Choosing the Right Species for Us -- Questions

[SpOoKy]

Carnivores (weasels, ferrets, foxes, cats, bears, wolves, etc.); all species.

Maybe they mean big cats like tigers and such.

[Rhaethe]

Yeah ... cause there are an asston of domestic cats all over the place, lol.

[Rogue628]

Originally Posted by Rhaethe

Hmm. Either

Just because they move alot doesn't mean they aren't easy to handle. I had a king that was easy to handle but he was curious and loved to move around. He didn't dart, but you could handle him with ease hand over hand. He was laid back but by no means was he a lap snake. No matter how much I held him would he settle down in my lap.

Colubrids are generally the easiest to care for because most are fine at room temps (as long as it doesn't get too cold) and humidity isn't an issue with most if not all of them. But they aren't still most times yet they're still easy to handle.

[ZARADOZIA]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Ditto ^^ I don't think snakes get any easier than a corn.. The come in a wide selection of colors too. Here is my baby Ivan a buckskin Okeetee

I'm not crazy about corns, but this is a very pretty corn!

[minitruckinAL]

ball python is what id suggest they are really pretty forgiving on husbandry issues do not get much bigger then 4 foot and are usually laid back animals kinda like a pet rock also... and there are some crazy looking morphs out there too

[KORBIN5895]

Personally I think the size plus "lazy" thing is gonna really hamstring you. Up your size limit a foot and get a male ball python. It will be something everyone in the family will enjoy.

[snakehill]

I agree with the above 2 posts! You can't get much lazier than a ball and they do make great lap snakes!!

[Shmoges]

Imo I wouldn't get a sand boa because you hardly ever see them with out disturbing there substrate to dig them out and they are finicky eaters. There cool but for some reason i can take care of anything else with out problems and these things just die on me.

I would recommend a rosy boa if you can get those. Small, friendly, and active.

[minitruckinAL]

and to be honest most sand boas i have ever had any interaction with seemed to have an attitude. id rather put up with my little blood python.

[Shmoges]

Originally Posted by Rhaethe

Yeah ... cause there are an asston of domestic cats all over the place, lol.

You mean feral?

[Rogue628]

Originally Posted by Shmoges

Imo I wouldn't get a sand boa because you hardly ever see them with out disturbing there substrate to dig them out and they are finicky eaters. There cool but for some reason i can take care of anything else with out problems and these things just die on me.

I would recommend a rosy boa if you can get those. Small, friendly, and active.

See....I didn't know any of that when I suggested it. Just knew adults rarely got over 3 feet. And I totally forgot about the rosy boa. lol

[Ridge Runner_20]

Originally Posted by Rhaethe

We don't have a snake, yet. But my Christmas gift to my other half this year is a snake. He's been wanting one for some time.

I have a card all done up that will say "This Year's Christmas is Snakey!"

Then we will decide upon the species together, I'll buy all the necessary things, etc.

Thing is, I've been reading up for some time on differing species. From my experience with fish species, while I know that the critters are individuals, species do have tendencies ... and there is never better accounts to read than personal experience.

So I wish to ask ... if given the following criteria, which snake species would fit the best, do you think? We will be purchasing an adult or near-adult snake.

-- Small ... 3 feet max adult size or less. If purchasing a male of the species will match, even though female will get larger, that's fine. I don't mind being specific and asking for a male.

-- Mellow and lazy. Yes, we want a lazy snake.

-- Tolerant of beginner's mistakes.

-- Relatively uncomplicated to care for, i.e. doesn't need exact or ultra-tiny range of humidity and temps

I put this very description in another thread about good snakes for children, and it sounds like it meets all your criteria as well:

"I would look very closely at a Variable kingsnake. Also known as a Nuevo Leon or Thayer's kingsnake, they are small (3' max), very docile, and have beautiful coloration in any of their 3 color phases. Husbandry is also quite simple, as with most kingsnake species. They are readily available from several respected breeders on the internet, and make outstanding pets. My son has a 1.5 yr old male Leonis phase named Pedro, and he's just the sweetest animal ever! Good luck!"

They are really great little snakes, and come in a variety of beautiful colors and three different pattern phases as well. Here's a pic of ours:



And a couple others:

Leonis phase



Milk snake phase



Genus, species, sub-species is Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

RR_20 (Mike)

[alessia55]

If you up the size limit by a foot, a male ball python would be a great choice. My 2yr old ball python will sit in my lap while I watch TV or do work. They're really great and fairly easy to take care of. Also they typically have a great temperament

[Sasha2]

Most colubrids (corns, kings, milks etc)are not lazy.They constantly move when picked up and have to be watched because they are quick.A ball python is lazy and slow.And although they can get to 4ft they are so easy and laid back, and when balled up can still fit in your hands easily....I think Ball python is the way to go, they have the cutest faces of any snake out there too.

[Rhaethe]

Originally Posted by Shmoges

You mean feral?

Well, there are some feral populations in the city ... but what I meant by the comment is that a lot of folks have them as pets. A lot of folks have dogs, too. Folks in Atlanta like pets, heh.

Originally Posted by Shmoges

Imo I wouldn't get a sand boa because you hardly ever see them with out disturbing there substrate to dig them out and they are finicky eaters. There cool but for some reason i can take care of anything else with out problems and these things just die on me.

I would recommend a rosy boa if you can get those. Small, friendly, and active.

We've been doing some reading on the rosy boas. We can get those ... would just need to find a good breeder.

Originally Posted by alessia55

If you up the size limit by a foot, a male ball python would be a great choice. My 2yr old ball python will sit in my lap while I watch TV or do work. They're really great and fairly easy to take care of. Also they typically have a great temperament

Hmmmm. How long does it take for a male snake to get "max length"? Are they fast growers or slow growers?