Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i will do EXTENSIVE RESEARCH on what ever is recomended. i will also take EVERY safety percaution needed.

with that said, whats a good starter hot snake?

what im looking for is:
1. something docile. (in comparison of coarse)
2. easily or semi-easily hooked (not to wiggly, in comparison again)
3. preferably not fatal.
4. id like something that is relativly easy to care for, most of my reptiles and arachnids are tropical species... id like some desert species (litte too no humid requirements).
5. a snake that will willing eat rodents, i had enough fun teaching my H. gigas to eat FT mice, id rather not go through that again.

thank you for any responces. (forgive any spelling errors, spelling has never been my strong point)
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my babies:
0.1.0 Epicrates cenchria cenchria (brazilian rainbow boa)
0.0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana (florida kingsnake)
0.1.0 Hydrodynastes gigas (false water cobra)
0.0.1 Grammostola rosea (rose-hair)
0.0.2 Grammostola aureostriata (choco gold knee)
0.0.1 Avicularia versicolor (Antilles pinktoe)
0.0.1 Pamphobeteus sp. (Ecuadorian purple-bloom)

Well more important than which snake is your knowledge and experience. Once you have verified that it is legal for you to keep HOTS in your town/state etc etc. You then should learn what you can online and try to find a mentor. Someone currently keeping snakes in which you can go to their facility and work with theirs under their supervision. Once you have done some time with a mentor you will have a better understanding of the species you like and you and him can discuss where your limitations are and what would be best to get you rolling.

Good luck and I look forward to welcoming you to the HOT community
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Dan S.
Crotalus & Company
Venom-Center Your Complete Venomous Community
Wisconsin Reptile Community

Once you are ready (cage, tools and bite protocal are set up), sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes sp.) can be very enjoyable snakes. They are small and fairly easy to manage...or at least in my experiance. Keep in mind, even though they are small in size they can pack a pretty nasty punch.

W. Smith

Yep, winders are fantastic little snakes, but it can be a challenge to get them to take rodents...I've had some that will take frozen thawed no problem, and others that steadfastly refused any mammilian prey....Additionally, they can be nervous captives, and if you've never tried to "hook" a nervous cerastes, I can assure you that it is quite the experience.

If I were looking for a first "hot", I'd probably go with a cb copperhead...(assuming they are legal in your area). These are beautiful snakes....

-AzAtrox

wow, thanks for responding so quickly! i have long considered getting a C. cerastes, i really like the fact that they are small and dont require any humidity also im a big fan of the horns.

ive seen some for sale in this sites classifieds for pretty good prices 90-125 dollars, but they are all WC.

does any one here live in WA state? if so, want to be my mentor?

contact me at: Broidy85@yahoo.com
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my babies:
0.1.0 Epicrates cenchria cenchria (brazilian rainbow boa)
0.0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana (florida kingsnake)
0.1.0 Hydrodynastes gigas (false water cobra)
0.0.1 Grammostola rosea (rose-hair)
0.0.2 Grammostola aureostriata (choco gold knee)
0.0.1 Avicularia versicolor (Antilles pinktoe)
0.0.1 Pamphobeteus sp. (Ecuadorian purple-bloom)

Isn't the FWC that you have venomous? Wouldn't that be considered a hot?