Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Posted by: nevermore at Thu Mar 8 23:38:23 2007 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

Hey. I have a friend looking to get a new pet. I'm trying to narrow down some species that would be good for her (this would be her first snake...but she's had experience with them through me). She seems pretty fascinated by snakes with alot of white. Out of good, beginner, handleable species, what fits the bill there?

How are Leucistic Texas Rat Snakes.

Funny...she's opposite of me. I have a thing for black snakes (I have an eastern indigo).

thanks,

Josh

Well,...Texas Rats are usually a little more "nippy" than let's say a "blizzard" corn, or "snowcorn", those would be an inexpensive, easy going species to begin with. A very calm species like a corn is good for initial confidence with owners that aren't quite used to some of the other more nervous types. ..Not saying there aren't docile leucistics out there, but as a general rule they won't be quite as mild as a corn...If you have a ton of money to spend on her, you could always get her a leucistic Ball Python for about $40,000-50,000 dollars!!LOL. but they are a little "pricier" than a corn!!,.......Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

but really, it sort of depends on her personal preference, as to it having to be "pure white", or not, dark-eyed, pink-eyed, etc........if you guys went to a large reptile show, you could pretty much "cherry-pick" almost anything you desire........Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

...you could do blizzard sonoran gophersnakes. Gophers will normally be about as tame as corns, although they will sometimes put on more of a show rattling their tail, but in my experience they are a little less squirmy when handling then corns.

Here are the links to the pictures on Jason's website at Envy Reptiles.

http://www.kingsnake.com/nvreptiles/images/snakes/blizs1.jpg
http://www.kingsnake.com/nvreptiles/images/snakes/bliz2.jpg
http://www.kingsnake.com/nvreptiles/images/snakes/bli2.jpg
http://www.kingsnake.com/nvreptiles/images/snakes/bli3.jpg

A blizzard corn or a snow corn would be an excellent choice. Personally, I think that a leucistic Texas Ratsnake is also a very good choice. A little larger than a corn. And, yes, more likely to start out a bit nippy as a baby. But by the time it gets big enough to really BITE, it should be just as calm. Actually, I find MY leucistic Texas Rat to be just as easily handled as my corns (yes, he was a nippy youngster). They are close enough in care and (eventual) attitude, that the decision should be made on looks, availability, and size (if an issue).
Best of Luck. Duffy