Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what kind of snakes would u guys suggest to be no bigger than 3 feet, non venemous, non aggressive, wont eat other snakes, and is easy to breed, im curious

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1 Brooks Kingsnake (copper)

Hi,

If provided with a warm spot light and perhaps full-spectrum lighting throughout the latter paert of the summer, I imagine that all of our worm snakes (Carphophis) would be rlatively easy to breed. Most breed in the fall, and lay smaller clutches of eggs (maybe 2-6, much like the ringnecks.)
Worm snakes are often quite inexpensive, although they are somewhat hard to obtain online, and I know of virtually nobody breeding Carphophis. I am currently housing my two adult Western worm snakes in a 10-gallon all glass aquarium with screen cover. It is a three layer medium, consisting of saturated pea gravel on the bottom, followed by a clay/ sand soil mixture, topped with a thin layer of cypress mulch, dead leaves, sphagnum and other natural surfce covers.
In one corner of the vivarium, running down from the top to the lowest gravel layer, I have positioned a 1" in diameter pipe, which I ocassionally pour some water down. This raises the water table slightly over the gravel layer, making the soil at the lowest layer moist, and the highest soil drier, much like in nature. On one end of the enclosure, I have placed a flat stone, with a small indentation dug out underneath, with a 60-watt basking bulb in a dome-type reflector fixture shown above it.
If you plan to use full-spectrum lighting, this is very helpful if you want to breed the snakes. Use it in the summertime and earlyflall, later turning it off for the winter and later on again for the spring and coming summer. Always provide worm snakes with a shallow bowl of water on the surface... just in case. When you check for eggs, move through each layer with something delicate, like your feeding tongs, until you find some delicate little eggs. I'd probably incubate them much like you would the eggs of a larger snake, except everything is smaller.
Worm snakes are known to take small earthworms, small slugs, salamanders, small snakes, caterpillars etc. in captivity and in the wild. I regularly release several small red earthworms into the habitat. It may be much later that the snakes discover them... you will probably never witnes this species feeding, and if you do, I would be VERY interested in seeing some pictures. They are very secretive, but are seldom worked-with, and could lead to some very interesting captive studies.
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

If you are not interested in a snake as secretive as the worm snake, might I suggest a nice Northern brown snake? These little diurnal natricines are fascinating to observe in the vivarium, and, forgive the unscientific term, but yes, quite "cute" as well. Most fare well at room temperature, unless you live in an unusually cold area. Most also require no type of additional lighting, but will probably be much more active and beautiful snakes if you use a full-spectrum light, thus being better display animals.
I have a nice, large PA locale Northern brown in a 5-gallon glass vivarium with a simple substrate of a few inches of cypress mulch, and a shallow bowl of cold, fresh water. There is also a little plastic plant on one side, as well as a flowerpot designed to look like a stump, filled with soil, with a small rock on top to weigh the soil down... I fill the soil with worms every other day, which the snake accepts greedily. Brown snakes are often big slug and snail eaters as well.
You also do not need an incubator... brown snakes are live-bearers that give birth during the summer, and breed in the spring or fall. Gentle, diurnal, "Cute", easy feeders and easy to house... what more could you want?
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

i really like the brown snakes. but also, it says that the midland brown snakes have more young than the northern, is this true, because im breeding and want the most snakes i can get. also, i would need someone to get my two snakes from, and then someone to sell to. msge me or reply if anyone here wants future baby brown snakes lol

btw, thannk you everyone for the recomendations. u guys have been giving me a lot of things to look up on lol

Hi,

It is true that more Midland brown snakes have had larger clutch sizes than the Northern brown snakes. You could easily obtain some by placing a "wanted" ad on the classifieds, or from contacting someone on this forum. About someone to sell to... contact me as soon as you have some captive-born browns, and, well... you'll be a couple browns short. Any babies that you produce and wish to sell to me will certainly be going to a good home. I think that the genus Storerea will truly fascinate you.
Lifting the sun-warmed debris, smelling the baked soil beneath, and finding a deliacte and adaptable treasure beneth, perfectly camouflaged, so neatly coiled... breathing so rhythmically in the leaf litter- a Northern brown snake.
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

Ok well, because of what you don't want, you already cross out corn snakes, kingsnakes, milk snakes, any small snake species, rat snakes, racers, water snakes. I suggest you go with either hognose snakes(western), or garter snakes.

Mike
Michael's Place

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Michael's Place has updated, better caresheets
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

african house snake? I need some too.lol
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Justin

Dont the female garters get bigger than 3 feet? I know the males dont but thought the females as a whole did.

in the area i live in, u can get a heavy fine for having a corn snake, i like them though

Rosy boas would be a great choice if you'd also like a snake that tolerates handling. I've heard that the mexican subspecies "breed like rabbits". They also have live young so you don't have to mess with incubation. I've also heard of people housing pairs together for extended periods with no issues. Sand boas could also fit the bill.

But, if you're interested in something a bit more unusual / challenging the species Dave suggested sound excellent.

-Alice

Wonderful suggestion. The rosy boas are quite nice, and I have kept one before. If you can give it the right temperatures required by most rosys, which is relatively easy (basking bulb, undertank heater) I say go for it. However, if temperature is an issue, might I reccomend a rubber boa? Very similar... but likes it much cooler and humid. Except a con with the rubbers, is that they need a very cool temperature cycle in order to be bred... a problem if you live in an area like Georgia.
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

plus, boas get big, too big

Hi,

Actually, the rubber boas usually do stay under 3 feet. Your avergae specimen is usually about 2 feet when full grown. Mexican rosys also stay pretty small. Same with sand boas... but, to be honest, i highly reccomend the brown snakes. They have a number of pros:

1. Most stay under 20"

2. Diurnal- can be watched patrolling their cage during the day, especially with the use of full-spectrum lighting

3. Do not need to be kept too warm

4. VERY docile- can put on quite a convincing display, but almost never bite

5. Interesting and cute to watch

6. Can live in a smaller enclosure, without the need for additional heat

7. eat earthworms, slugs, and small snails- all can easily be taken from your backyard for free, or purchased cheaply at a bait shop

8. live-bearers that breed easily in the summer. Have good clutch sizes. Brown snake lovers could really use some captive-bred specimens.

9. EXTREMELY inexpensive, or often FREE when purchased. You could also collect your own, but remember, DON'T TAKE TOO MANY!

Do they sound like what you're looking for?
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

Just to let you know, not everybody can collect worms, slugs or snails from their backyards. And not everybody wants to.

Brown snakes = feeder food

Mike
Michael's Place

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Michael's Place has updated, better caresheets
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

the brown snakes sound EXACTLY what im looking for, though i havent seen any places to buy them, not in the classfields, not on google, not anywhere, btw, where do you live Dave?

Hi,

I live in New York. Based on my experiences, if you state that you are looking for some, especially at this time of year, many people will gladly send some along for free. However, this does not at all mean that you could not make a profit off of them; Myself and several local enthusiasts would love to obtain some captive-born babies.
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DAVE

1.0 Western green toad
1.1 green treefrogs
1.0 Florida blue garter snake
1.1 Oriental fire-bellied toads
1.0 American bullfrog
0.1 Spanish ribbed newt
0.0.1 Eastern ribbon snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
1.0 Sonoran gopher snake
0.1 rough green snakes
1.1 giant African black millipedes
1.0 Okeetee corn snake
0.1 Albino African clawed frog
1.0 Kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 Argentine flame-bellied toadlet
0.0.1 African bullfrog
1.0 yellow * Everglades rat snake intergrade
1.1 Western hognose snakes
1.2 fire salamanders
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.0.1 Argentine horned frog
0.1 Southern ringneck snakes
1.0 Florida scarletsnake
0.0.1 Florida brown snake
0.0.1 Northern brown snake
0.0.1 Smooth earth snake
0.0.2 Western worm snakes
"And tons of garters and ribbons are being born in the reptile room this very minute..."

well i am trying to make a small profit out of it, even if its just like 10 dollares a snake

Wow if you are really looking to get some CB babies, I'll go collect a gravid female and send the babies to you when she drops lol.
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Michael's Place has updated, better caresheets
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

well thats fine, but if i bred them, i would want to make a profit out of it, even if its just a small profit, mabey rosy boas, ringnecks, garter snake, or my king is just better

Profit from brown snake babies? We need to figure this one out here. After days of getting tired of digging up small worms and chopping them to microscopic pieces, you may change your mind about that. Brown snake babies are tiny as heck, about 3 inches and a real challenge to rear even for the most experienced hobbyist. They eat micro worms and will take a year to raise them before anyone may consider to purchase them. Much less to ship them will cost 10 times what you could sell them for. I think glades herp sells them for 5 bucks and that is asking a lot. Heck, I had a big momma drop 20 babies and those little things looked like I could not even think about picking one up without smashing it. I let them go as keeping them would mean perhaps loosing a lot of them in the rearing stage. Dont get me wrong, they are nice snakes as pets but to get them to profit way out of the picture.

Dan

ya, i figured that out once i really looked into them, i just liked what i heard about them, but now taht i consider, brooks kingsnakes is probly gonna be the thing for me, i have a female, which i love, and would really like to see the out come of her offspring. plus, kings are the best lol
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i have one Brooks Kingsnake, hopefully breeding in the next couple of years! yaaahhhh, only if i can find a male though lol, but im still looking for a male lol

Rosy boas average 2-3 feet at maturity with most at the smaller end of the size range. Here's a decent caresheet http://www.vmsherp.com/CarePages/CareRosyBoa.htm

Sand boas average about 2ft for females while some males don't get much over a foot. Here's a caresheet for Kenyans: http://www.vmsherp.com/CarePages/CareKenyan.htm

Rubber boas also stay small, but the majority of them offered for sale are wild caught and it can sometimes be a little tricky getting these guys onto domestic mice. Rubbers are also known for fasting for long periods and some newborn babies won't eat until after they've been brumated.

If you want a snake that's easy to breed, maintain, and tolerates handling well, I think that rosies and sand boas are hard to beat. Also, since captive bred specimens are readily available and reasonably priced you can avoid all the health, parasite and feeding issues that can rear their heads with wc's.

-Alice

i really like them both, but rosy boas take almost the full year to complete a birth cycle, is it really worth it?

Trinket rat snake. Stays small, good breeder, and is calm.

Dan

thats pretty cool, do you think anyone would want them?

Well it depends on how the snake is marketed. Corns and kings rule and the other rats follow. These fellows sell for 30-40 dollars and have small clutches so its not an investment snake so to speak, however takes up little room and does not eat as much as some of the larger rat snakes, so their advantage is size and diet. Plus they are unique. Most rat snake grow 5 feet or more and need a big cage. This species stays under 3 feet. On the not of selling. You can breed many species and sell all of them and perhaps not make a dime of the time and effort of cleaning and feeding your snakes unless its completed on a very large scale. So perhaps before you do the math and realize this for yourself, its best to perhaps lean towards making a little cash off your offspring to pay for the care of them and enjoy them. Good luck. Oh, and there is not really a big demand for these as the trend is for corns, balls, milks, etc but it does have it advantages so to speak.

well my main problem would be finding a place to sell snakes to if i bred. i am still hooked on the idea of breeding my brooks kingsnake, she is beautiful. but milks are another possibility since i like them a lot, but corns unfortuneatly are illeagal to own where i live, and i can get fined thousands for owning just one!

What problem selling them? Your on the largest website for selling reptiles? Contact any dealer and they will buy your entire clutch or open an account and sell them yourself.

Just kidding. This gets over 3 feet, is very venomous, also spits, and might eat other snakes. Hey, but its easy to breed.

Dan

.
Michael's Place

-----
Michael's Place has updated, better caresheets
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

...yeah but it cant spit w/its mouth full eh!

Those really are pretty cool....but the risk far outweighs the pleasure for those of us who know....we will eventually relax & let down their guard...

B-careful, they tell me hell aint half full!

That must be some big night snake to take the rodent. How long is that night snake? I can see where they can be switched to rodents. My night snakes jump at my fingers to get the lizard. All its gonna take is a bit of scenting, however my night snakes are way too small to tackle a pink.