Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for a new snake, I already have several including a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, W. Hognose, Flame Florida King, and many lizards. I'm want a snake that stays smaller than 6 ft. but is handleable. Also, it has to have outstanding coloration or be very unique in color. I was thinking about a Black Mexican Kingsnake or a Taiwan Beauty snake, but i can't make up my mind. Any advice/help would be very helpful so thx in advance.

Get a pr of both.
-----
Archie Bottoms

Beauty snakes get near 10 foot long ,go to rat snake forum and you will see a 10 footer.
-----
Archie Bottoms

How about a Pueblan milk? Very colorful, hardy, and good natured.

Scott

>>I'm looking for a new snake, I already have several including a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, W. Hognose, Flame Florida King, and many lizards. I'm want a snake that stays smaller than 6 ft. but is handleable. Also, it has to have outstanding coloration or be very unique in color. I was thinking about a Black Mexican Kingsnake or a Taiwan Beauty snake, but i can't make up my mind. Any advice/help would be very helpful so thx in advance.

-----
How many nuns could a nunchuck chuck if a nunchuck could chuck a nun?

Maybe, what's the basic care info for them?

They are docile in nature, not as secretive as a king or milk, come in a variety of colors and morphs to suit just about anybody, and are usually between three and five feet long.

Honduran milk average 5 foot as adults and are very handleable. They can be very spastic as babies but usually calm down. They are some cool morphs out there that are really affordable now. Basic care is all that's needed.
-----
If con is the opposite of pro, does that mean congress is the opposite of progress??

The only problem with some of these snake is that they are very common. I'm looking for something that will catch someone's attention.

Take a look at some of the rear fanged. My oxybelis fulgidus( mexican green vine snake) is unique hard and easy to handle.
I recommend this snake over the Asian vine snake which are similar because they are more robust and eat adult mice with out coaxing.

Where did you get your Oxybelis? And how big are yours now? I'm interested in this genus because I want something unique, diurnal, active, arboreal. Oxybelis fits the whole bill. I don't want to steal the thread but can you elaborate on this little-known genus.

Thanks,

Terry

Oxybelis are rarely available. I see them every four or five years or so. They are very hardy snakes that readily eat mice. They get about six feet long and share some characteristics with the unrelated asian species. Like the Asian vine snakes they hold their tongue out and use it as a sight as they maneuver through the brush. although long and slender they are much thicker then the Asians. There is a giant variety that is large enough to eat rats. Currently I have a lone female and I am looking for a male. These snakes are very alert and intelligent and not shy about eating at all. Their venom is harmless, I know of no reported case of serious reactions. My current female is about ten years old. The brown vine snake Oxybelis Aenus is even harder to find they are smaller and more finicky taking anoles or small fish typically. I once owned a Gold oxybelis, that was about 20 years ago. I have never seen one since, they come from Islas De La Bahia OF Honduras, the one I had was smuggled in and I trade the guy a boa for it, best deal I ever made that was a spectacular snake!

Common, but beautiful, meet your size and handling requirements, and arent difficult to keep. Also look into other N.A. ratsnakes like everglades, or yellow rats. Nice coloration, very arboreal and nice display animals. A bit fiestier than a corn though, but should stay around six feet and most cb become quite docile.

How about some Outer Banks kings?. They are the rarest form of getula there is, and is FAR more uncommon than the Mexican Black king(nigrita).

Or an outstanding example of an "extreme" hypo Honduran milk?

Or an OUTSTANDING example of "high-yellow" brooksi(floridana)

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I like the outer banks kingsnake, but only if it had more contrast between the two colors.

How old are you are you over 18.
-----
Archie Bottoms

I'm 16 but I've been around reptiles since i was a baby. My dad owned 6 pet stores in Pennsylvania. I have over 30 reptiles/amphibians right now. Also, what do you think about a russian ratsnake?

And you still need basic care information for a pueblan milksnake? No offense, but I think you need to do more research than ask the question "What snake I should get?" on a forum.

To: KevinM

Just to let you know i know how to take care of a pueblan. But even you have to admit that the more opinions you have,the better you can take care of an animal. Plus, you guys are supposed to be the "experts"! You guys know from experience the best way to take care of a snake! I'd rather get information from these herp professionals, than a website created by who knows who!

Not trying to rain on your parade. However, you dont seem overwhelmed with any of the suggestions made and seem to be seeking some "super snake". Big, but not too big, colorful but not common, something that will make people think its cool when they see it. I dont keep snakes other people think are cool. I got rid of those a long,long time ago (red tailed boas, burmese python, etc.) It only has to be cool in your minds eye and something you will enjoy keeping and interacting with. All the replys you are getting are personal opinions and examples. Read a few good general snake books. Many give detailed descriptions on size, temperament, and care requirements. Plus most come with color pictures to compare different snakes to one another. Your replys remind me of asking someone what they want for dinner and they say "It doesnt matter, I really dont care, anything will do". I say, "OK, great, I'm in the mood for Chinese food." Then they reply "No, I dont want Chinese food." Whats up with that??

It's a good thing that you want to get educated answers from experienced people for sure, but I would strongly suggest getting some good snake books and read as much as possible about the ones you might be interested in. It is virtually impossible for even a very well-seasoned herper to tell you much in a couple of paragraphs in a forum response. On forums, you really just get bits and pieces here and there at best. You need to get more thorough, "well-rounded" information that many books can offer.

To be quite honest, I think many people are far too dependent on the internet for their answers nowadays. Sure it is great for many things, but not absolutely "everything" is what I'm trying to say here. What's good about having many snake books, is the fact that you can refer to them over and over(which is VERY important in my opinion), whenever you want. And I am only telling you this because I have been doing this very heavily since 1968. Yes, an "old-fart" to some, but a very snake-experienced one..LOL!

Good luck in your quest for snake knowledge, if you really want it, you will certainly find ways of getting it.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I also think you miss understood snakes what kind means here it is not a place for us to decide what you want .It is a place to find out what kind of snake someone found in there pool and like stuff.No one but you can tell you what you want period.The reason I asked your age is you had already told me you were a kid by all your posts.If your dad had somany pet shops then you should already know what you want.Silly wabbit twix are for kids..
-----
Archie Bottoms

Tooug
I have already started a library that consists of about 10 books, but is still growing.

To: Archie
The reason i posted on here was to get people's opinion and its not like this thread is so active its restricted to only certain questions. And just because of my dad's stores doesn't mean i know every snake out in the hobby. I'm trying to learn as much as possible from as many sources as possible. And why does my age matter? There's no rule saying i have to be over 18 to post a thread.

But anyway I'm pretty sure I'm getting a black milksnake because I did some research and they seem perfect. Thx for all the help.

Wow, I really don't see the problem in asking what people think is a cool snake. It's interesting to hear what people like and why. It may be a better topic for general snake forum, but I think it fits the spirit of this forum. I personally would not knock anyone for being young and looking for the next cool thing. There isn't one herper here who didn't start out that way, and many of us still are! Personally, I think if your going to get a black snake, you have to go with an Indigo even it does get a little bigger.

i ONLY WONDERED THE AGE BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE A YOUNG CHILD WHO COULD NOT MAKE UP THERE MIND.No one can say what I want I am sorry if I SEEMED RUDE BUT IT WAS A VALID QUESTION.I hope you do find the snake you want and like and I hope youn grow in this hobby and enjoy and love the animals as I do.
-----
Archie Bottoms

I would think a Black Milksnake should be on your list. As adults they a 5-6 foot slender glossy black snakes. They are much calmer than other milks and are a pleasure to handle. They are also easier to keep because they readily tolerate temperatures in the 60s and still eat well. They don't require any extra heat source.

Here's one of my 5.5 footers

Furthermore, they are actually black whereas Mexican Black Kings are brown. Here's a side by side of the two species together. The MBK is on top, the Black Milk is the bottom snake.

Chris
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

A black milksnake sounds VERY good. I have never heard of them. Are they easy to find in the pet trade and how much do they normally cost? Everything you said about them matches exactly what i want. They even give the illusion of being venomous because of their color.

Black milk babies typically cost $90-100 each.
Of course, the babies are tricolored like Hondurans. They only turn black as they age which is part of the fun.
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

sorry,had to throw my 2 cents in.i was being lazy,i didn't read the whole thread.if no one's already suggested them,i would nominate the centralian carpet pythons.you gotta love bredyls,all red and creamy,and totally psychotic as hatchlings.once they hit around 30",you have yourself a totally sweet,perfect pet snake.the adult males i've seen average less than 6 1/2',which puts it smack in the middle of the morelia size range.
-----
1.1 cb spotted turtles (parker(f),stinky(m))
0.0.2 cb baby razorback musks (way too cute)
0.0.1 cb baby eastern mud (also ridiculously cute)
0.0.1 cb reeve's turtle (george)
1.2 ltc eastern boxies
0.0.1 cb eastern box (this year's young 'un)
1.1 ltc eastern box breeders
0.1 cb'06 eastern box(nanners)
0.2 cb'08 kenyan sand boas(1 anery,1 normal)
1.0 cb '03 homo sapien(kaelan,6)
"jesus is coming-when i count to 3,everyone jump out and yell SURPRISE!!"

I suggest a big wild cought spiloties it acts so much like its venomous it will bite you and your friends that you are trying to impress every time very impressive and gets 8 foot at least.
-----
Archie Bottoms

LOL! I have to admit the first Tiger rat snake I ever owned was purchased for just that reason!

The Taiwan beauty snake is going to be a disappointment if docility is your goal.