Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for some input on what type of snake I should purchase. I am somewhat experienced with snakes, currently I have a corn and did have a ball python. I am looking for an impressive looking snake that gets to 6-10 feet in length. Also I would like one that is able to be handled frequently, I can hold my corn but it clearly is not happy about it. I can spend up to $200 or so. Thanks in advance.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
2 Water Dragons
1 Corn Snake
1 Toad
2 African Frogs
1 Degu
3 Dogs
1 Cat

I've said it before, I'll say it again! For what you are describing, and taking your budget into consideration, I would suggest you look into the acquisition of a Drymarchon corais melanurus (Black-tail cribo).
BT Cribos are large, inteligent and personable serpents, they recognize their owners and keepers, do not spend the majority of their time hiding and are very docile, though I have encounted the rare "sheepish" specimen, out of the many I have maintained and handled.
The two draw backs with BT, or any member of the Drymarchon complex, would have to be the extra maintenance requirements, as they have high metabolisms and they can consume massive amounts of food, though they most readily feed on virtually anything offered, but you can expect to clean the enclosure at least twice per week, and daily water chnges and bowl cleansings should be considered mandatory.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a photo of my seven year old son, with one of 7' 1.0 Balck-tail Cribos.

Regards,

Jeff

The obvious (to me anyway) first on the list to meet your requirements are the redtail boas - attractive, docile and easy to care for. I saw some Asian rat snakes at the show I attended on Saturday, very attractive and active snakes, maturing at about 7-8 feet in length. There are actually a number of colubrids that would fit your requirements. Carpet pythons are another option, while some stay in the six foot range, the coastals regularly reach 8-9 feet and can reach lengths of 12-14' (though I believe these are the exception to the rule). Even so, they aren't large or heavy bodied snakes and are typically managable by a single individual. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, but there are actually many more than this short list.

Raven