Reptile & Amphibian Forums

..curious snakes, huh?
:Mark

That is so strange, because I was just looking for your e-mail address to talk about those red phase mangroves and I look on here an you are the first one to poste about them.lol.
That is one of the things I like abut mangroves is they seem more curious than others, but most watersnakes seem realy curious in general.
-----
Justin

They really are. In my opinion (somewhat tilted for sure) they are the best water snakes and I even consider them pretty good "first snakes". They always eat, almost never bite or musk and generally are quite aware of their surroundings. Unlike so many "pet shop" snakes that just lay there.
I hope to have some babies later in the year. This little guy will be daddy.
I have a small page of them at:
www.crimsonking.funtigo.com
:Mark

Hey there, Crimson. I have to agree with you and Justin about the gentle Mangroves ... I too was just considering this very fact as I fed my guys yesterday. Bright eyed and inquisitive for certain! These snakes are in total contrast to the Florida Greens which are also curious (as stated above) but will launch themselves insanely into the air, bite and strike at anything if I so much as move toward their tank! However they do feed wonderfully well.
Michael

...on the beach.
:Mark

No question ... black-eyed beauties!!

Tough call, if I had to choose one species to raise, which would it be? I love my hardy, massive bodied pictiventis but then there's the mild-mannered super snake complete with prehensile tail, Compressicauda!
Are there unique qualities of any that you prefer?
Michael

Well Michael, I like these guys because of their disposition, colors, etc as mentioned but also because I have been seeing and interacting with them since I was a kid. The very same population--for 40 yrs. So they have a big place in my snake world.
I did have a FL banded water snake as one of my first purchased ($1.) snakes though.
Wild browns in my experience are bitey when first found but most (ha!) calm down. Some are nice looking some are not.
I had hoped to post a pic of a nice red and white belly of a pictiventris and still plan on it when I find one. Again some of those are killer looking.
So to answer, I like the msm's best. Most never reach 2' though so if you're looking for a big bulky snake then they're out.
:Mark

Yea I know they are not exactly water sankes but they are big!! well not really bulky for their length but they are big!!

-----
Justin

Ok, Ok, I'm not talking big and bulky like a retic, or Justin for that matter ... just that classic (female) nerodia look.
As for the Mangrove Swampers, they have a beeootiful scalation as well. This is based on experience of less than 4 years (less than 2?) with these particular guys but hearing Marks's praise really enhances the appreciation of them.
Michael

I have had my little mangrove for about 2 1/2 - 3 years and I think it is one of my favorites to work with, but I like big fat snakes.lol. not obese, but naturally thick, like blood pytons, me, ball pythons, and of couse those bigger nerodia. Here is a big fat (obese?) somehting or another. It sure is ugly and looks leucistic or somehting, by being so white with blue eyes.lol.

-----
Justin

I'm definitely with you considering the bulky proportions of so many nerodia. Even the Mangoves have the typical water snake lines ... distinct head/neck-line, tail distinguished from the body and of course, those intense, keeled scales!
I love nerodia!
Michael