Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is ahaetulla, or a B. dendrophilia a bad choice as a first snake? My parents wont let me have any snake which really sucks, but in a couple years ill be gone and i would really like to move right into rearfangs, by the time i can even get a snake i will have wasted a long time when i could be working up skills with snakes... Those are the only two snake id even like to have less a couple elapids i have no bussiness having for a very long time... Do you think agressive snake like B. dendrophilia will help in work up skills with snakes any faster? My ultimate dream is to own an elapid, and id like to achive this within the next 20 years but thats far off, i just want to know what to start with...

CTR

I never found Mangrove snakes to be difficult to deal with as far as handling goes. I used to pick them up in the day time like a corn snake and I never got myself bit. I am not recommending this as the appropriate way to handle a rear-fanged snake, but what I am telling you is that they aren't good substitutes for elapids to "train on."

A better trainer would be something alone the lines of a racer or a coachwhip snake. These guys know how to move and they don't hesitate to bite. It would also be good for you to find someone near you that can show you the behaviors of cobras first-hand, so that you can have an appreciation for their movements and attitudes toward men.

I think it is good that you want to learn first and acquire the snake second... Best regards in your efforts.

Tom T

>>Is ahaetulla, or a B. dendrophilia a bad choice as a first snake? My parents wont let me have any snake which really sucks, but in a couple years ill be gone and i would really like to move right into rearfangs, by the time i can even get a snake i will have wasted a long time when i could be working up skills with snakes... Those are the only two snake id even like to have less a couple elapids i have no bussiness having for a very long time... Do you think agressive snake like B. dendrophilia will help in work up skills with snakes any faster? My ultimate dream is to own an elapid, and id like to achive this within the next 20 years but thats far off, i just want to know what to start with...
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>>CTR
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"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

Firt snake??? It is good that you want to learn...But before you can walk.... You would be far better off learning how to keep a snake alive...before you start thinking about Anything. A good first snake should be a corn or a king. Learn how to care for, feed and to recognise basic problems....A good next step IS to work with a racer or coachwhip...and remember that if it was venomous, each time it tagged you...lookout. While I consider Mangroves to be not all that serious...A large specimen can give you an interesting bite. If you are one of those "Lucky" people who has a venom allery this could add up to trouble. This is not about "What I want to keep..." When you talk about...one day keeping an elapid...It's very serious. LEARN FIRST...Then make choices based on the facts...Not desires.
Frank

In reply to both of you, i really dont want an elapid for at least 10 year or more, so i dont need practice for them yet. As you said rearfang i do need to learn about getting snakes to eat and understand its problems and the like, but i dont want to get a snake i will lose intrest in and then lose intrest in the hobby all together, im just trying to figure that when i do finaly get a snake if there is any major problem with the two snakes i named, as those are really the only 2 i have any real intent to keep, to me corns and kings are not that interesting, i just love the other two speices,

I have heard problems with mangroves feeding, things like this are what im trying to learn...

Glad to here you have a head on your shoulders...However you are wrong in one major point. People who have been working with snakes 20 years or more get bit. There is no such thing as practicing too soon if you picture keeping elapids (or vipers). The best time to pick up good habits is NOW, so you will be as ready as possible when the time is right.
Choice in snakes goes to personal taste. I have worked with many of the most unusual snakes in the world...and I still don't find Kingsnakes dull. I just tried to steer you to something far less difficult to learn on. There is usually very little problem trading in a "first snake" once you have learned the basics.
Mangroves are pretty iffy for feeding. Some want pinkies, some frogs or lizards...and more than a few refuse all food and have to be assist fed to get them started. They require high humidity and regular mistings... Vines are easier. same conditions...but usually lizards do the trick. Of the two that would be my choice. Good luck, Frank

i think vines are a good choice.Quite easy to mantain once they get used to you.Feeding is certainly not a problem.Just throw in a nice juicy lizard in front of its face and it'll snap it up in no time.The only problem might be when it doesn't see the lizard so u might have to do a little jabbing to get the lizard to move. Besides that...misting 2 or 3 times a day perhaps more on a hot day and it'll be fine.

Yeah id love to start now, hell id love to have been able to start 4 years ago when i first began to love snakes, however im blessed with ignorant moronic parents who will not even let me get a kingsnake...

I do realize the fact no amount of practice will stop you from being bitten, even the greatest handler even bill haust has had his fare share of bites, but i think the more time you experiance you have the better off you are but thats just me... Yeah i love vine snakes the best off the two as well, thanks for all the comments...

CTR