Vine Snakes

[Zoe]

How are these puppies to keep? I *love* their look, but I've never kept a hot before (only carpets and boas and house snakes - nothing that poses any danger). I've probably been bitten about 4 or 5 times in my 3 years of keeping snakes, twice by baby IJs, two were feeding accidents and one was a grumpy boa that was being unceremoniously handled. I do, of course, have experience working with other snake species.

I've done some research, and these snakes are apparently quick and mildly venomous, but not overly aggressive.

What do you all think? Would a vine snake make a good "starter" hot? (in my case, it would probably be the only hot :)). Following all the proper adjustments and such beforehand, of course.

Thanks,
Zoe

[Emily-Fisher]

I don't know much about them but Jordan seems to be quite the expert on 'em.
I personally think that going from carpet pythons and house snakes to even vine snakes is a HUGE step though and am very surprised to see that you are looking into buying one..

[JD@reptiles]

they can be pretty agressive... you can come here and i will show you one that will bite and envenomate without thinking twice. i think somthing like this would be a good thing to start with... i just keep them because i like them... not because they are kinda hot. i love arboreal colubrids, they are what i plan on breeding in the future. i have never been tagged by any kind of rear fang. Vines can be hard to handle on a hook... some will turn and try to bite you, whip all around and try to leap off of the hook. do what ever they can... or some will sit on the hook looking at you ready to strike! they have a HUGE personallity... each one is different... some can be docile, some can be EVIL, some can be scared... they are all different... i have a caresheet for them on my site..


Jordan

[Zoe]

Thanks for the post! What's your site, I'll check it out?

So you think they might be a good hot to keep as a starter? (Like I said, I don't want to move into hots, I just like these guys). I would hopefully get a CB one so I wouldn't need to handle it too much (for vet trips or anything) and one that eats rodents!

Are they live bearers? I read they lay eggs, but I'm not sure?

Thanks!
Zoe

Emily, why so surprised? What would you deem a better "intermediate" step?

[JD@reptiles]

Ahaetulla, like the ones i have have live birth. Oxybelis lay eggs. i would say that a vine snake would be a great starter "hot". all i have are Chrysopela (flying snakes), Ahaetulla (asian vine snakes), and Langaha (madagascan leaf nose/vine snake). all of which require a lot of matenience and work... my website is: http://hometown.aol.com/asianvinesnake/ . If i breed more, i will let you know. i have a few people on the waiting list. but i hope i will be able to breed them every year and get CB ones on the market.

[Aaron_S]

Originally posted by JD@reptiles
. If i breed more, i will let you know. i have a few people on the waiting list. but i hope i will be able to breed them every year and get CB ones on the market.

You didn't breed those babies. You bought that snake gravid. Don't claim you did something you didn't.

[JD@reptiles]

your right aaron... sorry i didn't make that clear... as i said in some other posts, i did not breed these ones. it came in gravid.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=201049#post201049