Just in short answer to your questions; yes, scrubs can be good natured, but nothing about them is like a burm. Scrubs are very unique snakes, and extremeley aware of their surroundings, almost in a creepy way. It is perfectly possible to obtain a nice young neonate, handle it frequently, and chances are it'll quckly get used to you and be easily handled from then on (as long as you keep the handling session going at regular intervals). Alternatively, scrubs which are not handled from when they are young, or WC individuals, can be some of the nastiest tempered and most difficult to deal with snakes you've ever met. There's nothing fun about a full grown barneck, with a striking range of 5', which has no intention of letting you anywhere near her cage.
They will definately pick up on patterns, so if you end up only feeding your snake for a couple months straight, then decide to take it out, you might be in for a surprise when your little baby decides to latch on your forearm in anticipation of food. Also, they move very differently from other snakes, and what might be construed as a sign of aggression in another species may just be a scrubs inquisitive nature, and not an action of aggression at all (though it can make you quite nervious!).
I would most certainly suggest getting a CB baby or juvenile, and leave all the WC's to the pro's, who'll use them just to make more babies for people like us! There's lots of people on this forum with good scrub experience/advice to dispense. If you haven't already, check out my friends site at www.spitfirereptiles.com . Pretty much all info you'd ever want on all the members of the scrub complex. By the way, keep in mind there are several species of snakes commonly referred to as "scrubs," the most common being the southern (merauke) scrubs and barneck scrubs. Others include the Mollucans and Arus, and there are several others. Each has their own unique quirks, so do some research to decide which will work best for you.
Scrubs are great, and as long as you have a basic understanding of their requirements and personalities, they can do wonderfully in captivity and make for some very exciting pets. Find out all you can, and good luck with your search!
-Christian-
>>I am considering getting a scrub, just based on pics I have seen. Can someone tell me if they are good natured like burms or if they are short tempered? Also, how long do they get?
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>>What is the best way to go about buying a snake. I have found pet stores to be of little help as far as information. I have purchased several books, however none that go into great detail. Most of the best info I have found has come from on line care sheets. Would I be more likely to get a better animal on line?
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>>Thanks for the help...
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>>Dan
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"Game over man, game over!"
-Hudson, Aliens
Currently Keeping:
3.5 Amazon Tree Boas
1.0 Ball Pythons
1.0 Southern Scrub Python
1.2 Okeetee Corn Snakes
