What is your best display snake??

[Zincubus]

I think a thread like this will help a lot of folks looking for the "perfect pet display snake".

I can chime in and add my own opinion, but the truth is, I don't have every species of snake and I will never have all of the snakes I want to own.

There are a number of keepers here that have several different species and we all have our own thoughts on what a good display animal should be.

I personally feel a good display animal should be somewhat active and display arboreal and terrestrial activity, or be very busy and aware of it's surroundings.

I think an animal that is not prone to constant hiding, or showing extremely shy, secretive behavior is a much better display animal than one that you never see obviously.

An animal that will use ALL options provided in a DISPLAY setup is something to behold.

This is not about favorites, or necessarily colors and pattern though beauty can factor in. This is more about what a person looking to be "wowed" by a pet snake would want to see if they had a cage in the center of a room.

If you keep your snakes in a display type setup what do you find to be your "Go To" display animal?



I can't choose a favorite between my boa constrictor and my coastal carpet, sorry royal fans I'm not that into our royal python. I can say that after observing my animals for some time now the coastal carpet python is the best display animal in the collection.

She is always out in the open, always climbing and perching and always active in the evening. This is remember, snake relative and none of this will compare to other animals that are constantly on the move. Ambush predation requires a lot of sedentary activity and in general, snakes are not exactly entertaining but we can narrow down some choices by hearing from folks who have kept several different species over the years.

Let's set up some criteria.

Out in the open: This does not mean active, but simply what it says. If given hides or cover will the snake use them or will it feel secure resting in the open?


Activity level: Is the snake active fairly often? Is it active day or night, or both? Do you seem to always see it doing something most days/nights?


Arboreal/semi arboreal: Does the snake spend an equal amount of time using the ground or using perches off the floor? I think we could include
snakes here that will climb and are not considered semi arboreal, but will just move over or use any obstacle in the cage.


Feel free to add more here, but try to avoid a bias if possible. For instance, if I was asked to help somebody find a great display snake and had to choose between my BC or my carpet based on the above 3 areas, I'd have to pick the carpet even if I favored the BC as my first love.

The carpet is a busier animal, hangs in the open more, as always doing something, moves faster and is 50-50 ground and perches.

A green tree python may not be active, but they are out in the open and perched. They would obviously beat out a burrowing snake, but not a carpet IMO.

If you were going to help a person choose a great display snake what would you pick and why? Friendly and easy to handle are not part of the equation.

Have some fun with it!

I nominate Rhino ratsnakes !

Great display snakes , active day and evening , love exploring and climbing plus great to handle .

Plus bright green with an amazing snout