What are the most attractive and/or unusual species of colubrid available for keeping [Archive]

pet_snake_78

08-21-15, 12:02 AM

Gonyosoma frenatum - Find a bluish specimen, very worth the effort to obtain. Seems to be easier to find in Europe so you may need to have it shipped back from Hamm. Aquaterra Shop can do this for you.

Gonyosoma oxycephalum - I believe these are among the most beautiful of snakes and are not hard to find, but I would hold out for a LTR or cb one. Fresh imports can need a lot of care that will cost you frustration and money at the vet.

Elaphe c. carinata - The normal phase is quite attractive.

Spalerosophis diadema atrciceps - Very attractive, barely available in the US. I've not seen any for sale in Europe in a while. The commonly available subspecies is not nearly as attractive. Very easy to care for.

Oreocryptophis p. coxi - I cannot help but think a bright red snake is cool. Best of all, they are commonly available. Very easy to care for as long as you can keep them cool.

Sometimes various snakes come in from places like Suriname so you have to really watch the ads and keep asking around.

imnotarobot

08-22-15, 09:49 AM

Thank you for the thorough response

Gonyosoma frenatum

This led me to find Gonyophis margaritatus which is very pretty

Gonyosoma oxycephalum Forgive me if it's an ignorant "newbieish" question (although I would consider myself an intermediate level snake keeper) but what is ltr and cb. If possible could you post pics of these morphs? I'm not sure I was looking at the right thing.

Spalerosophis diadema atrciceps

I think this is a contender right here. Very pretty and care sheets say they are easy keeping. Only downside is it seems like a bit of a crap shoot as to what you get as far as the amount of patchiness in the patterning (I liked especially the ones with lots of black.) Seems like the kind of snake you definitely want to buy in person and I'm not too sure what the chances of actually coming across one of these is.

Oreocryptophis p. coxi

Was already aware of and considering these though I think I would go for a Japanese forest rat snake, though they seem hard to find, I do have a soft spot for red snakes.

trailblazer295

08-22-15, 10:15 AM

Indonesian vine snake. .... I might be biased.

toddnbecka

08-22-15, 11:38 PM

If you like red snakes how about a Dominican red mountain boa? Obviously not a colubrid, but certainly easier to find than a Japanese forest rat snake. A bit larger adult size than the O. coxi, 5-7' average (males are smaller) but much more handleable and a great disposition in general. Here's a pic of one of my sub-adult males:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Snakes/P1060655_zps3q3cjguw.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/toddnbecka/media/Snakes/P1060655_zps3q3cjguw.jpg.html)

Aaron_S

08-22-15, 11:40 PM

100 flower ratsnake

pet_snake_78

08-23-15, 08:01 PM

1) cb=captive born, ltr = long term relationship.. apparently I was thinking about dating at the time lol meant long term captive.
2) The reason the color is so variable is because 99% of what's out there is not the more attractive subspecies. Kevin Brown breeds the royal diadems which will grow up very attractive.
3) I believe Matt Moss and Powley Exotics both post some Asian ratsnakes for sale from time to time. I would see what they have available.

Thank you for the thorough response

This led me to find Gonyophis margaritatus which is very pretty

Forgive me if it's an ignorant "newbieish" question (although I would consider myself an intermediate level snake keeper) but what is ltr and cb. If possible could you post pics of these morphs? I'm not sure I was looking at the right thing.

I think this is a contender right here. Very pretty and care sheets say they are easy keeping. Only downside is it seems like a bit of a crap shoot as to what you get as far as the amount of patchiness in the patterning (I liked especially the ones with lots of black.) Seems like the kind of snake you definitely want to buy in person and I'm not too sure what the chances of actually coming across one of these is.

Was already aware of and considering these though I think I would go for a Japanese forest rat snake, though they seem hard to find, I do have a soft spot for red snakes.

Obsidian_Dragon

08-24-15, 09:48 AM

Zerkle Reptile Co (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zerkle-Reptile-Co/622349434487239) has some great, unusual colubrids.

Seconding Russian Rats though, they are lovely and have a delightful personality. Definitely a snake to interact with and not just display--not that they'll give you a choice, open the tub for any reason and they're likely to come say hi.

imnotarobot

08-24-15, 11:47 AM

Thanks to the previous two posters for the breeder suggestions. I'll keep an eye out on those guys. I just gotten a couple of snakes recently so I'm not n looking to buy till probably about a year from now and can afford to play the waiting game. But if I choose something really hard to find, or expensive, or both having plenty of time is certainly not a bad thing. If I'm prepared I can just buy when what I want becomes available or available for a good price.

As far as handling goes I could go either way as both my current snakes are handling snakes. I definitely wouldn't mind having another but wouldn't mind a display snake either, I wouldn't be deprived of snake interaction :p. A mangrove snake is currently in the running so wouldn't really be handling that excessively beyond feeding. Even though pythons and boas are not my thing (hence posting in the colubrid forum) I'm currently really drawn to woma pythons as well.

That all being said I'm just starting to really think about what my next noodle may be and I'm not necessarily limited to just one, so keep those suggestions coming, though I'm not going to be amassing one of those HUGE collections that some people have. I think 4 or possibly 5 is the limit as I'm not a breeder and want to be able to give everyone proper attention. I already have a blue beauty I'm in the process of taming so needs daily handling.

Roman

08-26-15, 03:29 PM

If you look at the current pet trade, any colubrid which is not a corn- / king- / milksnake, a hognose or a garter snake is unusual. There are the occasional rat snakes of the Pantherophis obsoletus group, but that’s about it. So maybe 10 to 15 species out of about 2,000 species of colubrids.

So to narrow it down a little – what are your preferences? Terrestrial or arboreal? Min/max size? Climate (“local”, tropical, desert, rainforest)?

Some examples of colubrids which are unusual but may be found if you search for them

Small to medium size (<= 6 ft)

Asian ratsnakes
Rhinoceros ratsnake (Gonyosoma (Rhynchophis) boulengeri)
Gonyosoma (Rhadinophis) prasinum
Red-tailed green ratsnake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum)
Bamboo snake (Oreocryptophis porphyraceus)

European ratsnakes
Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)
Leopard snake (Zamenis situla)

European watersnakes (like the American Genus Nerodia)
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Dice snake (Natrix tessellata)

South American snakes
Baron’s racer (Philodryas baroni) (rear fanged! )

Large size (> 6ft)

All indigosnakes (Drymarchon)
Indigo snake (Drymarchon corais)
Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi)
Texas indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus)
blacktail cribo (Drymarchon melanurus)

Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila) (rear fanged! )

You already know the Beauty snakes (Orthriophis taeniurus ssp.)

and of course my favorites

Tiger ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus)
Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake (Spilotes (Pseustes) sulphureus)

Roman

Joshchimera

08-26-15, 07:31 PM

100 flower ratsnake

From what I could find, the 100 Flowers rat snake Orthriophis moellendorffi is rare in collections. Has any been available cbb? It is related to my Beauty rat snake. :)

imnotarobot

08-27-15, 11:11 AM

So to narrow it down a little – what are your preferences?

I know you are trying to help but really the answer is: I'll know it when I see it. I think there is a tendency for me to like anything that is very brightly colored. Also stuff with ornate or changing patterning such as (obviously) a blue beauty or a radiated ratsnake. That being said however I just looking for some bell to go off as it did with with my beauty snake. Once I became aware of those, I knew I had to have one. As mentioned above, currently I'm kind of in love with womas which when it come down to it, are fairly plain.

Care is not too important but within limits. A slightly different temperature or humidity than normal is one thing, a snake that would need a 20 sq. ft. enclosure maintained at exactly 73.6% humidity at all times and only eats Indian purple frogs named James is quite another. Same with size, again obviously the beauty snake could potentially become quite large and I'm prepared for it but I'm not really expecting more than 8 ft. max. In general I think 5-6 ft. is a good rough guide, I'm not gonna get anything huge like a retic or an anaconda, but if I fall inlove with something I'm fairly open. I really love tiger rat snakes, but I think I've read they can get up to like 14-15 ft. sometimes. That is too big but like I said in general I'm just looking for something that makes those alarms go off and at that point I'll figure out if I can accommodate it.

Thanks for the extensive list.

jjhill001

08-27-15, 06:25 PM

What do you have against snakes that eat Indian purple frogs named James. I'll have you know I'm a well respected breeder of that specific snake!

SnoopySnake

08-27-15, 08:42 PM

a snake that would need a 20 sq. ft. enclosure maintained at exactly 73.6% humidity at all times and only eats Indian purple frogs named James is quite another.

I lol'd.

Blue racers, speckled racers, cave dwelling rat snakes, radiated rat snakes, barons racer

RAD House

08-27-15, 09:35 PM

An amazing looking snake that I know people have kept are buttermilk racers. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate these people or a snake. Those speckled racers are neat as well. One day when I have a bit more experience I would like to keep a racer.

SnoopySnake

08-27-15, 09:44 PM

Totally forgot about buttermilk racers, those are awesome too

toddnbecka

08-27-15, 11:59 PM

What do you have against snakes that eat Indian purple frogs named James. I'll have you know I'm a well respected breeder of that specific snake!

The issue is finding a well respected breeder of Indian purple frogs named James to feed the way cool snake... and being able to afford them.

Roman

08-28-15, 07:02 AM

I really love tiger rat snakes, but I think I've read they can get up to like 14-15 ft. sometimes.

Tiger ratsnakes probably can get up to 10 ft, maybe as large as 11 ft but will stay at 8 - 9 ft most likely. The 14 - 15 ft is from older data and is repeatet in "caresheets" all over again without really validating the data. In current literature they are "downsized" to 8 - 10 ft...

My males are both about 250 cm in lenght (right between 8 and 9 ft), the female is about 240 cm (ca. 8 ft).

Good luck for your search

Roman

Albert Clark

08-28-15, 12:28 PM

imnotarobot

08-28-15, 01:59 PM

Tiger ratsnakes probably can get up to 10 ft, maybe as large as 11 ft but will stay at 8 - 9 ft most likely. The 14 - 15 ft is from older data and is repeatet in "caresheets" all over again without really validating the data. In current literature they are "downsized" to 8 - 10 ft...

My males are both about 250 cm in lenght (right between 8 and 9 ft), the female is about 240 cm (ca. 8 ft).

Good luck for your search

Roman
Yes. I actually think they are quite beautiful. I also read they defecate more than the average species and therefore smell more than your average snake. What's been your experience with this?

I read the 15ft. Thing like a year ago when I saw one (adult, wild caught) at a reptile show. I thought it was quite beautiful and looked up care and saw that. When I looked again more recently I saw 8-9 ft. What size enclosure do you have yours in? How would you rate the difficulty of care, because having seen them in person, they are beautiful, though I would definitely want captive bred.

Roman

08-30-15, 01:37 PM

Spilotes defecate not more as you might expect from such a large snake. More surprising is the speed of the digestion. I usually feed my snakes one rat every other week on Sundays. I can expect the first droppings at the following Tuesday and the last usually at Thursday, so a medium to large rat is completely digested within 4 days.

My enclosure is 250 x 90 x 190 cm (ca. >8 x 3 x 6 ft). I would rate the difficulty of care as an advanced snake. If you can provide a suitable enclosure, enough branches, good light and the necessary environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) it can be kept without much difficulties (if you get a CB animal). They eat frozen rats without any problems, so feeding is no issue.

So the initial investment for the enclosure and the equipment might cost you (much) more as the snake(s) itself, but keeping them is not any different as any other snakes from tropical rainforests.

Here is some more detailed information about my snakes and my enclosure

--> http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-colubrid-forum/95024-spilotes-pullatus.html

--> http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-colubrid-forum/107218-my-spilotes-pullatus-update.html

Roman

reptiledude987

09-01-15, 04:09 PM

Very tough call! Indigo has to top the list! Then comes Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). Last would be Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis (California red sided). Unfortunately, T.S.tetratenia is federally protected but there are some captive bred specimens mainly in Europe and parts of Canada. :blink:

I actually know 1 person here who has the Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). As far as I know hes the only one (may be more but I certainly havent been able to find them). He wants $1000/ cbb baby. as cool as they are I just cant justify that for a single garter and without an unrelated mate not one Ill be adding to my collection.

Roman

09-02-15, 08:12 AM

I actually know 1 person here who has the Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). As far as I know hes the only one (may be more but I certainly havent been able to find them). He wants $1000/ cbb baby. as cool as they are I just cant justify that for a single garter and without an unrelated mate not one Ill be adding to my collection.

Wow, that’s a stiff price. A petshop not far from me offers a cb 2011 male of Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia for 99,00 Euro and a quick search found a breeder who offers his offspring cb 2015 for 90,00 Euro.

Roman

reptiledude987

09-02-15, 10:34 AM

Wow, that’s a stiff price. A petshop not far from me offers a cb 2011 male of Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia for 99,00 Euro and a quick search found a breeder who offers his offspring cb 2015 for 90,00 Euro.

Roman

Thats very interesting that wold certainly be worth the cost of shipping. Can you PM me the link?

Roman

09-02-15, 06:55 PM

Thats very interesting that wold certainly be worth the cost of shipping. Can you PM me the link?

Sent you a message...

Roman

D Grade

09-02-15, 09:46 PM

Tiger Rat, King Rat, Indigo, Ring Neck, Lyres, or any Boiga (Dendrophila, Nigraceps *spelling*) would be a pretty awesome and rare Colubrid.

jjhill001

09-06-15, 07:29 PM

The Metallic phase of Baird's rat snake are particularly spectacular. Not that common but relatively easy to care for. I'm raising a pair right now and they are starting to show their colors now.

Other than that. Tops for unusual has to be one of the crayfish snakes or some of the slug eaters who's food requirements make them difficult to care for. Ring neck snakes are particularly interesting and have reasonable.

Speckled Kingsnakes are spectacular. A nice line bred Okeetee can be truly astonishing if you are willing to look for a good breeder and a really nice one is more uncommon than you'd think.

jjhill001

09-07-15, 11:35 AM

I know you are trying to help but really the answer is: I'll know it when I see it. I think there is a tendency for me to like anything that is very brightly colored. Also stuff with ornate or changing patterning such as (obviously) a blue beauty or a radiated ratsnake. That being said however I just looking for some bell to go off as it did with with my beauty snake. Once I became aware of those, I knew I had to have one. As mentioned above, currently I'm kind of in love with womas which when it come down to it, are fairly plain.

Care is not too important but within limits. A slightly different temperature or humidity than normal is one thing, a snake that would need a 20 sq. ft. enclosure maintained at exactly 73.6% humidity at all times and only eats Indian purple frogs named James is quite another. Same with size, again obviously the beauty snake could potentially become quite large and I'm prepared for it but I'm not really expecting more than 8 ft. max. In general I think 5-6 ft. is a good rough guide, I'm not gonna get anything huge like a retic or an anaconda, but if I fall inlove with something I'm fairly open. I really love tiger rat snakes, but I think I've read they can get up to like 14-15 ft. sometimes. That is too big but like I said in general I'm just looking for something that makes those alarms go off and at that point I'll figure out if I can accommodate it.

Thanks for the extensive list.

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis *******APRIL FOOL'S!******* (http://www.blackjungleterrariumsupply.com/Nasikabatrachus-sahyadrensis-APRIL-FOOLS_p_2825.html)