Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what would be the best snake for someone who has a little experience in reptiles(I have 2 bearded dragons, a leopard gecko, a garter snake, and 2 firebelly toads, and a few weeks of experience babysitting a friends 2 ball pythons)? my criteria are that it is a relatively good eater, is produced in captivity, not extremely aggressive, will eat mice or small rats. It would also be nice if I could breed the snake fairly easily and make a tiny bit of money. I would also like the snake to be $100 or less and would like something that has color morphs. alot of people have suggested ball pythons but i dont really want something that "common"; i want a snake that not alot of other people have.

>>my criteria are that it is a relatively good eater

In general Corn snakes are great eaters

>>is produced in captivity

You can get some wild caught ones but a zillion are produced in captivity every year.

>>not extremely aggressive

Most corn snakes are pussy cats... very tame and mild mannered.

>>will eat mice or small rats.

Yup, eat mice or small rats.

>>It would also be nice if I could breed the snake fairly easily and make a tiny bit of money.

They are easy to breed, so I've heard, and you can certain make a tiny bit of money. Probably can never even break even, but it's about the fun of snakes, not about the money.

>>I would also like the snake to be $100 or less and would like something that has color morphs.

You can get some nice corn snakes that are less than $100. They have a ZILLION color morphs. Some are pretty expensive, but most are pretty inexpensive.

>>alot of people have suggested ball pythons but i dont really want something that "common" i want a snake that not alot of other people have.

Ball pythons, aside from having troubles eating, are fairly common, though Corn Snakes are even more common. The problem is that an easy to breed, cheap, color-morph-full snake that is a good feeder, non-agressive, and that cna make you some money would be the common ones. If it isn't common, it's hard to make money selling it, if it has lots of color morphs (like Balls) it's expensive. I would start with corn snakes, and as you gain experience diversify.

I do not have any Ball Pythons, and have never really been tempted by them. My first snake was a little insectivore. Then I got a Rosy Boa, and then some kingsnakes. currently I have 2.4.8 (two males, four females, 8 unsexed hatchlings) California kingsnakes, 1.1 blotched kingsnakes (and 8 incubating eggs), 0.1 Arizona Mountain Kingsnake, 1.0 Rosy Boa, 1.2 Corn Snakes, 0.1 Tiger Rat, 0.1 Jungle Carpet Python, and 7 unsexed ground snakes.

I've only bred the kingsnakes, and this is my first year doing this. Next year I will perhaps breed the cornsnakes if they are big enough, definately breed the California and Blotched kingsnakes, and in the next few years I'll try my hand at breeding the JCP, Rosy Boa, the Tiger Rat, and the Arizona Mountain Kingsnake.

Watching the eggs hatching the last few days has made the obsession come alive. I've enjoyed immensely just watching the new snakes enter the world and look around.

Anyway, I'm babbling.
-----
~Sasheena

Wish List:
0.1 adult Whitewater Rosy Boa
1.0 CB Spilotes Pullatus
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python

...And as far as the final point goes: You could always try to get an interesting color morph that not alot of people have.
As stated, though, the less common the snake (or morph) the more expensive it might be to buy. But a more expensive color morph could potentially and eventually produce young that would be worth slightly more. Good luck with your decision. Duffy

They stay small (between 2-4'), eat mice readily, are available captive bred, breed like bunnies, don't require brumation to breed, have calm temperments as adults, act like little pythons, and are generally easy to keep. Check out the care sheet here on Kingsnake... I think they're a great starter snake for someone who's interested in breeding colubrids.

Lora

P.S. if you're interested in morphs, there are albino AHS available, but they aren't that common... There are a few colors and patterns to choose from. Not as many as with Corn Snakes, but that's because there aren't that many people working with them. There are some nice reds, greens (actually almost black), browns, and charcoals to choose from.

Lora

Kenyan sand boas have a couple color morphs, and the normal phases are pretty cheap. They're not for everyone, but I like them a lot!