Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yeah so this is another cliche what species should I get question. I currently own a 2 year old male western hognose and a 3 yr cal king but have kept various other species as well. I'm entertaining the thought of a new snake but can't decide on anything. I'm not really attracted to any of the "standard" snakes but don't have much money to drop either on an exotic. I would like something colorful and would love an aboreal or semi aboreal snake. I was thinking of green snakes but I really don't want to have to deal with the insectivore aspect. Anyone know of a "wow" factor snake that isn't horrible time consuming on the husbandry?

Forgot to mention as well I want somthing max around 6 ft but the smaller the better. Colubrids or pythons/boas are fine but nothing even the size of a ball python if it is python/boa. Thanks.....

I'd like to suggest a Jungle Carpet Python, Irian Jaya Carpet Python, and a Hogg Island Boa. I own the last 2...but care is similar for an Irian Jaya. They max out at around 6 feet or so. Aren't terribly nippy, and are good eaters. Some say that all 3 are nippy as youngsters but I have a baby Irian Jaya and have never been bitten. Some also say that Hoggies are nippy and nasty, but I have a 3 year old adult male who has never had any problems. Good luck.
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0.1 Irian Jaya carpet python
1.0 Hogg Island Boa
0.1 Ball python
1.3 Crested Geckos (harlequin/fire, dalmatian, fire)
4.6.0 Leopard Geckos (nrml, abno, htct, blz, lcs)
0.1 Western Hognose snake
1.0 Albino Lavender California Kingsnake
1.3 Bearded Dragons
0.2 Water turtles
0.0.1 Rose Haired Tarantula-Sammy
1.0 Umbrella Cockatoo (belongs to my mom and I)

jjjjj

whats with you? black milks are bigger than he wants, i dont think their aboreal. why do you always say black milk but give no reason why? do you even own one?

the only thing your right about is the wow factor
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

.............can't you read? he wants a snake that maxs out at 6',most BM's max out at 5-6'.i also said they are "bulletproof" that's the reason i recommend them for certain situations.if the original poster has any specific Q's i'd be happy to share my experiences with my 1.3 BM's.there's a ton of info on them that's easy to find,VPI.COM has a excellent care sheet. so "WHAT'S UP WITH YOU JAKE" ???

the size thing was a misunderstanding, he said he didnt want any bigger than a bp and i assumed he meant 4'. and now that your giving reasons istead of BLACK MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!np i think he may listen to you
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

what do you mean by "bullet proof", are you trying to say its a bulletproof choice, or they are bulletproof snakes? i like them too, i was planning on making corn black milk hybrids in the next 10 years
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

mmm

Well, there isn't a lot left with all the parameters you set, but I have two suggestions. The first is a Mandarin rat snake. They have really striking patterns and colors, and husbandry is pretty simple. They like it cool, and they are ok with moderate humidity. Also, they stay pretty small, maxing somewhere around 5 feet. But they do have that wow factor you were talking about. Or at least to me they do. I've seen a lot of them, and I still think "wow." But they don't climb much as far as I know, and are pretty shy. Also, they're pretty expensive. I know you said you didn't have a lot of money, but there are a lot of restrictions on your list, and hardly anything is going to meet all those requirements. My second suggestions is pretty banal - corn snake. I know you said you didn't like the "standard" snakes that much, but there are a million morphs, some of which are pretty striking, especially hypo blood reds, butters, and morphs like that. Other good points include that they are (comparatively) dirt cheap, they are excellent and frequent climbers, and are very easy to take care of - a basic set up, a mouse a week, and a bowl of water just about covers it for an experienced herp keeper. Good luck.

Yeah I know my parameters are really tight and if something actually met them I wouldn't really have to ask, but I thought I might have overlooked something. I like carpet pythons a lot but they are still a little largeer than I want. I was actually thinking about a black milk perhaps. My house is pretty cold its hard enough keeping the temps right for my two snakes now, the milk would be simple. Thanks for the recs.

If your house is cold, heat the cage up with heat tape and a thermostat underneath. THEN I'd recommend any of the Children's python group. Small..stay under 4', nice animals. I kind of have the feeling you should stay away from anything tropical, though.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I have childrens' pythons, and a spotted python. I agree with you as to fitting the criterion nicely!

To the author of the original post: As for the "WOW" factor--these guys have awesome iridescence in sunlight! The pythons of antaresia are also the smallest pythons in the world--conversation starter. They are: anthill python, childrens, spotted, and stimsons.

A nice colubrid that stays around 4ft., easy to care for, and is nice looking is a mexican black kingsnake. Jet black like a black milk, but moderate in size. Mine lives in a 20 gallon without a problem. There are also some really splendid asian rat snakes which fit the bill.

Cruise the forums, look at photos, ask questions--you'll know the right species for you when you stumble upon it. Good luck!
rgds,
althea