Most beautiful pet snake you've seen

[Kreptzor]

Hey guys! I'm actually new here, but I guess that this would be the best place to ask about this.

I'm currently thinking about getting a new snake, but I actually want to invest a bit into it because of how much I love snakes. So I've been thinking of trying to get a, maybe exotic, beautiful snake. I was looking into albino lavender strike corn snakes, mexican king snakes, etc.

I happened to stumble upon a Blue Beauty Snake, and fell in love immediately.

Thus, before I buy a snake, I would like to ask an opinion from you guys of what the most beautiful looking snake you've seen as a pet was? Also the price, because I kind of want to stay below 200$ haha

[DeadlyDesires]

i think BRB's, BCC's and BCI's are beautiful snakes.. my top 3 fav.

[stephanbakir]

You may want to list your past experience so we don't list animals outside that ability range.
Blue beauty snakes, and most Asian rat snakes are definitely not starter snakes

Mexican black king snake, most corn snakes, more info can give you a more personally directed list

[Starbuck]

Something that you can take out and handle i would definitely recommend a corn or king, they come in amazing morphs well within your price range and experience level.

Though you posted under colubrids, if you start to think about boas and pythons, there are lots of beautiful snakes there as well (some ball python morphs, rosy boas, etc).

If you are only looking for a display snake (something that you wont be handling much), this certainly opens up your options, though you still need to take your ability level into account, as you WILL need to maintain and clean the tank, feed the snake, and handle the snake for transportation etc.
Again, more info from you will help us (to help you).

[Kreptzor]

Sorry about that!
I actually looked up some more information on Beauty snakes, and they're all generally Asian-based (which is awesome), and tend to grow 8 feet (not so awesome), which was not what the picture looked like hahahah.

Honestly I've only had experience with corn snakes. I definitely want to handle my snake a lot.
I'm looking for a snake that'll fit in a room, so at most around 3 feet I think (So I believe the BRB, BCC, and BCI are out of the choices also :()

I did hear that corn snakes have the most variation, but there was not really one that caught my eye.

So, all in all, not too much experience (though definitely willing to learn), snake ~3 feet maximum (as long as I can fit the cage on a desk or something), and able to be handled.

[rmfsnakes32]

Corns come in so many colors your choices are better at getting some little eye candy

[Hannibalcanibal]

Ball python morphs can be really pretty, but expensive.... and if you want to be different, there are always those amazing garter snakes...

[Mark Taylor]

Gaboon viper would be my first choice if I knew how to handle a hot lol.

But for you I would start with a milk,corn or king, even a garter.

Or as suggested a ball but not my cup of tea they are lazy.

[smy_749]

Gaboon viper would be my first choice if I knew how to handle a hot lol.

But for you I would start with a milk,corn or king, even a garter.

Or as suggested a ball but not my cup of tea they are lazy.

I think I hate ball pythons....and blue tongued skinks. The only two I really don't like. But yea, garters are cool too. I say corn first pick and garter second (only because corns dont musk, have more color variation, and get a big bigger)

[StudentoReptile]

To the OP, how much space can you afford for this new snake, and how much is in your budget for the initial cost? The answers to these questions can help narrow down your search.

Personally, I suggest a YEARLING kingsnake (CA, speckled, eastern, Florida, desert, or Mexican black) or cornsnake. The reason I suggest a yearling is that when at the hatchling size, these snakes are very squirmy and small, and more prone to musking. Once they hit a year (i.e. the 18"-24" mark), they have mostly grown out of that, and are pretty durable snakes that tolerate regular handling, feed well, and are about as low maintenance as you can get with snakes. Also, most are available in a wide variety of color/pattern morphs at a low cost (less than $100, sometimes around $50, depending on the source). Any of them will do fine in a 20-gall LONG glass tank. As always, CBB is the best.

As far as small contrictors go, there is the perennial fav: ball python. I don't care for them much, as they are by far, one of the most boring snakes you could get. Babies can be finicky, and often they don't do well in glass tanks. They "can" make a good beginner snake, but there's a little more to setting them just right than with most colubrids. If you want something super easy you can just throw in a glass tank, I would suggest NOT a ball python.

Rosy boas are okay, but can be pricey up front. Same with sand boas. Both species rarely get longer than 3 ft. If you can afford a CBB animal, and its eating well, they can be great, easy snakes.

I also personally like African house snakes, but finding a reputable dealer who has CBB stock can be a chore. They are more or less the African equivalent of a cornsnake. Avoid WC animals.

[Aaron_S]

Spotted pythons. That is all.

[Kreptzor]

I think I hate ball pythons....and blue tongued skinks. The only two I really don't like. But yea, garters are cool too. I say corn first pick and garter second (only because corns dont musk, have more color variation, and get a big bigger)


This is interesting, because I was considering getting a Blue-tongue Skink in lieu of a snake because I thought it'd be more fun to handle and more exotic. But then I realized snakes were better again :P

Also, speaking of musking, I WAS considering a garter snake, but after doing some research on musking, I feel like I don't really want to be musked :(. Is it a habit that goes away after a while if handled often (for garters especially)?
Also I think I read that garter snakes are aquatic. How does this change the handling?

[Kreptzor]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

So, so far I've liked:
Spotted python
African House Snake
Some kind of corn snake
------------------------------
so, some questions:
I realize that Pythons are not a type of colubrid. While this definitely does not rule it out as a species of snake that I want to consider, what difference does raising a python have against a colubrid?

Are there any specific breeds of African House Snakes/Corn Snakes that come to mind that look more beautiful than others?

----------------------------------------------

As for my personal situation:
Initial cost: ~$300 (for just the snake, though this is definitely on the more expensive side. I'd prefer $70-120, but definitely can make an exception ;o)

Space: I will be living in a house with a few friends, so the snake will be confined to being in my room. I'd say I could probably give around 4ft x 2ft of ground space (height wouldn't matter to me), give or take.

Any other questions that'll help narrow down good snake species?

P.S.Yeah, and definitely no wild-caught animals bahaha.

[StudentoReptile]

As far as African house snakes go, the most common ones on the market are:

-Cape house snake (Boaedon capensis): available in albinos, striped, as well as normal
- Striped house snake (B. lineatus): available in normal
- "Common brown" house snake (B. fuliginosus): available in olive/black [NOT to be confused with the uncommon Olive House snake]
- Dotted house snake (B. maculatus): available in unproven color pattern mutations, quite variable

A lot of US dealers are still behind in the times when it comes to house snakes, Most still routinely use the old genus name Lamprophis instead of Boaedon, and several lump any house snake they find as "Lamprophis fuliginosus." So you have to do a little research to know what you're getting, because most of the species will NOT interbreed with each other. The only sure-fire way of knowing is if you see an albino anywhere, it is B. capensis. No other snake is proven to have amelanism...yet.

Ironically, what is so fun about AHS is that they are almost like little pythons (especially theire heads and eyes) trapped in a cornsnake's body shape

[Kreptzor]

As far as African house snakes go, the most common ones on the market are:

-Cape house snake (Boaedon capensis): available in albinos, striped, as well as normal
- Striped house snake (B. lineatus): available in normal
- "Common brown" house snake (B. fuliginosus): available in olive/black [NOT to be confused with the uncommon Olive House snake]
- Dotted house snake (B. maculatus): available in unproven color pattern mutations, quite variable

A lot of US dealers are still behind in the times when it comes to house snakes, Most still routinely use the old genus name Lamprophis instead of Boaedon, and several lump any house snake they find as "Lamprophis fuliginosus." So you have to do a little research to know what you're getting, because most of the species will NOT interbreed with each other. The only sure-fire way of knowing is if you see an albino anywhere, it is B. capensis. No other snake is proven to have amelanism...yet.

Ironically, what is so fun about AHS is that they are almost like little pythons (especially theire heads and eyes) trapped in a cornsnake's body shape


Wow, I was just actually thinking that I loved the corn snakes' colors, but pythons have amazing eyes. Hahahaha

[Kreptzor]

I've been stuck in-between a corn-snake and python, so I think I'm going to go with the African House Snake!!

So, any suggestions of a trust-worthy place to look for one?
Also, I heard that they prefer to eat lizards and such over mice. Is this true?
Is their handling pretty much the same as corn snakes? (good temperament after handling often? I don't mind being bit a few times while getting acquainted)
Anything extra I should know about them?

Thank you for keeping up with me! I know I've been asking a lot of questions, but I am so glad to have found out about these types of snakes before getting one! (Not that I wouldn't love the others just as much!)

[StudentoReptile]

Most small colubrids naturally eat lizards, even corns and kings. CBB are usually better at converting to mice. And yes, they handle as well as a corn.

ILL get with you later on some good sources.

[sarah22992]

I have a motley sunglow corn snake which is stunning. Other awesome corns (in my opinion) involve the coral or salmon gene. My faves are the coral ghosts personally if you dont mind a pink snake. Im also big on lavenders. Tesseras fall into the higher end.of your price range. vmsherps.com has some beautiful tessera corns for sale. and coral ghosts (they call them strawberry.anerys)

You might also look at hybrids. Jungle corns (cali king x corn snake) come in various patterns and colors depending on what morphs are used in the mix. Ive some cool milksnake crosses too.

I am not big on kings. Deserts have fantastic.temperments and I havent ever had one musk on me. There is a varigated or variable king in a local pet shop here that seems so exotic to me. she lacks all normal kingsnake colors (as far as kingsnakes i have seen) she is toffee brown with red banding going across her back.

Rosy and sand boas are good choices outside of the colubrids. Good temperments and they dont get too big. Sands are often the prettier of the two (especially anery sand boas) but they like to hide a lot. I work at a petsmart and our rosy boa has the best temperment.

You may look into hognoses though they are mildly venemous. They are gaining huge popularity in the pet trade because of their awesome temperments and new colorations are also becoming available. Just a suggestion.

[red ink]

Spotted pythons. That is all.

Yep.. or their cousins the Stimsons.

[Kreptzor]

I have a motley sunglow corn snake which is stunning. Other awesome corns (in my opinion) involve the coral or salmon gene. My faves are the coral ghosts personally if you dont mind a pink snake. Im also big on lavenders. Tesseras fall into the higher end.of your price range. vmsherps.com has some beautiful tessera corns for sale. and coral ghosts (they call them strawberry.anerys)

You might also look at hybrids. Jungle corns (cali king x corn snake) come in various patterns and colors depending on what morphs are used in the mix. Ive some cool milksnake crosses too.

I am not big on kings. Deserts have fantastic.temperments and I havent ever had one musk on me. There is a varigated or variable king in a local pet shop here that seems so exotic to me. she lacks all normal kingsnake colors (as far as kingsnakes i have seen) she is toffee brown with red banding going across her back.

Rosy and sand boas are good choices outside of the colubrids. Good temperments and they dont get too big. Sands are often the prettier of the two (especially anery sand boas) but they like to hide a lot. I work at a petsmart and our rosy boa has the best temperment.

You may look into hognoses though they are mildly venemous. They are gaining huge popularity in the pet trade because of their awesome temperments and new colorations are also becoming available. Just a suggestion.

Hmm, why don't you like kings? I actually suddenly settled down on a Mexican Black King snake because it was cheap, supposedly good temperament, and they seem to be quite calm when you're holding them.

A friend actually keeps suggested hognoses to me! But not too much a fan of how their face looks (no offense to them haha)

Tessera corn snakes look really good too ._.

Do Rosy boas also hide a lot?

Ahhhhh I keep settling down on a snake, and then see new snakes and keep being not sure bahha

[Kreptzor]

Yep.. or their cousins the Stimsons.

Strangely, I'm not too much a fan of how python heads look. Though their eyes look amazing.

[Kreptzor]

Also, would all these snakes be ok with me basically just putting them on my shoulder and going about my day in the house? Holding is cool and all, but I want to be able to walk around with them and do things also!

[Lankyrob]

Also, would all these snakes be ok with me basically just putting them on my shoulder and going about my day in the house? Holding is cool and all, but I want to be able to walk around with them and do things also!

This is not a good idea, if you are holding a snake your attention should be on the snake not other things. I dont know of any snake that would be okay whilst you go about your day.

They are kept in cages with perfect heat and humidity for a reason.

[KORBIN5895]

Glow worm boas.

[Kreptzor]

This is not a good idea, if you are holding a snake your attention should be on the snake not other things. I dont know of any snake that would be okay whilst you go about your day.

They are kept in cages with perfect heat and humidity for a reason.


I heard ball pythons are pretty ok with it?

[Will0W783]

The two species that I think are the most beautiful are NOT, I repeat, NOT beginner snakes. They are both pit vipers, and therefore dangerous and require the owner to get training before considering them. However, they are by far the prettiest species IMHO.

Here they are:

Tropidolaemus wagleri (Wagler's temple viper):

Bisa Ular (Sumatran/Malaysian phase)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Vipers/IMG_2670.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Vipers/IMG_2670.jpg.html)

Jade (Sulawesi phase):
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/Vipers/IMG_2666.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/Vipers/IMG_2666.jpg.html)



The second species is Popeia nebularis (Cameron highlands tree viper):
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/20130427_191000_zps73184246.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Will0W783/media/20130427_191000_zps73184246.jpg.html)

[jarich]

Also, would all these snakes be ok with me basically just putting them on my shoulder and going about my day in the house? Holding is cool and all, but I want to be able to walk around with them and do things also!

Actually Korbin, I think the best bet for the OP is a feather boa. ;)

What you're describing, Kreptzor, is a fashion accessory, not a live animal. Live reptiles have their own requirements that mean responsible care and attention. If a pretty thing you drape around your neck is all you're looking for, please reconsider buying a reptile.

[Lankyrob]

I heard ball pythons are pretty ok with it?

Does your house have plus 60% humidity and the ability of the snake to access temps of 78-90f whilst on your shoulders? No? Leave it in the viv apart from short handling sessions then

Actually Korbin, I think the best bet for the OP is a feather boa. ;)

What you're describing, Kreptzor, is a fashion accessory, not a live animal. Live reptiles have their own requirements that mean responsible care and attention. If a pretty thing you drape around your neck is all you're looking for, please reconsider buying a reptile.

^^^THIS^^^

[Roman]

I have to agree with jarich and Lankyrob.

Dear Kreptzor, snakes should not be held or taken out of their enclosure unless you really have to. Within the enclosure should be the optimum temperature and humidity range for your snake, outside in your room this is a different matter, especially if you have air condition. For snakes from temperate zones this might not result in any health issues but for tropical snakes (like ball pythons) this might result in a cold or other serious health issues. Most colubrids will try to escape as soon as you put them around your neck and start moving, if you grab them to prevent them from escaping this will only increase their attempt to escape. So depending on the type of snake and the individual temperament the snake will either try to escape harder, musk on you or will bite you. So please abandon the idea of moving around with a snake around your neck or holding it for any longer amount of time. If this is not your idea of keeping an animal, please choose something different, preferable something with fur, but definitely not any kind of reptile.

If you decide to buy a snake there are a lot of “beginners threads” around here. Most of the snakes already mentioned would be OK for your potential enclosure, corn snakes, kingsnakes or milksnakes are all active and easy to keep snakes. Ball pythons can be a little difficult to feed when you get them, if they are settled down they are also easy to keep. With African housesnakes you have to be aware of that they are nocturnal (active at night), so you will not see them a lot during daytime, otherwise they are good pets as well.

@ Kimberly amazing snakes once again, especially your Tropidolaemus wagleri are stunning!!

As for the original question about the most beautiful pet snake I naturally have to toss my hat for the tiger ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus), once again a snake NOT suited for beginners but my favorite display snake. I just finished feeding my trio and they are busy searching the enclosure for just another rat…


http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23812&stc=1&d=1367180112


http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23813&stc=1&d=1367180132

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23814&stc=1&d=1367180151


http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23815&stc=1&d=1367180171

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23816&stc=1&d=1367180225

Roman

[smy_749]

This is off topic, but I just wanted to say that Roman has one of my favorite enclosures for a snake, ever.

Also for those telling him he wants a fashion accessory. I have to disagree, because he said while he walks around the house and does things. People usually care about fashion when they go out ,I think its more that he is looking for a loving pet that will "chill " with him like the guy who posted here asking if a savannah monitor would enjoy going on car rides.

If thats the case, I would say to buy a parrot or a mammal of some sort.

Best of luck, and please take the advice you receive here.

...and another thing, as roman said, a colubrid will not chill on your shoulders. A python or boa may, but its a bad idea, and if he decides he doesn't like you very much and gives you a love bite and affectionate hug around your neck....you may have a serious issue.

[Kreptzor]

Does your house have plus 60% humidity and the ability of the snake to access temps of 78-90f whilst on your shoulders? No? Leave it in the viv apart from short handling sessions then



^^^THIS^^^

Actually, yes, because I live in Florida.
So please go take your toxic comments somewhere else.

[Kreptzor]

As for everyone else, thanks for the input about draping over the shoulder. I didn't realize that notion was a bit fantastical. I love reptiles regardless, but it actually will probably change my thought on what kind of snake I'm getting! (I think, haha)

P.S. Feather boa would definitely be the cheapest to care for!

[Lankyrob]

Actually, yes, because I live in Florida.
So please go take your toxic comments somewhere else.

Cool, so which shoulder is the hot one and which is the cold? Must be awful if you sit near a radiator and its on the wrong side :p

[Ryodraco]

Also, speaking of musking, I WAS considering a garter snake, but after doing some research on musking, I feel like I don't really want to be musked :(. Is it a habit that goes away after a while if handled often (for garters especially)?
As I've heard it many snakes can be tamed down. I do have a california king who musks every time I handle her, but she is otherwise a good snake so I avoid handling her except for cage cleaning once a month. I don't want to stress her out to handle her more as I've never tamed a snake down before, and she's fun enough to look at.

I also have two checkered garters. I have heard a lot about them being nippy and musking but neither has ever tried to bite me (I take them out of the terrarium twice a week for feeding) and I think I've only been musked once or twice. It just varies with the individual.

Also I think I read that garter snakes are aquatic. How does this change the handling?
Some are more aquatic than others, but it doesn't change handling them or their caging beyond giving them the option of a larger-than-normal water source They require access to overall dry conditions to stay healthy despite their love for water.

They are very fast though, so they aren't snakes you want to handle for extended periods if they are trying to escape the whole time. That just increases the chance of them leaping from your hand. One of mine has never really tried this but it may be in part due to how I don't handle him for extended periods, the other garter is more nervous and routinely tries to make a break for it.

<><><>

I have read of snake keepers who fondly speak of how their rosy boas would curl around their arms for hours on end to bask in their body heat, but most snakes won't do this.

[desipooh.12]

BRB's, GTP, & Bumblebee Ball Pythons
My 3 favorite so far ..

[BagnaraSnakes16]

A spider ball python ! Less than 200 dollars and my favorite morph

[StudentoReptile]

Most beautiful "pet" snake? That term is rather subjective; any snake that was currently kept as a pet, or any snake that could be kept as such? A lot of folks keep snakes for different reasons...

Semantics aside, my answer would probably be the Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor). Very beautiful, natural iridescence.

[Kreptzor]

So it's been a while since I've been at my forum!

As it turns out, the most readily available snakes (That look really nice!) that I have found were either an emerald boa, rainbow boa, or corn snake (I could not find the African House Snake nor Black Mexican Snake in any regional store around South Florida).

I did hear that if given a vertical dimension (a horizontal pole near the top), a corn snake would bundle up much like an emerald boa on the pole. True?

Anyways, probably going for corn snake? The other two are gorgeous, but for some reason I feel a little less comfortable around them, probably because my instincts were hinting at how experienced I actually was with snakes (not that much haha)

[smy_749]

An emerald tree will cause lots of blood loss, possible nerve damage, stitches, and hospital visits. Rainbows are very nice, as are corns. I don't think corns will bundle up normally like ETB or GTP but they may occassionally. They will definately use most of the space provided if you give branches and cover.

[Ourobouros]

http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/tsinfernalisma604.jpg

I am already planning on my next snake for a year or two from now, lol. This natural beauty, neon blue California red sided garter.

[Mikoh4792]

http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/tsinfernalisma604.jpg

I am already planning on my next snake for a year or two from now, lol. This natural beauty, neon blue California red sided garter.

wow that garter is insane.

[Amadeus]

As I've heard it many snakes can be tamed down. I do have a california king who musks every time I handle her, but she is otherwise a good snake so I avoid handling her except for cage cleaning once a month. I don't want to stress her out to handle her more as I've never tamed a snake down before, and she's fun enough to look at.

I also have two checkered garters. I have heard a lot about them being nippy and musking but neither has ever tried to bite me (I take them out of the terrarium twice a week for feeding) and I think I've only been musked once or twice. It just varies with the individual.


Some are more aquatic than others, but it doesn't change handling them or their caging beyond giving them the option of a larger-than-normal water source They require access to overall dry conditions to stay healthy despite their love for water.

They are very fast though, so they aren't snakes you want to handle for extended periods if they are trying to escape the whole time. That just increases the chance of them leaping from your hand. One of mine has never really tried this but it may be in part due to how I don't handle him for extended periods, the other garter is more nervous and routinely tries to make a break for it.

<><><>

I have read of snake keepers who fondly speak of how their rosy boas would curl around their arms for hours on end to bask in their body heat, but most snakes won't do this.
My garter doesn't musk and only did it once when I first got it.