Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am thinking of putting a snake or 2 in a twenty tall: mexican rosy boa, coastal rosy boa russian sand boa arizona king snake childrens python durango king snake. would these be good for a biggener with a pea gravel substrate

Is it round smooth pea gravel or crushed?

I would suggest starting with only one snake.

Pea gravel (or any gravel) isn't a good choice for substrate as fecal material and urates can fall down between the stones and be very hard to clean. Aspen shavings are a much better choice, in my experience.

As for your choices
- mexican rosy boa or coastal rosy boa - good starter snakes

- russian sand boa - these are good starters as long as you get a captive born animal that is eating mice (let me know if you have trouble finding one - I may have a couple of babies left over). Also, be aware there are 3 species of snake sold under that name (E. miliaris, E. tataricus, and E. jaculus - see my sandboa website for more info).

- arizona king snake - not a good starter. They can be problematic feeders as juvs. and during certain times of year.

- childrens python - good starter, but babies can be nippy

- durango king snake - like AZ mtn king, not a great starter snake
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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham