Looking for some info, getting new snake.

[BoaBoi]

Ok guys, I currently have a 4' Columbian redtail boa. I've had a royal python that I got sickly and didn't live. So I'm use to nothing but large body snakes. I've hadnled snakes out of the yard and kept a few green snakes for a week or two then let them go. ~ But now I'm wanting to get a Colubrid, but what kind? And how do I go about it as far as the feedings. Pythons start out pounding adult mice and baby rats, but I'm pretty sure these guys cant. I'm going to a reptile expo this weekend to get one, and I need to know what snake to get. I have a cage ready and I know how to house snakes properly now I just need to find out the final details before I get it. `~` Any input is very appreciated.

P.S. I want one that will get pretty long within a few years, and I have heard that a black rat snake fits that.

[Katt]

If you want big. Bull snakes, nothern pine snakes, black rat snakes, indigos, and beauty snakes all get to a large size. Beauties can be over 7 ft long, but they are more whippy. Bulls and norther pines get to a good length too with more bulk.

[vanderkm]

Katt's suggestions are great ones for larger colubrids. You might want to make sure that the species are not restricted where you live - in some areas these species are controlled.

The biggest changes we found in going from boids to colubrids were how fast the babies moved and how much (and how wet and messy) the feces were. Where boas and balls will sort of stay in one place and tend to be deliberate in their movements, colubrids are ACTIVE! on the go from one hand to the other. They do settle down as they age, but they are high speed when small.

The other thing is how small the hatchlings are - most start of pinky mice, some on fuzzies. Feedings every 5-7 days on prey big enough to make a noticible lump in the belly that lasts for about 2-3 days. Hatchlings can grow very rapidly and rapid metabolism means frequent and high volume feces - not the hard lumps that boas pass. Be prepared for the clean-up - not much wiht a hatchling but by the time they are 6 months it is a fairly significant mess and it is every week rather than every month or more like with a boa.

The color and variability among colubrids, as well as the consistent great feeding responses that most of them have is great though. Best of luck making a choice,

mary v.