Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I currently own a very calm and friendly Ball and am looking for something new. I want a largish snake not over 12ft please. I am thinking of getting a Carpet Python but I was wondering which snakes have the calmest or friendliest demeanor. I notice that the python pics seem to always show people handling them but the Boa pics dont. Are Boas more aggressive or nervous? I also read that Carpets are supposed to be nippy when young but mellow with age.Is this true? I might even look into the King snakes but are they skittish? I also realize that personalities vary in species as well but a general rule is usual..I hope I dont sound too stupid I am a newbie..Another question is what does it mean when you put those numbers before the animals? (ex...0.1.0 python)

` The tamest snake I've ever handled, and I've handled a bunch.
` Like any other snake, there are tame ones, and not so tame ones. When you get a tame one, from calm parents, the apex predator instinct means that they can be incredibly gentle.
` They are Yellow Water Boas. How they got their other name, I can't figure out.

`

`

`

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That looks like a weasle, what is that?
Aslo I think I have seen that pic of them hanging from the tree on the forum before, did you write earlier about them colapsing your lawn char?

Thanks

MrBFrog
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0.0.1 Common Columbian Boa (Damian)
0.0.1 Amel Cornsnake (Kernal)
0.0.1 Okeetee Cornsnake (Guido)
1.1.0 Lhasa Apso's (Monkey, Tiffany)
1.0.0 Rat Terrier (Ricky)
1.3.0 Mice (nameless)
0.0.4 Goldfish (nameless)
0.1.0 Beta Fish (nameless)
0.0.1 Snail (Gary)"Meoow"

Also Canibal the Musical is just about the the most funny movie ever!!!

` I could not feed weasels to anything. I used to keep them as pets. That's just a very large thawed rat. Right after the pic of them climbing down from the tree onto me was shot, the chair gave up.
` Here's what he looks like after 5 3/4 pounds of rats.

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What a beautiful snake you have. That is wonderful that you have such a great pet. I think having to deal with all that water is too much for me though, expecially here in the winter. I thought that was a ferret you were feeding him until I read the other post. I have a pet ferret and it kinda freaked me out. But I guess something had to die for the snake to live be it a ferret or a giant rat...Anyway I think I have narrowed it down to either a Carpet or a kingsnake..Of course I probably will change my mind half a dozen times before I actually make a decision..Thanks for the great pics I loved them..

LOL...my snakes ALL do that to my glasses, too. They did it when they were babies, and never stopped as they grew. Glad to see it happens to someone else.
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1.1 Ball Python 0.0.1 corn snake 1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish 1.2 cats 3.1 kids 1.0 husband and now...
0.0.1 Pink Zebra Beauty Tarantula
0.2 Solomon Island Boas

if it is, howd ya gettit so derned tamed??

` Yes, he is a Yellow Anaconda. He, and his siblings, were born very tame. That's why I got into Yellow Anacondas. I ran across a group of newborns who were all incredibly tame as babies. As babies, they would hand feed, without striking, or constricting. They still do.
` They're five years old, now. The huge male spent much of his infancy in my shirt pocket, while I waited on customers in an exotic pet store. I have done everything I could think of to reinforce their behavior. They act this way toward everyone, strangers too. I really can't take all the credit. I was just smart enough to recognize their behavior potential, and get as many as I could.
`

` The trouble with them is that they will only eat Ball Pythons. Expensive to feed!

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Hehe! You'd better put a "just kidding" somewhere in that post or someone is bound to take you seriously!

That's a great picture, by the way! LOVE it!

Judy

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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

` I think that anyone who takes that seriously, deserves to! I've had that grizzled old Ball longer than all the rest. He's the most aggressive adult snake I have!
` Hey, you have what I want. I've been eyeing Pits for a couple of years, now. I like to handle my snakes. Do you think I'll be able to find Bulls, or Gophers that will calm, and allow lots of handling?
` That's a great picture. Judy looks like a young snake. If so, she's incredibly colorful, for her age. How is she to handle?

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Thanks!

I think he's an '02, based on his size when I bought him last Aug, but I'm really not sure. The pet store that I found him in (very lucky find!) was woefully short on information about him. (It astonishes me how they can sell animals that they know little to nothing about...couldn't even tell me where they got him, as if they picked him up off the street in DC???)

He was full of pss-n-vinigar the first few days after we got him home, but once he settled in, he's been very easy to handle. We (my 10 year old daughter and I) handle him two to three times a week unless he's just eaten or shedding. Right now he's fasting but not brumating. Hopefully he'll start eating again soon, but he seems healthy and active so I'm not too worried. I'm told its normal for them to go off feed for the winter, even if they don't brumate.

Anyhow...to get to your questions...from all that I've studied (a lot!) most pits are easy to tame. You might want to choose one yourself so you can check out the attitude like you did with your 'condas. Caesar was easy to handle in the pet store before we bought him...he just didn't care for the ride home and the new digs, even though they were tons better than at the store! LOL

I've been admiring your 'condas from afar for quite awhile now. I've completely fallen for snakes of all sorts, but especially love the pits and the boids. Unfortunately, my husband isn't comfortable with them and is also in the military so we have to move too often to make having a collection very practical. I'm glad to have my one, though. Once he retires in a few years, he said he'll let me have a whole room full of snakes if I want. (So long as he doesn't have to look at them! LOL)

Sorry for the life story...LOL I can be a bit of a chatterbox sometimes, especially when it comes to snakes. If you want to e-mail me specific questions or whatever, I'd be glad to answer...and ask a few of my own!

Judy

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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

when I hear pits I thhink of pit vipers not gopher snakes.I would guess it has something to do with the scientific name..BTW its a very pretty snake....

Pitophis....
I think you should just get a dratini... by the time it evolves into a dragonair you should be ready for a seviper or even an arbok!
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

because I like reptiles and my middle name is Ray. He is a pokemon nut..And BTW Im not a he but a she...

Ah... your son is a pokemon nut.... I'm ah.... married to one.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Thank you very much! I'm fond of him!

Gopher snakes, pine snakes, and bullsnakes are all a part of the genus called Pituophis. Or "pits" for short.

Judy
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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

I knew I was going to end up spelling that wrong.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

That's ok...so long as you don't spit when you say it!

Judy
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1.0 red cape gopher (Caesar)

I have a boa and two corn snakes, my boa so far has been very calm and freindly, and the corns are also very friendly but they will not be getting that big.

the numbers refer to sex of the animal

1.0.0 means one male
0.1.0 means one female
0.0.1 means one unknown

if you had mice and had one male three females and fifteen babys that you didnt know the sex of it would look like this
1.3.15 mice

I had to ask the same question a little while back.

hope this helps

MrBfrog
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0.0.1 Common Columbian Boa (Damian)
0.0.1 Amel Cornsnake (Kernal)
0.0.1 Okeetee Cornsnake (Guido)
1.1.0 Lhasa Apso's (Monkey, Tiffany)
1.0.0 Rat Terrier (Ricky)
1.3.0 Mice (nameless)
0.0.4 Goldfish (nameless)
0.1.0 Beta Fish (nameless)
0.0.1 Snail (Gary)"Meoow"

Also Canibal the Musical is just about the the most funny movie ever!!!

There are a number of good snakes that get fairly large and can be personable. Here are a few of my favorites.

Pine snakes (Northern or Southern get in the 7-8" range.

Indigos (legal species only) 7-10' depending on species.

Chain/ Brooks Kings to 6' and inches.

Epicrates (Island and Bainbow Boas)some of the island forms get in the 8'(or larger) range.

Personally, I have no love of Anacondas. Personalities ARE individualistic, but the bite is very memorable and the snake Very powerful if you are on the wrong side of it's mood. I was bitten and wrapped by a 17' Retic and it wasn't as bad as a 7' Anaconda that tried to break my hand (remember Anacondas eat Caimen where they come from...talk about jaw pressure!!)

The number sequence 1.1.1 would mean; 1 male ! female 1 one unknown.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Yeah.. recommending an anaconda to a person who's only owned a ball is the height of stupidity in my opinion. An anaconda's care requirements and size (including weight since they are the heaviest types of snake for their body size) are rather detrimental to being kept by novice keepers. Its advice like that from people who don't know any better that get this hobby in trouble.
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
5 Gerbils
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

recommending an anaconda to a person who's only owned a ball is the height of stupidity in my opinion. An anaconda's care requirements and size (including weight since they are the heaviest types of snake for their body size) are rather detrimental to being kept by novice keepers. Its advice like that from people who don't know any better that get this hobby in trouble.

He is recommending a Yellow Anaconda (E. notaeus) not a Green Anaconda (E. murinus). Yellow Anacondas rarely exceed 10 feet, are actually lighter than a similar sized boa constrictor and have a better temperament than the greens. Notice I said better, not necessarily good! But, to be fair, all the captive born and raised yellow anacondas I have seen were completely trustworthy (for a medium/large constrictor, that is).

Would I recommend one to a beginner,...certainly not. I would much more readily lean toward a Boa constrictor or Carpet Python (at least among the less expensive snakes). But I don't think recommending a Yellow Anaconda qualifies as "the height of stupidity".
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Chris Harrison

` I appreciate the support. I've learned not to waste time on those who are rude, inarticulate, and hopelessly ( happily ) ignorant. When they start off name calling, it's easy to categorize them. In virtual space, they usually just dry up, and blow away. In person, they wouldn't let out a peep.

` Doggone it, judging a species by a few individuals you've met, is just not having an open mind.
` Boa constrictor ssp. were my first snake, 45 years ago. I still keep and breed them. There weren't many, if any, captive bred animals available, back in the 50s and 60s. When looking through groups of small ones, you were sure to be tagged, and it was smart to keep your face away from them. Field collected adults were often/usually downright dangerous. After a few generations of captive selective breeding, which was at first mostly for behavior, they became different animals.
` People are mainly reacting to a name, "Anaconda". This isn't even a proper name for them. It is from a word used in northern India which means elephant killer. How in the Hell that got hung on them, I would like to know.

` Nothin' like a nice little hug from a Surinam!! I hope he didn't let go of the head. LOL

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Come on dfr....even though you have had good luck with them they hardly aren't beginner snakes. Like you said you are an experienced keeper. Even if he was lucky and got a mild mannered one, their size and care make them more for experienced keepers. They need a six foot tank or so with large water area for them to soak in that needs changing often. Plus they will take larger prey items like small bunnies or guinea pigs. Thats a big step for someone that has a ball python that he wraps around his forearm. Id say a JCP or even a Kenyan sand boa are more his speed.

` Come on, Big Al, have you kept Yellow Anacondas? Have you ever thought about how many youngsters buy Burmese Pythons, which get much, MUCH larger than Yellow Anacondas? And grow so much faster. Now that Retics are getting cheap, they're buying them, too. I have asked about Yellow Anacondas in so many pet shops which stock Burms, just to see what they'd say. They usually say that Anacondas are too big for their clientele. I have set up many folks with MALE Yellows, and after a few years they were wanting bigger ones, females, to match their Boas size.
` Mild mannered parent snakes make ( mostly ) mild mannered babies. You've got to know what you're buying, that's for sure.
` I'm guessing that you have no experience with actually keeping Yellow Anacondas, from your description of their husbandry needs. They not only do not need a large cage, they do not like one! They are sedentary critters, until you take them out. A soaking container is not necessary, although I provide them, and they use them regularly. They like their soaking container small and cramped, just big enough to fit into. You'd be amazed how much it simplifies cleaning when your snake ( almost ) always defecates in the water. My water containers are 13"x21"x6". They are real easy to remove, and take to the utility sink to clean.
` All of my snakes eat frozen thawed rats. The female Yellows, and female Boas would take rabbits, but rats are easier, and a Hell of a lot cheaper. The male Yellows take large to jumbo rats. When I have lots of mediums, they get those, including the females.
` As far a someone wrapping their Ball Python around their forearm, well I just couldn't resist taking a pic of a 6 1/2 foot, young adult MALE Yellow Anaconda wrapped around mine. I need a wider lens to get a good one.
` Finally, he asked a question. I gave him my answer based on my experience. Go back and read his question, then read my answer.

`
`

`

`

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In my opinion, recommending ANY anaconda.. whether it be E. murinus, E. notaeus, or E. deschauenseei, to a beginner who's only experience is with a ball python, is foolish. While they may not get as big.. or as heavy as E. murinus they are still very formidable snakes who will weigh more than a similar sized snake of another species. And no it isn't the name thats making me have this opinion. I know you have to go by individual personalities with any reptile BUT.. Anaconda's can be very nasty and their care can be complicated. As for not needing a water area... again I disagree. I had considered in the past purchasing an E. Notaeus.. but decided the care needed was prohibitive. I don't believe large snakes (10ft or more) should be available to the general public.. or at the very least not available to every young kid who gets a ball python then thinks they're ready for something that gets significantly larger and stronger. Jumping from a 3-4 ft snake to a 12 ft snake is kind of a hurdle. I know... I did it when I was younger. Going from a ball python to an African Rock Python. I didn't know any better at the time but I kept that ARP for 2 years before I was forced to find her home due to a move. She's now in an education program in Southern Mass. She was a very calm animal for her species.. but that doesn't mean I'm going to recommend one to any beginner. That would be stupid and irresponsible of me.
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh)
2.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith) and 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
5 Gerbils
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

` Let's see:

` Recommending ANY ( place preconceptions here ) is foolish. { E. deschauenseei!! Where? }
` Sharing information, and experience, is recommending dangerous activity ( in your opinion ). So, don' do that.
` Anacondas weigh more than a similar sized snake of another species. Gobbledygook! My 7 foot male weighs 9 pounds.
` Anaconda's can be very nasty. Which snake cannot? I guess you've never been attacked by a really angry 6 foot Ball Python. It's actually worse than most other snake attacks, because you just can't believe it's happening.
` You decided their care is complicated, therefore, prohibitive. Since it is so for you, it must be so for all?
` Large snakes ( 10 feet or more ) shouldn't be available to the general public, you believe. Everyone shall live by your rules, eh? Actung, show us you papers, Ja.
` Going from a small Boid to a larger one is no good! You did it, you know, and no one else needs to. Let's swing back up into the trees, this isn't working.
` No, you wouldn't want to be stupid and irresponsible [ your words ] by telling someone of your preconceptions. Opinion beats fact, damn near every time. Do not sail to the west, there be monsters!!
` Finally, please quit spreading false information about Yellow Anacondas, re: their size, and their captive husbandry needs. Somebody might believe you.

` That's enough of this thread. I'm outa here. If you really want to argue, email me privately. I just realized that arguing in virtual space is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded!

` Your mind is like a parachute. It works much better when open.

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When I first saw a pic of an Eastern Indigo I fell in love and had to have that snake then I also found out that it was an endangered species and that just really bummed me out. I didnt know that there were other species of Indigos I will definitely have to look into that..Although my price range is limited so I guess I should have mentioned that too, Thanx for the help

You can buy indigos from a breeder in your state without paperwork. They're pretty expensive and from what I hear messy but they do look really awesome.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

I started with corns and now have a milk and a Jungle Carpet Python. I read alot and e-mailed alot about what kind of 'big' snake I wanted. I can't have anything over 10 foot plus. JCP get to 6-8 feet. I really liked the looks of a JCP but always read or was told they are nippy as youngsters. I happen to find a yearling at a local reptile/fish store and she is real tame. She is 3 1/2 feet long. I did get nipped by her once but I think that was becasue she was in feeding mode so when I reached in to pick her up from her 'feeding' cage to put her back into her big cage she bite me. She's been letting me handle her since. I just love her. She is so cool. She (I keep saying she but don't know for sure. That's what they told me at the store) loves to be outside. I take her outside for a few minutes and she wants to get on anything and climb,crawl around. She's been a real neat snake to have as a pet. :0)

I am really leaning toward the JCP or maybe the coastal. Do you know of any good sites that tell alittle more about them? I have found alot of sites that sell them but not alot about the snake itself..Thanx

This one was often recommeded to me:
reptiles.drivennewmedia.com/carpet_python_care.htm

Also, check out the Carpet Python forum here on Kingsnake.com
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My Album

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"