New Snake Advice Needed

[suntzu18]

Hey gang...thanks for taking the time to read this. My fiance and I are interested in getting a snake as a new pet. I have owned several in the past(red-tail boa, albino burmese and a female canebrake) but it has been about 10 years. I would like to get a boa or python, preferably not a ball python. I would like something that is colorful, friendly and will not get too terribly huge. We will probably handle the snake daily, but my finace really does not want to get nipped everytime she picks it up. I was thinking about a brazilian rainbow boa, but dont know how the temperment is. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Also, I am in Atlanta and I dont know of any reptile shops nearby. Is it ok to get a healthly snake via online, such as glades herp, or should we wait til a reptile show comes..I think one is coming to birmingham in a month or so.

Thanks again.

Brian

[BoidKeeper]

I was going to sugest a Rainbow actually. Another good choice would be a carpet python. Both are nippy when young but generally tame quickly. A hog island boa would give you all the great things about a boa with out the size and much nicer colour.
Cheers,
Trevor

[SCReptiles]

Also, I am in Atlanta and I dont know of any reptile shops nearby.
Go talk to Bill Albright at AHP. He is a friend of mine, he will take good care of you.
AHP Exotics
267 Main St
Loganville, GA 30052
770.466.5119
http://www.ahpexotics.com/

[Doch]

Brazillians and Carpets are both greatt snakes, but with the brazillians you need to have absolutely perfect husbandry (specifically when they are young. They can be very finicky, and are very prone to skin infections due to the extremely high humidity. I would say a carpet python is a better choice. like Boidkeeper said though, they both can take a while to tame down.
My personal favorite snake for both temperment, and appearance is the Dumerils Boa. I've owned three, and they've all been fantastic pets. They don't get all that big either. You can safely expect no more than 5 ft for a male.

[snakemann87]

That isnt neccesarily true Boch...your making BRB's out to be GTP's or ETB's......

My suggestions are:
BRB, RTB(bci or bcc), Any carpet besides the Coastal is nice

Also on the small end are...........
Rosy Boas, Childrens Python, Spotted Python.....are these are very pretty and small sized.

[Big Mike]

I would also suggest a Dumerils Boa...They (generally) are nice and calm like a common boa...they don't get too big...and they look amazing.

I don't have one yet...but it's on my list.

[burmer]

You can't go wrong with either a carpet or rainbow.

[Invictus]

Dumerils boas are a fabulous choice.

I wouldn't recommend Hog Isle boas as a starter. I'm yet to meet a baby hoggie that isn't an absolute a$$hole. For adults, I've seen about 50/50 split.

Central American BCI can often be just as colorful as their Columbian counterparts, but not as large. Even a male Columbian boa will seldom exceed 6 feet, though there is a risk of getting a large specimen. (One of my Columbians was the product of a 7.5 foot father.)

Rainbow boas are incredible all-round boas, but are usually nippy as babies. If you get a yearling, it's smooth sailing. Although the Brazilian rainbow boas have VERY specific environment requirements, a Columbian Rainbow, or even a Peruvian (if you can find one) do well in dry climates with a large water dish.

Carpets, again, super nippy babies. In fact, I've even seen quite a few juvies and sub-adults that are total jerks. If you get a calm one, GREAT pet.

Choice is yours, but if boids is your thing, and you want one that is almost guaranteed to be calm, I'd recommend the Central American BCI. Anything else is a bit of a risk, but once calm they tend to stay that way.

[Linds]

I would say BRB if they appeal to you. They are generally trouble-free as long as you don't let their temps get too high (they do best with a 75-85 gradient), and their humidity is kept high (80%). They do not do well in tanks however. Rubbermaids or custom enclosures are the only way to go with these snakes. Tanks cannot maintain proper humidity without cutting off the airflow (which creates a stagnant environment which spores thrive in). They have an awesome appettite and are super easy to calm down. There is no reason your rainbow shouldn't mature in to a completely handleable adult if you aquire it as a neonate. In my experience, they acclimate to handling easier than most nippy babies. They don't require any maintenance to stay handleable either. They are voracious feeders as well. Babies will often start out on f/t, whereas many snakes start out on live. I don't even mist my rainbows, once a week I dump some water on the newspaper to keep it wet and the humidity stays perfect.

If you want something on the smaller end, I'd say go for a rosy boa! They come in a variety of different colour and pattern variations from orange and blue zig zags, to red and white stripe, to black and white and everything in between :) Super easy to care for and extremely tolerant of handling. They are stocky, slowmoving desert boas that usually finish up 2-3 feet in length. Keep them dry and offer water once every 1-3 weeks. They are generally one of the most docile snakes out there, biting only if they mistake you for food. There are a few exceptions, but they are also fairly easy to calm down.

Kenyan sand boas are also quite colourful and are similar in care to rosy boas. They finish up 1.5'-3' in length. If you are looking for a snake that you can see however, this won't be the one. They spend most of the time burried beneath the substrate. They are generall pretty good for handling as well.

Originally posted by Doch
They can be very finicky, and are very prone to skin infections due to the extremely high humidity.

?????? BRB are swamp snakes. They are practically impervious to scale rot and other skin infections that most other species of snakes would be susceptible to in such environments. They are one of the very few species you can keep in dripping wet environments with no worry of skin problems.

Originally posted by Invictus
I wouldn't recommend Hog Isle boas as a starter. I'm yet to meet a baby hoggie that isn't an absolute a$$hole. For adults, I've seen about 50/50 split.

Hogs are fine first snakes. Most baby BCI (hogs or other) are bitey little guys. I find hogs like to put on a show more than anything. Most adults have fine temperaments. These snakes just have a very intense feeding reflex. Not a problem, makes for great feeders and they are usually fine as soon as they realize you aren't food. The striking through the glass deal is pretty common, but isn't a defensive strike, they just have food on the brain.

Choice is yours, but if boids is your thing, and you want one that is almost guaranteed to be calm, I'd recommend the Central American BCI. Anything else is a bit of a risk, but once calm they tend to stay that way.

Hmmmm... now if I had to put a bitey label on any type of BCI, these would be the ones. :medbottom I've seen just as many bitey adults as bitey babies. I'd the if you are after the closest thing to guaranteed handleable, a BRB is the best bet, if you can put up with a lil initial biting :p

[suntzu18]

Thanks guys...those are great reponses. There is a show coming about the third week in November, I am definitely going to go check it out and ask lots of questions. I want it to be a great fit for the snake as well as us! Thanks again..

P.S. My fiance is insisting I ask if there is any alternative to live feedings...I told her probably not....

[reverendsterlin]

frozen is the only way to go if you can.

[daver676]

There are DEFINATLEY alternatives to feeding live. Some snakes will take frozen/thawed right off the bat! You shouldn't feed live if you don't have to.

[ohh_kristina]

pre killed food is definately recommended!! Either freshly killed or frozen/thawed. Personally, I feed both..all of my snakes (including one WC rescue ball python that was fed live for 6 years straight) all take both without hassle.

[SCReptiles]

ZooMed or T-Rex is making snake sausages. They look just like human breakfast links. They also make a scenting product to make the assuage smell like mice or lizards. I think you would be better off to drive 15 minutes over to AHP to buy a snake. If you buy from a traveling show, you have no service after the sell.

[sapphire_moon]

Yes, if you get a snake that is feeding on live only. Try a F/T (frozen/thawed) mouse or rat (rat is preferable.) Just about any snake can be put to f/t rats or mice........