Incectivors? rough grass snake?

peterm15 · 11-13-04, 08:51 PM

hey everyone im new to the sie and relitavely new to the reptile world.... at the moment i have a chameleon and leapord geckos...
im looking into getting a snake but i would perfer one that eats incects...

ive looked into the rough grass and it seems to be up my ally... so my question is where could i find one and where could i find info on houseing feeding... general care... and second... is there any other incectivor snake that is worth looking into...

herpslave · 11-13-04, 08:58 PM

I belive the smoothe green is a insectivorous snake only also. I have found one site that sells roughs. LLLreptile.com
Though if this is your first snake you should not buy a rough green nor smoothe. Most of these snakes are wc, like tokays. Some ca be really aggresive and they are mostly a show animal. Not a touch. Also due to them being wc and not to common in the mass trade of reptiles, alot of the caresheets are awful. Rough greens are sometimes so misunderstood and wc they will die a painful life in anyones care. So if your a medium snake keeper or a extreme care taker of snakes I would reccomend you get a rough. These I believe or I was told are the only kind of snake that eats 100 percent insects.

herpslave · 11-13-04, 08:59 PM

For a beginner snake I would try a corn. They eat rodents only, but are great for handling, don't get large, and there are many beautiful morphs of a corn. Just like a leo.

peterm15 · 11-13-04, 09:40 PM

oh i know about the corn and king and milk snakes... but my problem is i couldnt bring myself to feed them live rodents... i could only feed them frozens... and ive heard there are some bad things that can happen if not done properly... and also i could have gotten away with a rough grass cause there thin.... im looking for something quite small... otherwise my second choice is the hognose but i still run into the mouse problem... the one that ive been looking into only eats live...

with my luck id get a snake that wouldnt eat frozens and id end up with one sick snake and 100 pinkies that id have to take care of... i dont have a prob with snakes eating mice... just id have to be the one throwing them in there.... thats why i wanted an insect eater...

do you have any other suggestions...

HeatherRose · 11-13-04, 09:49 PM

Quote:

oh i know about the corn and king and milk snakes... but my problem is i couldnt bring myself to feed them live rodents... i could only feed them frozens...

It's quite easy to find a corn snake that will take frozen mice, just ask your local breeders. Seeing as you seem to be in the general Toronto area, there is a show coming up where you could find one. A list of vendors and other information can be found here: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=57151

There are a TON of breeders in Ontario, finding a snake to suit your needs shouldn't be hard at all.

Good luck!

peterm15 · 11-13-04, 11:15 PM

ive had plans for like 2 months to go... i just dont wanna go blinsided.....

is there any other small breeds of snakes... like 2 feet or something.... i also like the climbing aspect... but that really doesnt mean that much to me...

RepTylE · 11-13-04, 11:28 PM

I applaud the fact that you are taking your time and learning about your options before you buy. I once was interested in smooth or rough green snakes for the same reason that you are. I had issues with feeding rodents to snakes but I got used to the idea and haven't looked back since. Now I love snakes so much that they have become a part of my life and feeding f/t rats or mice is not a big deal. As Heather stated, there are tons of breeders in Ontario and finding a Corn snake breeder would be easy. Do yourself a favour as a new snake enthusiast and keep looking into your options. There's no hurry, snakes are always going to be around lol.

peterm15 · 11-14-04, 12:24 AM

thanks alot...... i always seem to do overkill before i purchase an animal... before i got my chameleon i reasearched the animal and built a tank for about 4 months.... and i still wasnt finished... its just i always jump into things and screw somethin up..... even with the chame... i should have searched temperments cause i really wanna handle mine but i cant do it he hisses and gets stressed...

the problem is that 3 feet is a little two long unless its really thin like the rough grass... thats why i was thinking hognosed... i know there rear fang poisioness but is it really harmful to ppl...

in all reality i would like to have a boa or python... one of the ones that just curl up and hang out in a tree, i think thats cool lookin... but i have alot of animals as it is... 11... 3 sharks, 1 turtle 2 leapord geckos, 1 veiled, 2 cats and 2 dogs. well 12 if you count the turtles best friend.... the feeder fish we got him 2 years ago... they hang out its kinda cool...

HeatherRose · 11-14-04, 12:31 AM

From what I understand about hognoses, their venom is comparable to a bee sting. If you're allergic to bee stings, it can be quite dangerous...I'm not an expert though.

As for boas or pythons, if you're looking for something that doesn't get too big, rosy boas, sand boas, childrens pythons and ball pythons are some options. These all feed on rodents however.

Arboreal snakes like emerald tree boas and green tree pythons (the ones that 'curl up in trees' as you said) involve more advanced husbandry, but that doesn't mean you need to limit yourself. They are expensive, however, with ETB's being in the 500-800$ range and GTP's being in the 800-1200$ price range. They also feed on rodents.

Good luck...

peterm15 · 11-14-04, 12:49 AM

i just looked up the rosy boa and childrens python and they seem great... as long as frozen is ok...lol... im gonna do more reasearch and come back to keep checking and asking... thanks for such a great site...

Katt · 11-14-04, 12:52 AM

<laugh> Everyone in this thread keeps saying frozen and I hope no one gets that idea that people feed their snakes frozen rodents. Although I did read in a book how a person actually did raise their snakes on frozen mice and not frozen/thawed.

herpslave · 11-14-04, 01:02 AM

Why are you against a long snake? Corns do not get larger than your arm if that's what your thinking. They usually don't even get close to that. I don't own corns, but I have heard they get up to 5 feet, 6 being the most. Which is not really a big deal with a smaller snake. They won't eat you, don't worry lol. All they really need is f/t rodents that you can order from rodentpro.com for a great price. Did I mention they only need a 20 gallon long tank??

Compared to sand boas and the other snakes that is probably a great size.
Besides, if you ever do feed live all you have to do is wait until that special bite, turn away, and close your eyes.

herpslave · 11-14-04, 01:05 AM

Garters, and water snakes are good pets too. As long as you can handle muskings, and getting a snake that has been specially raised on mice, a small amount of fish every week or two, and earthworms.

bistrobob85 · 11-14-04, 01:30 AM

I also applause your research on animals BEFORE you purchase them. I wish all herp buyers would be like you, the hobby would have a much better reputation... By the way, it' s not very difficult getting a snake to eat dead food, you just have to be patient a little and it will eventually work for most herps... Good luck to you and keep up with the good will

. I love new herpers with good will and the ones that really care about the animals they buy

!

phil.

phil.

bistrobob85 · 11-14-04, 01:42 AM

wow, posted my name twice, i guess i must be a genius...