Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm interested in keeping some type of arboreal snake. Can any one make a recommendation?

really depends on your budget, experience, amount of time on your hands, and the size you're looking for.

the cheapest and easiest would be rough green snakes... dirt cheap, easy to care for, amazing climbers, and they eat crickets.

some more difficult and high end animals would be something like an emerald tree boa.

my personal fav arboreal is the red-tailed green rat snake, but that species is absolutely not for beginners.

people will be able to help more once you can narrow the margins of what you're looking for.

Id like to stay in the $50-$150 range for cost of snake. Emeralds and green trees are obviously out, but I'm not interested in them to be honest. I intend to build a large enclosure but I would like to stay below 6 foot adult length. I'm not a beginner but I'm out of town two weekends a month one of which is usually a four day weekend so nothing with crazy care requirements. Whats the issue with the red tailed green rat snake? I'm looking at amazon tree boas right now and they seem interesting. I just want to know a little about what else is out there before I make a decision.

>>Id like to stay in the $50-$150 range for cost of snake. Emeralds and green trees are obviously out, but I'm not interested in them to be honest. I intend to build a large enclosure but I would like to stay below 6 foot adult length. I'm not a beginner but I'm out of town two weekends a month one of which is usually a four day weekend so nothing with crazy care requirements. Whats the issue with the red tailed green rat snake? I'm looking at amazon tree boas right now and they seem interesting. I just want to know a little about what else is out there before I make a decision.

Could possibly look Irian Jaya if you want to stick with pythons. That is about WC ATB range I believe.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Thanks for your input, I'll look into carpet pythons more closely. My brother had one when I was a kid and it was very large and mean and a problem eater. I don't know if this is common of the species or a result of possible parasites or even improper care.

>>Thanks for your input, I'll look into carpet pythons more closely. My brother had one when I was a kid and it was very large and mean and a problem eater. I don't know if this is common of the species or a result of possible parasites or even improper care.

Selective breeding has changed a lot of that. My morelia tend to be my garbage disposal snakes. Eating everything in sight! I see primarily a feeding agression rather than an over all aggressive nature. They KNOW when food is coming.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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the red tailed-green rats are mostly wild caught and have insane parasite loads. plus they are usually a high strung bitey animal, and will have problems if they don't both have high humidity and GREAT ventalation.

amazon tree boas are cool snakes, and the fact that you can get all sorts of colors is pretty awesome. they are obviously going to need high humidity, but thats pretty easy with a mister/fogger system or a well designed cage with a very large water bowl.

another possible option are mangrove snakes. they are rear fanged and mildly venoumous, but thats what hooks and leather gloves are for. I think they are a gorgeous display animal and you can find captive bred without too much trouble.

Thanks, you have been very helpful. I had all but forgotten about mangrove snakes. I have kept and bread venomous snakes in the past so I have hooks, tongs and experience using them. I was considering an eyelash viper but my girlfriend is uncomfortable with the idea so I decided a constrictor would be best. I will look into the mangrove as I have heard they are hearty captives. I prefer to have a captive bread animal as well. The red tail green rat snake has peaked my interest and if I decide to get more into herp keeping as I once was I may take on the challenge but for now I want something a bit more simple. The rough green snake while seemingly easy to keep is reported to defecate in their water bowels regularly. With me being out of town for 4 days or more at times I don't want to leave them without proper drinking water. That's the big kicker, I need an animal that will be ok with being left alone for 4-5 days.

I'm a big fan of mangroves(boiga dendrophila). I've been bit a few times, all quick defensive bites with little or no reaction. They will eat everything mice, rats, quail, chicks, and lizards. I may try goldfish at some point. They will not eat if I am watching so I leave f/t "prey" in overnight. I've even read reports of the similar brown tree snake(Boiga irregularis)eating a bbq rib out of the trash in gaum. Mangroves are basicly comatose in the day time and will ride a hook well. night is a different story so cage matainance is a day time chore. I've been caging mine in 4x4x2ft cages. Mangroves are typicaly considered aboreal but will spend quite a bit of time on the ground, keep this in mind when setting the cage up. humidity can be an issue, just use a big tube with water and they will soak themselves if they need. so leaving for a week isn't a problem. as far a poo in the water, I've never had a snake that didn't so I change it when I can. that said the black mangroves(boiga dendrophila gemmicincta)are more aggressive than the others on the market. Of the three I've owned all were/are in the 7ft range. You said you've kept real hots so I see no reason why you wouldn't love a mang.