Most "friendly" snake?

[Sylphie]

Hi,
I'm really curious what species of snakes you think are the most "friendly", inquisitive or "wise".

I was once having a young ball python, and he was such sweetheart, always looking to be handled, really inquisitive and curious of everything (he was never doing a "ball thing"!). Unfortunately I was not able to get him to eat frozen prey, and I had to find him new home... :(

On the other hand I also have a russian rat who is on the "I'm afraid of everything" side, and a corn snake who is really calm.

[wrecker45]

I think all snakes can be friendly. It's how much you handle them.

[Sylphie]

wrecker45 I'm not really sure if this is only a matter of handling. I pretty much was handling my ball and russian the same amount of time... yet the russian is still jumpy and not really a fan of being touched.

I'm rather thinking that it's just a "character" of snake, but you know, some species are more calm and active than others, and I would like to hear some of people experiences :D

[Jim Smith]

I'm with Sylphie on this one. While handling a snake can result in it becoming used to being handled and calming down, it does not always happen that way. I think some species are easier to handle and tend towards having calm demeanors while other species tend to stay on the wild side either biting, flighty or musking. There are exceptions in all species, generally speaking they remain true to their temperaments. I have Hondos and while they are a pleasure to hold once they get past their initial flightiness, then tend to be shy and secretive remaining in their hides most of the time. I have one exception to that rule and he is always watching and comes up to the front of the enclosure when I look in or open it for any reason. Very curious and calm and has a great "personality". Sylphie, good luck in your search, I'm sure there are folks here who will chime in with some great recommendations.

[Mad Max]

I know that I've enjoyed interaction with many boas and pythons (arboreals excluded).

[drumcrush]

I believe it really depends on the snake. I know some species get a bad rap for being aggressive but when I get my hands on a snake that is "supposed" to be aggressive, it really isn't. Every snake is different. I mean I have heard of aggressive ball pythons so like I said, depends on the snake.

Besides, I like aggresive snakes. I like the sense of adventure i get out of it.

[Sylphie]

drumcrush, yeah, having an "bad" snake sure can be really interesting, but I personally would not like to be afraid of being bite everytime I want to touch him :D

Mad Max, boas and pythons are rather "calm" (at least that is the general opinion), and really pretty imo.

Jim Smith, I know that this is rather a matter of character than anything else, every rule has it's exceptions etc. but I hope to learn something new, and maybe find some species that I don't know :D

[Moreau]

My most "friendly" snakes have been a greybanded kingsnake who I just recently lost, she never even thought about biting, you could do anything to her and she was sweet as pie. My boa is also super friendly and calm, and several of my carpet pythons are calm as can be, one in particular will just come right out to see me as soon as the door is opened. Very curious snakes.

[Sylphie]

And maybe you have some tricks to buy a more "curious" snakes?

For example when I was choosing a ball python there was a 5 of them (from one clutch), I just choose the one which was staring at me and following my finger through the glass :D The rest was just "sitting" or doing that ball thing and they were not paying any attention to me.

[Mad Max]

Mad Max, boas and pythons are rather "calm" (at least that is the general opinion), and really pretty imo.

Mine seems very secure, but I don't think that I'd call him calm in the sense that you might mean. He spends a lot of time on the go even though he never attempts to get away from me and he's very inquisitive, always looking around and investigating anything that moves. Feeding is never an issue either.

The only species I've seen that seemed more aware of their surroundings and my presence were carpet pythons and certain hots.

[Sylphie]

Mad Max, that's interesting, I was always hearing that boas are rather lazy and are sleeping all day.
And it's pretty cool that they don't have problems with feeding (it's really sore point to me after that ball I had to give up).

Carpets are cool too, although they have a "jumpy and little agressive" reputation... on the other hand I was once having a small corn and she was really bad tempered, always striking and biting :D

[dave himself]

IMO it's just down to the individual snake there are keepers on here with retics who say that their snakes are quite defensive and sometimes a bit of a challenge, where as our girl is inquisitive but really calm and a joy to handle. Our corns are another prime example, the female is inquisitive and easy to work with but the male is a whole other ball game, repeat striking and biting 90% of the time. So just talking from personal experience I would say it's down to the individual

[Jrich]

It really comes down to individuals, some kinds of snakes can be more nippy or docile of course. I've had my hands on quite a few Rosie's and from my personal experience these guys always seem curious in their enclosures and are quiet, calm and slow moving when handled. Even my 6 month old rosy exhibited this calm behavior. However I bet there are members on here that might have temperamental Rosie's no matter how well they're taken care of haha. Yet again it really depends on the individual because there's always individuals that deviate from the norm but just my personal experience. Hope you find what you're looking for!

[Mad Max]

Mad Max, that's interesting, I was always hearing that boas are rather lazy and are sleeping all day.

They do sleep all day - they're nocturnal. ;)
But mine moves around his enclosure a lot at night (unless he's digesting) and when I sit on the couch with him he usually slithers all over my legs, but he doesn't get defensive or flighty.

And as others have said, individual temperament plays a very big role.

[Derek Roddy]

Dumerils boas are pleasant snakes without a lot of fuss. Real mellow for the most part.

Of course, there are exceptions but, overall....they're chill.

D

[toddnbecka]

In my experience boas and pythons are generally more calm and tolerant of handling than colubrids. There are always individual differences of course, but BCI and BCC have been the most consistent in their general disposition in my personal experiences. My Dominican boas are also quite easy to get along with, and my carpet python is just as mellow as any of the boas, but I've yet to find a snake that actively seeks human contact.

[Sylphie]

toddnbecka, maybe it's because of rather different style of life in wild :D And I know that there is really a very small percent of a snakes that seeks contact with human... but still they are somewhere, my ball being an ideal example for me :)
I'm more and more convinced that some boa will be really good for me, but still maybe someone with colubrids will have to say something interesting.

[Mad Max]

It looks like toddnbecka have at least 3 colubrids and you seem to have a couple yourself, don't you?

[Sylphie]

Yeah, but you know, I have snakes only for about 2 years, and I'm looking to see other people experiences :D And toddnbecka mostly said what he think (that boas and pythons are more calm than colubrids) :)

[reptiledude987]

I have colubrids pythons and boas. I have some of each that like to be handled and some that dont. My jcp will coil on my lap and relax while i watch a movie however my bredli wont. My mbk is super chill and will hang out on my neck or arm but my banana cali king nips sometimes and tries to get away when being handled. the only thing I have that dosent mind being held across the board are the ball pythons even my bci only tolerates being handled to a certain extent. So at the end of the day Theres no perfect species accross the board. It comes down to the animal its self and its own temperment. there are some species that will be more prone to being more handlable than others but there are always exceptions to the rule either way.

[trailblazer295]

I agree with slyphie. I chose my specific BP partly because of all the balls i looked at that day in the same store looking at different morphs. Mushu was the only one who looked straight at me every time and reached towards me. He had to be scared back in. The rest either curled in fear or in different. He never balls and I can now touch the top and bottom of his head without him being bothered.

[Derek1]

My most "friendly" snakes have been a greybanded kingsnake who I just recently lost, she never even thought about biting, you could do anything to her and she was sweet as pie.

Sorry to hear about your loss. But my Cal King is the same way. She is so cool and mellow.

[fishingfool]

And maybe you have some tricks to buy a more "curious" snakes?

For example when I was choosing a ball python there was a 5 of them (from one clutch), I just choose the one which was staring at me and following my finger through the glass :D The rest was just "sitting" or doing that ball thing and they were not paying any attention to me.

IMO i find that's really all you need to do with most critters of corse that's just a first test to get a idea you will need to hold the snake and see what it dose is it moveing around checking.you out or is it trying.to slide in your sleeve or pocket and hide

[Sophi]

I have a California King snake who is just a sweet as a button.

[sharthun]

I agree it can be the individual snake but as far as colubrids go, IMO, the black milk snake hands down is the most laid back 'docile snake that I have handled.