under 2 feet

[RaVeNo888o]

Is there a snake that would stay under 2 feet and be a good snake for a pet and have a diet of feeder fish and crickets?

someone wants to know:)

[SCReptiles]

be a good snake for a pet
well, that is very subjective. Ribbon snakes stay under 2 feet, but in my opinion they suck. Most pigmy rattlers stay under 2 feet, but not just anyone can keep venomous snakes.

[RaVeNo888o]

what are your reasons for thinking the ribbons arent good pets?
this is just someone that wants a snake but doenst want a big one and they wanted it to eat fish and bugs.

[SCReptiles]

I just find them boring. They are dull colored and require no skill to work. Most people can not work my 17’ python. That requires a learned skill and special ability. Less then 1% of the people in the world could work my Eastern Diamond back rattlesnake without getting bite. Again, very special training and extraordinary skill. Where is the challenge or the excitement in a ribbon snake? That is my feelings, but that is simply opinion and nothing else. Jenn (serpent lust) really likes her ribbon snake, so there are people in the world that enjoy keeping them and you may be one of them. And, if you don’t you can always get an AZ coral (they stay under 2 feet) and then feed the ribbon snake to it. In fact, we have a ribbon for sell, $10 and I will mail him out to you Monday. =)

[RaVeNo888o]

well its not for me. Someone in know from a forum asked me if i know of any snakes that fit the description in the first post.
Ill tell them you have one for sale but im not sure if they are ready to buy right away. thanks for you help though

[Tim and Julie B]

Rosy boas and Scarlet Kingsnakes!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[SerpentLust]

My Ribbon Snake is NOT boring *glares at chuck*

Ribbon Snakes are interesting to watch. They're very active and very energetic. If your friend doesn't mind an occasional musking when picking up the snake when they first get it. You could do that. But that's about all I know that eats bugs and fish.

And it's really fun to watch them eat fish too! haha

Jenn

[SCReptiles]

My Ribbon Snake is NOT boring *glares at chuck*
Come on Jenn, let’s be honest with ourselves here. How exciting is your Ribbon compared to this cobra? Ha ha
http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/scr/tailing_cobra_051903b.JPG

[marisa]

I personally do not think you have to keep a snake only for the "challange" and some sort of silly thought about how it could hurt you. I feel that is a really small side of herping and frnakly, I don't care how much a snake takes to work with. If I like the species, I don't worry about what humans think.

I keep colubrids because I am interested in them. I don't like 10 foot pythons, I have no interest in them. If someone was to say to me "Ohh!! But you have no challange working with them, it takes no skill!" Well I say so what? This isn't about ME and how "cool" I am or how experienced I am. Its about what type of species will keep my attention, and will help me learn more about snakes in general and its species.

Tell your friend to learn more about all snakes in general, and research them, and soon a favorite will emerge. And don't worry if its not the hardest thing in the world to keep or not.

Marisa
P.S UM yeah no. I am not trying to start any arguements here. I just think that all snakes have value as eucation animals and pets.

[lordkovacs]

Marisa, wow, I think I agree with almost every post you write. That seems to be the trend anyway!
I don't think anyone can really criticize someone else for their motives for keeping herps, unless their motives are entirely ego-centric, and have ill-regard for the herps they are keeping. Everyone is, however, entitled to speak their opinion. Cheers,
MIKE

[Lisa]

Originally posted by SCReptiles
Come on Jenn, let’s be honest with ourselves here. How exciting is your Ribbon compared to this cobra? Ha ha


I dunno, that sounds like a reason NOT to keep a hot. When/if I keep hots (I don't count my hognose as a hot) it won't be for the thrill and excitment them being venomous, that's just a macho response for being insuffiant elsewhere. I will keep them because they please my eye and have my interest in their behavior. The best reason to get a particular snake is because you like them, not because some one else thinks you need a macho snake.


Frankly I like viperboas but fish and bugs aren't on their menu.

[RaVeNo888o]

thanks for the help guys

[Oliverian]

Ribbons and garters both stay small, and are very active and interesting. :D I like how they watch you almost as much as you watch them. The way they catch fish is neat, too. More active than a lot of snakes. I don't blame Chuck for not liking them though, he needs a snake thats a big challenge. I can understand that. But for your friend i'de say stick to these types for now. Good luck. :p

[Jeff Hathaway]

I've never known ribbons to eat insects- has anyone actually seen this?

Rough greens are small and eat insects. Ribbons are pretty small and eat fish. Keeping one of either species alive for a while is easy, but neither are really that easy to successfully keep long term over several generations. There's a challenge!

BTW, Chuck, you can't courier herps into Canada (legally, that is).

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[lilyskip]

I'm not a big fan of ribbons, but then again, I haven't had a lot of experience with them first-hand, and they fit your criteria of feeder-fish eating. Does their level of handleability matter, or just their diet? Have you thought about some kind of gecko or lizard (maybe a leo) instead of a snake? They will eat live insects, and are under 2 feet for the most part.

[sapphire_moon]

That is a BEAUTIFUL cobra Chuck. I would never have one, But you definitly got more.......well courage than I do. I would never work with a venomous snake!!!!!

[SCReptiles]

I personally do not think you have to keep a snake only for the "challange" and some sort of silly thought about how it could hurt you. I feel that is a really small side of herping and frnakly, I don't care how much a snake takes to work with. If I like the species, I don't worry about what humans think.
That is cool. Everyone keeps for different reasons. Maybe you have hectic life and like boring snake to mellow you out. That is a good reason as well.

I dunno, that sounds like a reason NOT to keep a hot. When/if I keep hots (I don't count my hognose as a hot) it won't be for the thrill and excitment them being venomous, that's just a macho response for being insuffiant elsewhere.

Umm, that was a joke. Notice the Ha hA part? I was simply picking on Jenn. But if anyone tells you that working hots isn’t more exciting then colubrids, then they are lying. It’s a whole new world.

BTW, Chuck, you can't courier herps into Canada (legally, that is).

I am above the law! =)

That is a BEAUTIFUL cobra Chuck.

Thanks, she defiantly is. You can see this very cobra and others on display at Animal Adventures in Bristol, VA.

[SerpentLust]

JEFF - I've seen my Ribbon eat insects. It was mayfly season here and one got into her enclosure, next thing I knew, she was gobbling it up.

Jenn

[lordkovacs]

is the red-sided garter not under 2 feet? I really am not sure...i know it's small though...
good luck,
MIKE

[Oliverian]

I think they stay under 2 feet, and if they get bigger than that it would't be by too much.
I've never known ribbons to eat insects- has anyone actually seen this?
Sometimes I let mine slither around the garden. (he's pretty calm, he wont take off or anything) He goes under rocks and stuff and comes out with a mouthful of slug or spider. So I think they do sometimes eat insects. After all, I think it would be harder for a snake to go out and catch a fish every time it was hungry, than say looking under a rock and eating all the bugs. ~TR~

[Jeff Hathaway]

Thanks, Jenn! That is very interesting. Have you ever had it eat crickets or any other commonly available feeder insects?

Oliverian- lots of things eat slugs that don't eat insects. Neat that you've seen it emerge with a spider though. Despite being easier to find, bugs are not commonly eaten by many snakes. Lots of snakes have very picky diets- I'm sure that it is easier to find bugs than many other things, but that doesn't mean that they snakes will take them.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[Oliverian]

Yea, I know. :D I was just saying that ribbons (and many similar species) do ocassionally eat insects when their regular prey isn't available. They're very oportunistic feeders. (and I know a slug isnt really an insect).

[Linds]

Have you thought about a Legless Lizard? They stay small and eat insects, small mice, hardboiled eggs, and will readily take moist dog/cat food as well. They do fine without rodents in their diet, but they will take them.

I couldn't agree more with what Marisa said. Just because a snake is simpler than another species to keep doesn't make that snake any better or worse. I personally don't like ribbons just because they don't appeal to me, same goes for most colubrids, and burms certainly don't. I have worked with lots of burms and I just don't care for the way they look and act, and I do not find them to be a challenge to keep. Doesn't mean that these snakes are inferior to the ones I do like. Its all a matter of preference.

Originally posted by Tim and Julie B
Rosy boas and Scarlet Kingsnakes!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I wish anyone luck in getting either of these to eat fish or insects :p

[Andy_G]

Most snakes that eat bugs are quite hard to care for.

If your friend wants to stay away from rodent eaters, Garters are fun to keep and they eat frogs, worms, fish and eventually pinkie mice if it is the keeper's choice.