Suggestions?

[Akuma223]

Hello all, I am looking for some suggestions for active colubrid snakes. I am not looking for any kind of morphs. The things I want the most in the snake is activity level and beauty (activity > beauty). I have been looking at hognose snakes and everglades rats as they are found at my my favorite reptile shop. If the snake itself is generaly under 100$ that would be appreciated.

Also, The reptile shop also has a Taiwanese beauty snake for 150$. The setup would cost a ton more then a hoggie or an everglade rat but do you think it would be worth it? She is positively stunning, and they said she has an attitude ( I loves myself a feisty snake ). Thing is I am a "begginer" from most peoples standards, though I do have a very healthy and fiesty Black roughneck monitor lizard. My snake experience is with one garter and a BP heh. Do you think It would be worth all the effort and money to get a Tai beauty? The draw here is that I can pick her up from the store and don't need to pay for shipping. Blah I'm rambling, I'm not good at speaking. responses appreciated thanks.

[Lankyrob]

Beginner, Active snake=corn snake imo

Tho i know very little about Taiwanese Beauty snakes apart from them being gorgeous :)

[Akuma223]

I'm not interested in corn snakes for some reason, unless there are patternless morphs?

[Lankyrob]

There are pretty much every shade colour and pattern of corn snake but not necessarily within your pirce range. :)

[h3h]

I agree with Rob. I'm just going to pretty much reiterate what he said, but here goes anyway. I read your whole first post, and with your price range I immediately thought Corn. Corn snakes are active snakes, and they aren't "flighty" like some other Colubrids can be. Great temperament...Corns probably have more paint jobs than any other snake available - including patternless, and a *majority* are $100 or less. Maybe Balls have met or surpassed them in morphs by now, I don't know - Balls seem to be a favorite by the majority of breeders/collectors, or maybe just the most profitable. (I don't know)

If you're looking for something more hardy, and feisty King Snakes are awesome. If being handleable is important to you then be prepared to work with a King, because it's probably going to musk a bit, and give you a few bites in the process. You might even hit the jackpot, and get one that is more laid back. Seems that a lot of people - even ones who don't own Colubrids - seem to like the MBK (patternless). King snakes are great feeders, voracious really, and by far my Kings are the most enjoyable to watch feed.

I know you don't want to pay shipping, but that will limit your selection immensely. There might be some local breeders in your area you don't even know about, and obviously that'd save on shipping...It wouldn't hurt to look around if you haven't, and remember to verify the integrity of the breeder if you do find one/decide to buy from them.

Also, The reptile shop also has a Taiwanese beauty snake for 150$. The setup would cost a ton more then a hoggie or an everglade rat but do you think it would be worth it?

Only you can answer that. If it's worth it to you then yes it is, and no one else's opinion matters as long as you're satisfied. Money you enjoy wasting isn't wasted money. Let us know what you decide!

- h3

[EmbraceCalamity]

I just got a king, and I have to say I agree with h3h. Of course, my experience is limited only to her, but she's a joy to have. She's active enough that every time I walk into the room, she's somewhere else. She 'rattles' her tail when I go to pick her up, but she's never tried to bite me or musked or anything like that. So she's feisty enough to not bore me, but not aggressive either.

If you have any reptile rescues in your area (try Google or Facebook), they would probably have some snakes. They're usually all ball pythons, but occasionally they'll have kings or maybe even something else. You can also check Craigslist and eBay classifieds. I wanted a snake but didn't know what kind, and then I saw a gorgeous albino striped king for sale on Craiglist, and I was smitten. :)

~Maggot

[Roman]

Hello,

Orthriophis taeniurus (Taiwan beauty snake) is a real beauty. It is easy to keep and feeds on mice or rats. It is very activ during daytime and you might see it very often climbing or searching its enclosure. But you have to be aware of several issues about this snake.

This snake grows rather large, my male is about 8 ft long. It likes to climb, so in combination you would need a large setup for an adult snake. Some individuals are easy to handle, but most of them are aggressive and ready and willing to strike as soon as you open the door. So you might get a snake which will bite you as soon and as often as it can.

Another point is that this snake should be hibernated during winter for 3 - 4 months. You should also be aware of the fact that this snake might life a long time. I got my male in 1995 when it was about 2 years old, so it is about 20 years old right now.

Roman

[Akuma223]

Do the beauties have to hibernate? Also how active are hogies? Does anyone here have experience with Everglades rat snakes?

[Falconeer999]

I have a Florida kingsnake (hypo melanistic) and he's really active when he's hungry - he'll search throughout his enclosure constantly until he's fed. That's when I can tell it's feeding day. The remainder of the time he's buried in his substrate and it looks like I have an empty enclosure sitting there.

Like Maggot's - he'll rattle his tail when he's perturbed, but he's never struck at me. Of course when he's rattling, I won't try to handle him. I just let him be and wait for him to calm down, which he usually does after a minute or so. Have to be quick to grab him but once I do, he'll wrap around my hand/arm and is very docile (though constantly moving - he never stays still when being held like I've seen many pythons/boas do).

Feeding is always something to watch. The strikes are really awesome and he's never had an issue with feeding. I have a feeling that if I let him, once he had his first mouse, he'd keep on eating them until he burst. It's almost like a shark frenzy. Get the taste of blood and kind of loses himself!

[Terranaut]

Kings ,Gophers, Bulls, Pines = all cheap ,easy to find and easy to care for.

[totheend]

I say Hognose. In my experience Hognoses are the most active during the day.

[Snakeman8]

garters are active during both, i swear mine never slept!

[Akuma223]

I already have a garter, I'm looking for something different.

[rmfsnakes32]

The blue beauty is a good choice if you are prepared for a bitey snake that grows pretty large

[spyke]

Drymarchon!

[SpOoKy]

Kings ,Gophers, Bulls, Pines = all cheap ,easy to find and easy to care for.

Agreed! I love ,y 2 bull's. Very active, feisty attitude, great eaters, super easy to care for. Great snake for getting used to hook handling.

[Akuma223]

How long do bulls,pines, and gophers get? They have some at the reptile shop but I don't want a snake I cant let stretch out completely in its enclosure.

[Terranaut]

They can hit 7' but most stay 5-6.
Pituophis are great. They can have both a docile temperment and displays of hissing ,thrashing,puffing up and even an awesome tail rattle.
My little girl is an Albino Applegate Gopher. I think you said no morphs at the begining but she is a looker. Had her since she was very young. Now she is almost 2 and is about 4' long. She is a psyco feeder and has showered me with substrate striking her prey.
Very interesting snakes,not huge and generaly calm if you just open their enclosure and grab them without hesitation.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/20130101_160634.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1906.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1089.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-2092.jpg

[Akuma223]

She's real pretty, How active did you say they were? I really love how active and curious my little garter snake is and would like something larger that has the same activity level.

[Terranaut]

Very active unless digesting. She moves her hides around and digs a lot.

[Akuma223]

Cool, I'll look into it.