligent and a joy to keep so definitely worth looking into.

[RoamingReptilesBF]

We use a pretty good variety of snakes at our shows. Corns,kings,balls,Dumerils and Sally our 12 ft burm. They all work well and everyone holds them.

[LLLReptile]

I just wanted to chime in on the Carpet Python love - the babies can have a bit of attitude, but as they mature they're gorgeous. Irian Jayas and Jungles tend to be smaller as adults, and both are very pretty. If you set up their enclosure with a suitable basking area, they'll hang out and perch where you can see them easily.

Many north american colubrids will come out to bask if you set them up in a more naturalistic style enclosure. Put a daytime basking bulb on them, and use a heat pad only at night to keep them from getting too cold. When you set them up that way, they come out in the morning to bask, cruise around, then bask some more, then hide out, etc. I've kept california kingsnakes that way, cornsnakes, and ratsnakes as well, and they will all engage in basking behaviors when set up that way.

-Jen

[NH93]

I just wanted to chime in on the Carpet Python love - the babies can have a bit of attitude, but as they mature they're gorgeous. Irian Jayas and Jungles tend to be smaller as adults, and both are very pretty. If you set up their enclosure with a suitable basking area, they'll hang out and perch where you can see them easily.

Many north american colubrids will come out to bask if you set them up in a more naturalistic style enclosure. Put a daytime basking bulb on them, and use a heat pad only at night to keep them from getting too cold. When you set them up that way, they come out in the morning to bask, cruise around, then bask some more, then hide out, etc. I've kept california kingsnakes that way, cornsnakes, and ratsnakes as well, and they will all engage in basking behaviors when set up that way.

-Jen

This is why I love colubrids. Most (not all, of course) have fairly simply heat and temp requirements, because they are more native to the Western and similar conditions. Thanks for the info!

[Slim]

Lampropeltis getula nigrita

[NH93]

Lampropeltis getula nigrita

Couldn't just say the common name, could ya? Had to go and be like that.


(Mexican black kingsnake, for anyone who doesn't feel like Googling)

[DooLittle]

Lampropeltis getula nigrita

Couldn't just say the common name, could ya? Had to go and be like that.


(Mexican black kingsnake, for anyone who doesn't feel like Googling)

Doesn't hurt anybody to do a little research and learn something new either.