Need some colubrid advice!

[TaylorWalker]

Hey i was wondering, what is a decent sized colubrid (decent girth and length) that isn't that hard to acquire, and isn't too expensive to feed. Thanks.

[**VAMPY HERPS**]

Well Kingsnakes and Milksnakes get a pretty decent size and girth.

[infernalis]

Get a Pueblan or Nelson's milk snake.

They get a yard long, an inch thick and are VERY pretty with brilliant flashes of red and orange with black trim.

[TaylorWalker]

lol. i was going to quote you but no one else has responded so i figured you would know who i was talking to. Thanks, are there different color morphs of the pueblen milk snake? just wondering. Looking at an eastern indigo (thats what made me ask about easy to get) they are protected to in order to trasport them across state lines you have to buy a one time transfer permit which is an extra 100$.

[TaylorWalker]

Oh, and what are the temperaments of both snakes?

[infernalis]

Milk snakes in general are not real fond of handling, and will usually musk you.

Both of my pueblans musk heavily when picked up.

Morphs are usually either lacking in black, lacking in red, or some other variation of the normal colours.

http://www.reptard.info/images/oreo.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.us/close/pueblo1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.us/close/pueblo2.jpg

http://www.reptard.info/photo/pueblan.jpg

[SpOoKy]

I would suggest a bull snake. They are fairly easy to maintain, have some great colors and have just enough attitude to keep you interested.

[TaylorWalker]

I would suggest a bull snake. They are fairly easy to maintain, have some great colors and have just enough attitude to keep you interested.
I guess you always need some attitude lol. how big do bull snakes get usually?

[SpOoKy]

About 6 feet. They are great eaters, don't require to high of heat or humidity and they are a good snake to learn how to read.

[lady_bug87]

About 6 feet. They are great eaters, don't require to high of heat or humidity and they are a good snake to learn how to read.

I agree... mine musks if you startle her... she also rattles, hisses, has hooded once, and does the dead tongue mouth open dance

[SpOoKy]

I have never had a musk out of either of mine. My white sided is pretty calm, he has a bit of an attitude when he is hungry but either than that he is pretty chill. My albino is a complete nut case. Always hissing an rattling, he is the biggest little snake in nmy whole collection. This species is always rewarding and making me smile.

[Terranaut]

I would also suggest a bull,pine or gopher snake.
Typicaly docile when out of their viv, easy to care for,6-7' long is typical as adult.
I know a few people who have them and they don't typicaly musk either. Ravinous feeding response and very nice to look at. Busy like a kingsnake without the attitude.
I have a young gopher Skittles. She is an albino.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1089.jpg
This is a bull
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QOhKYLG1y8E/Tw_gtlmSpqI/AAAAAAAACtg/ZOA3v-RFBbk/s400/Bullsnake1.jpg
This is a pine
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Exhibit/Profiles/images/PineSnake.jpg

[TaylorWalker]

The pine snakes get about the same size as the bulls?

[Terranaut]

All are about the same. All 3 are pituophus or "pits" for short. We love our Skittles. She is awesome. Pits are not near as popular as they should be.

[SpOoKy]

[QUOTE]Pits are not near as popular as they should be.

Agreed, for sure on of my most rewarding and entertaining snakes in my collection.

[StudentoReptile]

I personally like kingsnakes.

These kind of threads are kind of like asking everyone what their favorite ice cream is. You are going to get various answers, and none are necessarily wrong.

[Terranaut]

I know what you mean. I also like pecan or I mean Kings ;)
The reason I would pic a Pit over a King?
Everybody has a king very few have Pits. The Pit is less likely to bite you just out of the blue then be cool again 10 seconds later (King attitude which is both cool and a pain). Pits have a more interesting threat display. I will give colour to the King but for me thats not as important as "pet" qualities. Why would you go with a King?
Ice cream debates are always good. I like the different views.
Oh yeah I also have both of the above.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-120.jpg

[StudentoReptile]

To be honest, I really do not know. They're one of those snakes I really didn't know I liked so much until years later. Just like the look of them, I guess.

But I have never owned a Pit, either. Maybe one day. I'd like to have a black pine, but they're illegal in my state. :(

[TaylorWalker]

Terranuat, what kind ok snake is that in the pic, is it a pit? Is pit short for something?

[TaylorWalker]

I personally like kingsnakes.

These kind of threads are kind of like asking everyone what their favorite ice cream is. You are going to get various answers, and none are necessarily wrong.
How is it like asking someone what their favorite ice cream is? That would be asking for an opinion. I asked what a good sized (length and girth) colubrid was, that wasn't too expensive to feed. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy hearing all of your guys/girls opinions are as in your favorite colubrid. The reason for this thread was because, I want a colubrid but I dont want it to be too small; you know what i mean?

[Snakeman8]

i would go for something like a jungle corn, then you would win both a corn and a king at the same.:)

[TaylorWalker]

does it have a kings attitude, or a corns? It sounds cool, Iv'e never heard of them.

[Terranaut]

The last pic was my king. I explained the pit thing in an earlier post but I will again.
Gophers,Pines and Bull snakes are all in the same genus "pits" are slang for pituophis.
If you are lucky enough to find someone close with one of those 3 go check it out. If you buy one pm me for handling tips. Knowing a few tips will make sure you dont end up with a defensive pit that hisses and rattles their tale.

[TaylorWalker]

I was looking at some pine snakes, they look nice. I really wanted an indigo but they are to hard to get.

[Terranaut]

I would love an Eastern Indigo. Awesome snakes!!

[Sophia'sSophia]

Water snakes are a pretty nice bodied colubrid.
They can get pretty round and meaty, and about a meter long.
(And they have a varied diet, fish to rodents, so the price of feeding can be as low as a few dollar or two a month [when feeding cut fish from the market])

[StudentoReptile]

How is it like asking someone what their favorite ice cream is? That would be asking for an opinion. I asked what a good sized (length and girth) colubrid was, that wasn't too expensive to feed. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy hearing all of your guys/girls opinions are as in your favorite colubrid. The reason for this thread was because, I want a colubrid but I dont want it to be too small; you know what i mean?

First of all, size is relative. For some, a 4 ft kingsnake is "average" while to others, it is considered a large colubrid.

Then, even more so, temperament and personality can be subjective as well. For example, I have often stated that some of the most docile colubrids I've ever kept were kingsnakes. Others will rebuttal and claim say that their king snake always tries to eat their finger.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to chastise you or anyone else for posting a thread like this. It's just amusing to me, is all, because they always seem to turn out the same way: "You should get this!" "No, ___ are too ___. Try that instead." etc etc etc.

We haven't explored Old World colubrids yet. :D

In the end, I say find something that appeals to you and is a good match for your pocketbook. I forget...are you looking for more hands-on, or more of a display animal?