what next? suggestions please

[pigglet]

I am a newly obsessed lover of snakes, I have an almost 1yr old corn snake and have been thinking of getting a larger species to begin building a collection.

I can't for the life of me decide what to get next, although I know it will be a boa or python. So I am very interseted in what everyone here thinks I should get. Like I said I want something larger than a corn, but don't want to have to dedicate an entire room for it's enclosure. I want to be able to handle it a lot and want a relatively docile animal. Money isn't too big of an issue, cause I can always save up if I don't have the money imediately, but would prefer something under $400, preferably under $250...I would most likely get a neonate, unless I fall in love with something while searching.

I will build the final adult cage myself, so if possible, please list what the ideal cage size would be, I will do my own research for care and stuff, so you don't need to include that.


Thanks for the help,

~Pigglet

[clint545]

Have you looked at Ball Pythons? Great snakes, and they don't get overly huge.

[CARLiTO_]

common boa constrictor imperator

[Bartman]

Both are GREAT suggestions. I got a ball python as my first snake, and recently got another 2 females. Im starting to just love them more and more.

Another suggestion id say is some sort of carpet python, or specifically a jungle carpet python

[Brad C]

Originally posted by Bartman
Both are GREAT suggestions. I got a ball python as my first snake, and recently got another 2 females. Im starting to just love them more and more.

Another suggestion id say is some sort of carpet python, or specifically a jungle carpet python

I would have to agree here :) Carpets are by far my favorite species of snake. Untill you have cared for one yourself you dont know what your missing. Irian Jaya's stay around 5-6' on average and jungles grow a little larger. Coastal carpet pythons are the biggest of the Morelia spilota family but are also very cool looking and fun to work with. Whatever you choose make sure you do your reserach and let us know what you choose :p

[JDouglas]

I agree with all the suggestions so far and own all that have been suggested. Hog Island Boas are a nice choice of boa constrictor imperator.

Good luck!

[capsicum]

Spotted pythons are awesome too ;)

TK

[Shad0w]

Yea I have to agree with the suggestion of carpets...

Im a HUGE fan of them.. and its true... Until You've cared for them.. you have no idea what you are missing :D

[Double J]

I'd go with some nice jungle carpets. They are gorgeous animals.

[Lasher]

It all depends on what you like. Over time, I have enjoyed working with more challenging snakes. If you can stand early bites and lots of patience, Macklot's or D'alberts pythons are a lot of fun. D'alberts, especially, tend to be challenging throughout their life. BCIs are great (have 3). Other Colubrids (Pine, Bull, King) can also be fun and much better behaved.

[wiseman001]

Hog island boa's can be a lil nippi

B/Python are always a fav I have 2 breeding i love them both,

Or another nice snake is a columbian red tail ( male ) I have one also.

They don't get OVER large.. U may be looking at a 7 ' snake with a lil girth to it..

mine is 5' + and is in a 90 gal, and id doing great .

[sapphire_moon]

What about a dumerils boa, From what I've read they don't get to large (6-7 ft) and a cage for an adult is supposed to be around 4x2(in ft) cage......

[Ptindy]

Carpet Python, they are awesome. I would go with an IJ or Jungle, depending on which you like better.

Mike

[rwg]

I love these posts...you might as well ask what kind of ice cream you should buy. It's a completely personal choice. Are you looking for a challenge, or a gentle entrance into boids? Are you looking for something to breed for $$$ or something cool to keep for yourself?

I'm a liasis guy. The first time I saw a Macklot's python, I pulled up a stool and literally stared at it for an hour. Now I have 1.1 and couldn't be happier. They are challenging to handle when young, but seem to have very few feeding problems. They get about 7', but are not as heavy-bodied as a BCI or BCC of similar length. I'd keep water pythons if I had the money for a pair, but I'm full for the time being. I know they're no longer liasis, but white-lipped pythons are WAY cool. Also a challenge as far as temperment goes, but I have no idea how strict their husbandry needs to be.

I'm a believer that if you know what you're getting into, and if you solicit and take advice, you dont need to restrict yourself to starter species.

Oh, you can never go wrong with a boa constrictor either. Great boids to start with, but not a snake you'll ever grow out of.

Roy

[austinnoel]

You simply cant beat a Ball Python. A great pet for new and veteran snake collectors.

[Princesssss]

Ball Pythons look great and tend to have a good temperment..but i think they can be kinda boring in the sense that they dont seem to be very active. But the size of them is very practical for most people.
Boas stay fairly small...maybe look into getting a male. and they also are very good looking.
JCP yes they are beautiful..but they tend to be one of the more nasty snakes ive seen. But if your dedicated to your pet and put in the work of handling and can take a few nips from it along the way then yes they too make a great pet....

[snakehunter]

Hognoses kick SERIOUS @$$

[RepTylE]

I'd say, look for a reputable breeder, pick out a good feeding baby BP spend the rest of your 250 dollar budget on a nice setup and let the love affair begin. You'll have more than one by this time next year, I can almost guarentee it. I dare you to stop at one :D

[Tim Schroeder]

I love carpets. Hatchlings tend to be nippy, but some aren't, and they all tend to tame down as they put on size. Some don't but they are few and far between imho. I've hatched out a couple clutches of entirely tame hatchlings, definitely a nice surprise. They get to a nice manageable size, and are fairly active. Good stuff.

Tim

[BornboreD]

I own both Balls, and Jungles, as you can probably see by my signature. They both would be good choices.

With Balls, you get a very manageable size, and in general a good temperment. Although, I do have one '04 normal girl that does her best to try and get a piece of me everytime I slide out her rubbermaid. There's also the picky eating thing, although out of the 6 that I own only one is a picky eater. (currently off feed for a little over a month now). The cool thing about balls is all of the beautiful morphs as well, although they all come along with hefty price tags as compared to morphs in other species. As others stated above Balls are kinda boring as far as their activity levels go. That just comes along with being a nocturnal, burrow dwelling and naturally shy animal, so it's only natural that they are "boring" per say.

Jungles are great, I like mine more and more every day. They are feisty when young, but I have noticed that mine seem to get calmer and calmer with each passing meal. They have very attractive patterns, cool grey eyes, and blue tonques, and depending on the bloodline will end up as a stunning highlighter yellow and jet black snake!! They also have great feeding responses, once you get them goin', and you're only problem may be in switching from mice to rats, although that may only be a problem depending on each individual snake. Jungles are also alot more active, and semi-arboreal snake which makes them alot more of an exciting species as far as display animals go, and also alot more fun when handling. Oh, I should mention that their adult size is also quite managable. Jungles are also very affordable. A pair of the highest quality Jungles will cost you less than a single female ball python het for anything.

Well, that's my 2 cents, well maybe more like 50 cents. I suggest you attend the next show near you, and get a first hand look at both species, do lots of research and feel free to ask as many questions as you need on the forums. Good luck and hope you are happy with whichever choice you make.

Colin

[oliver]

ball pythons are very nice snakes i have 3 my self!!!! boa's are almost the same as a bp and they dont need alot of cage!!! but bps are the top of the list!! lol

[Steve]

I'm with everyone on the carpets and boas. Balls are a little on the shy and inactive side from my experience(not because of my husbandry).