Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking to expand my "family". I currently own the sweetest ball python IN THE WHOLE WORLD, though I count on extra experiance with her because she's been a really reluctant feeder and I've had to work with her a lot on that. I also have a bearded dragon. This spring, I am getting a brazilian rainbow boa, and later this summer, I'm looking into crested geckos. So, you see, I have my hands full! Plus, I have school and orchestra and a bunch of other stuff in between.

I really like the idea of keeping snakes in sweater boxes. I have my BP in one now. It's easier to clean (meaning I will clean it more often), and easy to move if needed. Not to mention its cheaper and I won't hesitate to get another if the one I have doesn't fit perfectly.

So.... I'm thinking about another snake, before the boa. I was thinking maybe a cornsnake.... Anyways, any suggestions as to a snake that is easy maitenance-wise, doesn't get too big, could live in a properly-sized sweater box, and isn't super expensive.

Thanks to all!!! I will thoroughly research all of your suggestions. I ALWAYS do my homework when it comes to reptile researching.
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

There are many snakes to choose from. If you like corn snakes then look into great plains ratsnakes (Elaphe g. emoryi). They make great pets and have really good temperments.

Not all snakes are meant for sweaterbox cages, and this type of caging is not the ultimate for snake keeping in terms of the well-being of the snakes necessarily; it is more for the keeper's convenience and budget.

IMO ball pythons, sandboas and some smaller kings/milks fare well in sweaterboxes. As far as ratsnakes go, I do not understand putting a snake that loves to hide in high places in a cage 5 inches high. Just doesn't work in my mind.

Prairie kingsnakes do great in sweaterbox cages, and these snakes are calm and mild-mannered, a great choice for you. So do Mexican milksnakes. Basically, snakes that spend most of their time underground.
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Mark

I am not a big fan of sweater boxes for any snake. However emory rat snakes are not at all like obsoleta they are ground dwellers, and also stay smaller than the avrage king snake. Also I have seen some high sweater boxes that make great arboreal set ups. Some guys here on the kingsnake fourms have posted great pics.

Yes, that was just me not communicating effectively. Emory are not the ratsnakes I was referring to, I was thinking (and didn't write this) those ratsnakes with semi-arboreal tendencies.
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Mark

I'm not a "big" fan of "sweater boxes" either...

But I do still have a few snakes housed in them.

Garters are smallish, and don't seem to mind living in a sweater box.

Personally I like display housing, either wooden boxes with glass fronts or aquariums.

Dances With Reptiles

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Regards,
Wayne A. Harvey
http://www.danceswithreptiles.com
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1.0.0 Ball Python - Python regius "Cain" Rescued from a crack house
0.1.9 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmella" adult super sweet temperment (Eggs all hatched!)
1.3.13 Storeria dekayi - Brown Snakes Casper, Xena, Athena, Copper, Sharon & Kids
0.1.0 Thamnophis cyrtopsis Easter Black Neck Garter "MoJo"
0.2.0 Thamnophis ordinoides - Northwestern Gartersnake(Blue Phase)
1.1.0. Thamnophis elegans vagrans Wandering Garter
2.2.0 Thamnophis Sirtalis - Florida Blue stripe Garter
2.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters
0.0.1 Thamnophis HybridAlbino Checkered Normal eastern"Mutt"
2.0.0 Thamnophis sirtalis - eastern Garters (xtreme orange phase)
1.1.0 Thamnophis RADIX - Snow Het
0.1.0 Thamnophis RADIX - Christmas Albino
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis - Red Phase Eastern Garter red and white stripes
0.0.1 Thamnophis butleriButler's Garter Snake
0.0.4 Thamnophis proximus orariusCoastal Ribbons
0.0.7 Thamnophis sirtalis - Eastern Garter babies 7/11/08
0.0.7 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis HET Anerythristic Scott Felzer stock.
0.1.0 Thamnophis sirtalis Eastern Snow "Snowflake"
0.0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis California Red Sided (R.I.P. little guy)
1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon - Water Snake - "Aqua" adult WC Pink eater!
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Sub-adult CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Getting Huge!
1.1.3. Green Anole "Crystal" & "Chris"
0.1.0 Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) - "Peach" (A Monitor with fins)
1.0.0. K9 "ACE" Black Cockapoo
0.2.0. Feline"Felix"(R.I.P. 4/27/08) "Kaja" & "Silver"
2.1.0. calico RATS
??.??.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish / Giant roaches
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.

Wow. Nice collection!

I am all for what is best for the snake. I first kept my BP in a glass tank, but the heat and humidity leaked out so easily. This winter, with the nights getting below freezing and the heat always on, thus much drier and causing bad sheds, I gave up and decided to get her a bin. The floorspace is a tad less than her 40 gallon tank, but it is 13" high, so she doesn't feel cramped. The bin holds heat and humidity so well, and (until she started her breeding-season fast) she wasn't as hesitant about eating as she used to be. So, all in all, the sweater box worked out a lot better for her than a tank. She's much more relaxed and comes out of her hides more often. But, like I said earlier, I'm all for what's best for the snake, and if a ratsnake would be better off in a glass tank, I wouldn't put it in a bin.
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats