Reptile & Amphibian Forums

But doing some research and seriously considering an Eastern Indigo. I currently breed Ball Pythons, and keep various Chameleons and Geckos, and have owned many types of colubrids but have always dreamt about Indigos because of their iconic status.

Anyhow, a few questions/topics I was hoping folks with more knowledge could comment on, and any good websites with info on them?
1- disposition, most people I have spoken with claim they are calm and rarely bite. However, I have spoken with one person who told me the opposite, that they will even strike as you walk by their cage.
2- I have spoke with on person who owned Indigos many years ago and won't keep them again because he says they were way too messy, almost requiring daily cleaning and often defecating all over the walls of the cage. Is this an closer to the truth or an exaggeration?
3- are there any eastern breeders in PA?

Thanks for your time! Looking forward to posting on this forum more and building up my Indigo knowledge!

I keep Eastern and Texas Indigos.

1) Their dispositions are usually very calm. I do have one Texan who is very feisty and will strike at the glass during feeding time. If I open the cage and coax him out he's a pussy cat.
2) Everything I had heard about them being messy is an exaggeration. While their poop does have a pungent odor and they defecate quicker than other snakes that I keep, it is in no way a daily cleaning effort for me.
3) You can contact Steve Binnig in PA at s3binnig at comcast.net. I've purchased from him before and he's a great guy.

Paul

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Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

Most D. couperi become very tame, especially if frequently handled. However, snakes exhibit personality quirks, and a few may be "feisty". They may "huff and puff" and intimidate those not familiar, but mine have never tried to bite me. I feed them from tongs, and I don't expose myself to bites or handle prey items and then the snakes etc. Bites are often the result of "crazy" feeding responses, which varies from snake to snake, and may result in serious lacerations. Easily avoided with common sense. They are somewhat demanding because they feed and defecate more frequently than more sedate species, but I find the complaints of fouled cages to be exaggerated. Choice of prey may influence that as well. I think they are great choices for people who want a somewhat interactive snake, more demanding than some but very rewarding and impressive to the beholding eye. Not for everyone, they get large and demand care, but a great joy in my experience. I have seen several adds for D. couperi in your state over the years, so Yes, there are breeders there. Good luck, Vic

I've owned a few Indigos and have had no problems until now with disposition. I have one female that shakes her tail and curves her neck when she see's I'm commining into the cage but this is unusual. She just one of the exceptions I guess.She won't bite though. Every other Indigos I've owned has been a dream snake. Never bite or threaten. As for the cleaning it can be messy and smells a little worse than some. I clean as soon as it comes out and that's usualy two to three days after feeding. Not a big deal. Get a large snake in your hands and you'll never want to let it go, I promise! THE snake of snakes!
The Indigos GO GO!!!

I agree with everyone else. I recently got my second indigo. My larger one has a crazy feeding response, but once he's picked up he seems to enjoy interacting with me. I don't think I could get him to bite me if I tried. I've brought him to several educational presentations, he's always the highlight of the event. The younger one (that I just recently got) will vibrate her tail and puff (she's not yet used to handling), but again, it's all just bluff. I can just pick her right up and she's puppy tame. The degree of messiness/smellines probably depends on what and how much you feed them, but I don't have to clean the cage on a daily basis. I'd estimate every 3 to 5 days.

Good luck,
Ed

Any guidance on what stinks the least and is the least messy? I am assuming 1 rat is less messy than 3 mice. What about stink factor?

I've done some experimentation with diet, and it's been my experience (with my 2 year old snake) that the low fat, high protein and high calcium food items I've used (mostly brown and the larger crested anoles, as well as whole, live fish) result in less stinky crap and less "ass cannons", if you will. I know others use quail, but I haven't tried that yet (not for any particular reason, just haven't made the effort yet.) I now have my larger indigo on rabbit pinkies, they are much leaner and higher in protein than rats. I have my yearling Indigo on mice and fish now since I've been slack on ordering anoles. (It's so much easier/cheaper to get mice.) I haven't had her long enough to make any conclusions yet on the stink/messiness factor with different diets.

Not sure if 1 rat would be any different than 3 mice. My guess would be it wouldn't make much difference.

Thanks,
Ed

>>Any guidance on what stinks the least and is the least messy? I am assuming 1 rat is less messy than 3 mice. What about stink factor?