Next snake suggestions??

[BWB]

I was in the same boat (looking for a smaller, manageable snake to add to/start my collection - this is what happens when you get one snake, you start looking at other varieties, colors, species, etc and the next thing you know, BOOM, you need a new house, etc). I did a lot of research and was thinking Dumerils, Hog Island, and other boas. I went into Pets Unlimited and they had just got a young Hog Island in. I handled it a couple of different times and after some time decided to rescue her from her crappy store life. She (not really sure of gender) is a beauty and is so much fun to handle and watch - very entertaining snake to own. I expect that she will grow to be six feet or so long and is quite long now for her age but not very heavy yet. That will change as she is packing away rats now. My ball really changed her look (thickness) a lot when I switched her up to rats. My Hog will hiss occasionally when I pick her up but usually only when she is starting to shed. And the hissing means nothing as she has never struck at me.

[hazzaram]

I was in the same boat (looking for a smaller, manageable snake to add to/start my collection - this is what happens when you get one snake, you start looking at other varieties, colors, species, etc and the next thing you know, BOOM, you need a new house, etc). I did a lot of research and was thinking Dumerils, Hog Island, and other boas. I went into Pets Unlimited and they had just got a young Hog Island in. I handled it a couple of different times and after some time decided to rescue her from her crappy store life. She (not really sure of gender) is a beauty and is so much fun to handle and watch - very entertaining snake to own. I expect that she will grow to be six feet or so long and is quite long now for her age but not very heavy yet. That will change as she is packing away rats now. My ball really changed her look (thickness) a lot when I switched her up to rats. My Hog will hiss occasionally when I pick her up but usually only when she is starting to shed. And the hissing means nothing as she has never struck at me.

I'm not really a fan of how some boas look. Hog Island, Dumerils, Colombian etc. I don't really like their body/face shape for some reason. I have a BRB and she is utterly gorgeous, though. Long and skinny with beautiful eyes.




I think Rosy Boas are a little stubby but I like the shape of their face. Actually, their faces are super cute. I think I would have to physically handle a Dumerils or Hog Island to really know if I could ever keep one. I would save a snake like that for a reptile expo, if I ever get to go to one (damn things are almost 5 hours away from me and I don't drive). But I am going to try and go next year so I can check out the different species and hopefully handle some different Boas and Pythons.

[jclaiborne]

Just a little side note, I see a lot of recommendations (not just this thread) where people are looking for a smaller snake and a Dumerils gets thrown out there, these guys a slow growers, but at adult size they are not a "small" snake they get pretty heavy bodied as well.

[hazzaram]

Just a little side note, I see a lot of recommendations (not just this thread) where people are looking for a smaller snake and a Dumerils gets thrown out there, these guys a slow growers, but at adult size they are not a "small" snake they get pretty heavy bodied as well.

I did do some research on them from the suggestions here but I never actually googled a picture of a full grown one. I am definitely not looking for a snake that size. Thanks for pointing that out!

[jclaiborne]

I did do some research on them from the suggestions here but I never actually googled a picture of a full grown one. I am definitely not looking for a snake that size. Thanks for pointing that out!

No worries, I had always been told they were "smaller boas" but as you saw that is definitely not the case.

[Megg]

No worries, I had always been told they were "smaller boas" but as you saw that is definitely not the case.

This is nice to know!