the right snake

[mousking]

i'm thinking about adopting a new snake prefferably a python, but maybe a boa. i would like a snake that i could take "around town" and hold while i do my home work (i'm a psych major so there is a lot), so it will need to be able to be handled semi-regularly. so in you fine peoples opinions what would be some ideal snakes to fit this desire?

[SerpentLust]

Well, I would say a Spotted Python, but this is completely by personal experience. However, if you're looking for one with more gerth to it, I can't help ya there.

But yes, my Spotted Python Montey readily gets taken out of her cage, will stay around my neck or wrist or wherever she pleases. She'll come on walks with me (temperature permitting). Like I would NEVER do it in winter or anything. And she's very friendly and sociable. However, people have told me that my snake is a weirdo! hahaha

So that's my answer. Spotted Python :)

Jenn

[snake_goth]

royal python aka. ball python i have a little baby and i sit her in my lap and she just has a nap thay dont grow to big verry nice snakes nice to whatch wen she is on her branch thay grow to 4-6ft but if u whant sumthing smaller yeah get a spoted python

[Matt]

I'll make a suggestion here...

I do not believe snakes to be good pets to "take around town" or "do your homework with"
even though some species are fairly calm and dont get aggrivated when out, they are not lap dogs

they will get stressed out when you have them out too long, and they will most definetly get stressed out while walking the streets with you while you attempt to show off with your new "pet"

I think you have to think about the snake here as an animal not a toy, these are not good animals to do the things you would do with a dog.

if you get a snake, get it to enjoy it while its in its enclosure, and while you take it out for a <b>short period</b> at a time......not to walk around town with it

thats just my 2 cents

[LISA127]

I agree, Matt. Only ppl who truly enjoy & respect reptiles should keep them. Reptiles should never be kept for show or for the image. Never!

[Colonel SB]

I agree with part of your stament matt that reptiles are not for showing off or a social stament, but my retiles do enjoy being let out of thier cages, my male retic would come out on his own all I would have to do is open the door. I did not hadle them for hours but 15 to 20 mins 2 or 3 times a week, for exercise and a little mental stimulation...Even though snakes arn't the most active creatures they do encounter a miriad of stimuli in the wild. But that is just my $0.02 worth

[Ed_r]

Being let out of their cages is one thing. Exposing them to a not ready for snakes in public world is quite another. Going out in the general public with a snake, is looking for problems. Next thing you know some nut job calls the police saying your snake tried to bite him/her and then the police confiscate it. Also check your local laws to see if they are allowed. If they are not allowed definately don't take them outside. Lots of over simplifying, but sometimes needs to be said.

[SerpentLust]

Haha I agree, I simply meant I'll take her out in my yards and walk around on my street (not many people walk around where I live). I never take her too far and she's always seemed to enjoy the sunlight.

Taking your animal out for shock value and for showing off is another thing entirely. People who get snakes for shock value and as a toy is wrong. I take mine outside so she can get some fresh air. I won't take Chaos outside yet because she's very high strung and nervous.

But mostly I'll lay a blanket down on the grass, and read a book with her while she explores outside in my reach.

Jenn

[Matt]

believe me, i am not against taking snakes out of their cages and handling them....i think its is good exersize and they probably like exploring a little bit......
but like colonel said, 15-20 minutes (or a little more) at a time, not much more than that, and definietly not walking on the streets

[mousking]

what i meant by around town is taking it to my fiance's house, who loves snakes, but not through the malls or other public places esspecially not for shock purposes, but if i wanted something i couldn't touch i'de get a statue of a snake

[Chris Steele]

haha mouse, well matt has got everyone off of your subject. I think that a ball python is what you need. Also another thing to consider besides how docile the snakes are is how much room you have, how bigger snake can you handle. A ball python isn't all that big, in my opinion, and they are very docile. They can be hard to feed sometimes though.

[Linds]

I have to second what Matt and Colonel SB mentioned. I wouldn't recommend taking your snake out routinely to other people's houses either, as Matt said, they aren't dogs. They really aren't suitable to be travelled around with. Couldn't your fiance just see him at your house?

If you want something handleable, I wouldn't recommend a ball python. Balls are very timid snakes that stress very easily, people often mistake their "docile, relaxed" nature for being friendly and relaxed, when indeed that is their first defense. When a ball just sits very still, it is actually frightened. They get stressed super easy, so you don't want to be handling them very much, and especially taking them out for visits.

What size are you looking for? What kind of experience do you have in keeping snakes? Maybe if you give us a little more info on what your looking for we can be of better help :)

[mousking]

i have 6 yrs experience with small snakes i started with a small ribbon snake then got a green snake, this will be my first large snake that is why i'm so full of question i want to know the stuff before i need it instead of trying to find the answers while the snake suffurs. i don't want to big small enough to fit in a 50 gal tank and not big enough to eat a cat. my land lord gave me that last requirement. so hopefully this will help in getting suggestions. and thank you to everyone who has replied so far

[Zoe]

Thats a pretty small snake then... you're restricted to something maybe 3-4 feet long, in a 50gal. Maybe a corn snake? Rosy boa?

Zoe

[Bencb3]

Originally posted by snake_goth
royal python aka. ball python i have a little baby and i sit her in my lap and she just has a nap thay dont grow to big verry nice snakes nice to whatch wen she is on her branch thay grow to 4-6ft but if u whant sumthing smaller yeah get a spoted python
im gonna have to agree i go to my friends house and he has a royal python, and we do homework, were goin into the 9th grade and it really somehow helps us concentrate, um i guess that is it

[peregrinefalcon]

A male Sumatran short-tailed python would be ok, not sure what size a tank they need but they are the smallest short-tailed pythons. They are the perfect snake to just sit on your lap while you are doing something, because they just don't move very much!
Hope this helped,
Adam

[Invictus]

A good small-ish boa is the Hog Island. Most of the ones I've met are calm, and deal with being handled. A 50 gal should be ok for a single Hog Isle. A 100 gal would be even better.

For a small-ish python, I agree with SerpentLust. Go for a Spotted. They are beautiful, calm, and tiny. A 50 gal is actually quite large for one of those.

[Katt]

Gee, our snakes who we take around town to the educational shows, do not seemed phased at all by the jumble the tumble, the ride and the handling. Of course we take only the well adjusted snakes who eat regularly for us and are calm.

It's perfectly possible for snakes to get used to pro-longed periods of handling. I don't think they're as delicate and made of glass as we make them out to be.

My first snake I took out with me quite a bit. I hid in my jacket. I loved that snake so much. He'd eat no problem the next day. I think once you get to know your snake you can tell when they've "had enough". Subtle signs, but they show you.

[Colonel SB]

I'm with Invictus on this one a male Hog Island boa would do nicely. But make sure you do lots of reaserch before you geta boa, deffinatly hang around the boa forum!

[stormyva]

Yes a Hog would be good, but....
What are the dimensions on that tank? A Hog even though they are smaller than other BCI's still need to have a fairly large cage as an adult. My preference for a hog is at least a 4x2 for an adult male or female. IMHO the hogs tend to be more active, alert, and "Track" movements outside the cage a lot more than the other BCI's. This gives the impression that they are more aggresive than the BCI's from other locales.

[Linds]

Originally posted by stormyva
IMHO the hogs tend to be more active, alert, and "Track" movements outside the cage a lot more than the other BCI's. This gives the impression that they are more aggresive than the BCI's from other locales.

Hahaha for sure. They are totally in feed mode whenever they are in their cage, they always look like they are about to eat you right up! :p

[LISA127]

Are they more aggressive, tho? I've been considering a Hog, debating between that and a few others.

[stormyva]

Mine are puppy dog sweet out of the cage and have never actually struck at me. They have hissed on a rare occassion though. I feed them in a separate tote to make sure that they dont get confused about feeding time. If you are considering a Hog and are worried about the tempermant buy one from someone you trust online or buy on from a local breeder. Some Hogs can be pretty nasty from what I have heard.

[tabastifur]

I would recommend a Spotted Python. I can't get enough of my cape york spotted python. Great eaters, can be easily handled, and for what they cost you can go wrong.

Go for a spotted!

[Linds]

Hogs are generally pretty docile. They just like to put on a show in their tanks and usually calm down once out. Of course this is not a rule, as with any species. Just make sure you aquire it as a baby, or one that has been treated like a pet and handled fequently. You shouldn't have any problems :)

As ofr injections, as long as you keep it in the front 2/3 of the body your fine. I like to err on the side of caution and give it in the top half.

[lordkovacs]

i don't think the origianl question was answered...I think the thread got a little off topic (which is all good). Anyway, I think it's very hard to give you the nameof a species that fits the bill because really each snake has it's own tempermant. However, there are some, say, the emerald tree that wouldn't be a good choice. If you pick something too small it may never become calm enough for what you want... hmm.... spotted pythons are pretty calm in general I hear... I think it's more to do with the way you handle the snake you get... if you handle him often and get him used to it, then he'll be more docile and apt to just sit there when you do your homework. I don't know...I'm babbling now so I'll shut my own pie-hole! haah..later

[sapphire_moon]

no snake is always just going to sit there and let it'self be carried around. Sometimes my bp will allow me to carry it around the house, But there are other days when he is "grouchy" or does not want to be bothered. Then I just put him back and let him go about his business.

[lordkovacs]

i agree sapphire... just let the snake dictate if he/she will tolerate handling.