Looking for 3rd snake!

BP_okay · 10-10-09, 09:06 PM

Okay ya'll. Big news - I can finally get a third snake(own 1 corn,1 sand boa). Whoopee! I am getting a divorce, so I am trading one snake for another(actually that's almost a slam on snakes

). Okay so now to the important stuff

I really want a Hogg Island Boa b/c of 4 characteristics:
1)size - girthy enough but not over 4-5 ft(male)
2)docile
3)fairly simple husbandry
4)Will constrict when handling, like around my arm,etc.

Since I only have room for one more snake, I want this to be the right choice. I recently read an article on Angolan Pythons, and they seemed to fit in that category as well, but the only site I could find with some available was selling them for $2000. Is that right?

Does anyone have any other suggestions that would fit my criteria that I might be overlooking.

Thanks in Advance,
Traci

Martin Hunter · 10-11-09, 12:35 AM

If you're not against something just slightly larger, how about a male Colombian Boa? I've got one at at 5 years old and 6 feet long (he's full grown) he's as sweet as they come. They're dead easy to feed and take care of and generally have a great temperament which is common among most boas from what I've read.

Here's a picture of my boa, Dave with my best friend

Chu'Wuti · 10-11-09, 09:28 AM

Ahh, I see. Traci, this answered my questions. Another snake you might consider, if you're wanting to stay smaller in length, is the ball python. Though I know some people consider its husbandry less simple (it needs higher humidity than your corn or sand boa), it really isn't that difficult once you get the right set-up. BP fits all your other criteria, and there are some absolutely wonderful morphs. A couple of people in our herp society have been selling some morphs for great prices lately.

Good luck!

BP_okay · 10-11-09, 12:38 PM

Martin, I know you aren't the Martin, as the photo indicates: I really love your boa...he is beautiful and looks like a sweetie. I really would add him to my collection in a minute, but I moved in my parents, b/c of the divorce(had nowhere to go), and my parents are being sweet to let me have the 3rd guy - my dad is really freaked out by snakes, so he said nothing larger than 4-5 feet. He just won't budge on that, and I can't betray his trust.

He really is an excellent suggestion though. I think I will get one when I get my own place, as well as a suriname boa - one of my dream snakes.

BP_okay · 10-11-09, 12:42 PM

Hey Sandy,

The ball is really a great option, but the only prob with the humidity is that I leave them for about 5-6 days every 4 months or so for family vacation, so I don't know how I could keep the humidity up while away from the house. As you stated, the humidity is not the problem with my other boys, so they are easy to leave for that time period. If you have suggestions for keeping the humidity up while away, please let me know.

I just love Womas, b/c it an dry climate python, but unfortunately they are too large, and I am unaware of a dwarf version

Btw, I wanted you to see a few pics of my corn, he is just growing beautifully...since you were helpful in getting him to calm down, I thought you would like to see....he's cool as a cucumber now.

Thanks,
Traci

Will0W783 · 10-11-09, 01:21 PM

Womas are great- they really don't get that large, and they aren't terribly heavy bodied. I have a little woma hatchling and he's just incredible. As for humidity you could buy an automatic mister, like HabbaMist and set it to mist once or twice a day for 15-20 seconds. They run around $40-50 and would be fine for keeping a BP's humidity up while you're gone. BTW, what size of snake do you consider "too large"? For example, I wouldn't consider womas a large snake, but I would consider Columbian boas large, as they hit 10 feet. A woma can live comfortably in a 50-gallon breeder tank or a large sweaterbox in a rack and they never need to be misted, but they do cost considerably more than BPs or boas. Also, most of the time, you'd be getting a younger snake of whichever breed you're looking into, so you won't need a huge enclosure for a year or two.

BP_okay · 10-11-09, 02:25 PM

Willow,

Personally, a Woma isn't too large for me, just my Dad. I am living in with parents now, so he said nothing over 4-5ft. That's large for him, but not too large for me(when I get my own place someday) is over 10 feet. I would love to see your little woma - they are soooo adorable - especially the little babies. Arent' they are around $500 -$700 nowadays?

After reading that article in Reptiles about the Angolan, I fell in love! But, how mean to excite us herpers, and not give us prices. My jaw hit the floor, but after researching further, as of 2008, I heard there were only about 700 or so in the U.S. Not so sure about the correctness of that stat.

Thanks for tip on the automatic mister! Now a ball is definitely a consideration. After dealing with getting used to my sand boa only eating once a month and going off mice for 2 months every once in a while, I think they proclivities for fasting would probably be okay for me.

Traci

citysnakes · 10-11-09, 04:24 PM

if one cannot even leave for a few days because of the humidity level within their ball python's enclosure then one has lots to learn about humidity...hehe.

a few days, even a week without misting shouldnt be a problem even with snakes that require high humidity. if you go with a ball, its not difficult at all to provide the heat and humidity that they need even if you do have to leave for a while here and there.

how bout looking into dumerils boas? their colour and pattern are gorgeous, very easy husbandry requirements and their temperament and feeding responses are great.

Chu'Wuti · 10-11-09, 05:27 PM

Julian, you beat me to it! I was going to tell Traci the same thing about humidity--I don't have to mist daily. I left my BP under my son's care for over 3 weeks--son didn't do anything except give him fresh water & a rat every week, and he was fine.

Will0W783 · 10-12-09, 07:38 AM

Another one to consider is a blood (or short-tailed) python. They stay around 5 feet or so, the same as BPs, but get fatter and have gorgeous, marbled colors. They are also pretty affordable- in the $75-150 range. I've seen a few angolans at shows, and I've never seen them for under a grand, but they might be cheaper in different parts of the US. I live in PA. They are neat snakes, but IMO they look too much like a BP to be paying that much money for them.

BP_okay · 10-12-09, 08:21 PM

Kimberly, am I correct in assuming 7 ft is usually the max for a woma?

I agree w/ the problem of the Angolans being so expensive, but the dry conditions they require just really attracted me. But now that I don't have to worry about humidity, per Sandy, citysnakes, and you, I think all of those guys are a good option. I actually researched blood pythons last night, as well as the Dumerils Boa - both are beautiful, but of the two - which has the sweeter disposition. Also, one thing that scared me about the dumerils boa is the size. Some sites said they could easily reach 6-7 ft. I would love a snake that size, but Dad, not so much

Citysnakes, btw, I do have to alot to learn about humidity! Only having a sand boa and a corn, I have never really had a need to know. Now that I am, and you guys are so helpful, a whole new world of snake options are available.

I am glad I have to save up for the new guy/setup, b/c I'll need the time to decide now!

Will0W783 · 10-13-09, 11:07 AM

Dumeril's can get pretty large. I've seen one that had to be at least 8 feet and it was thick...probably a 30lb+ snake. But 6 feet is much more typical for them. A blood will be around 5-6 feet and also very thick, and very beautiful. But bloods do tend to be more aggressive. Like anything they calm with regular handling, but aren't a snake to let your guard down around from what I've seen of them. Womas are around 6-8 feet, but I think typically the males are around 6-6.5 and females are around 7-7.5. Mine are babies, but man are they neat, cute, little guys. I absolutely love them and their dry conditions make caring for them a breeze. Plus they are great little eaters. Another thing you might consider if you like colubrids more is a kingsnake or milksnake. Milks stay around 4-5 feet and can be quite beautiful. I have a normal pueblan female and a male amelanistic. The male is coral, orange and yellow- just awesome colors. They also do well in drier climates. Kings are much the same way, but are duller in color. Bullsnakes are also an option. They get 6 feet but are thin and from what I've read quite intelligent.

citysnakes · 10-13-09, 01:05 PM

similarily to how it is said that balls can grow to be six feet in length, i dont doubt that dumerils can grow to seven feet but 4-5 feet is more of an accurate average size for adults.

my four year old male and female dumerils are around 5 and 4 feet in length each and both weigh around 6 and 7 pounds. maybe a 6 foot blood python can wiegh in at 30 pounds but i doubt even an 8 foot dumerils can weigh that much.

comparing dumerils to bloods besides the fact that dumerils are generally more tame than bloods their humidity requirements are also much less demanding than bloods. stick a dumeril in a 4x2x2, warm and dry enclosure and you're good to go.

it may seems like it but im not trying to push dumerils boas on ya or anything...

hope this helps!

Will0W783 · 10-13-09, 01:24 PM

Hehe...why shouldn't you, Julian? Dumeril's are gorgeous snakes. I absolutely adore my fiance's Dumeril's. It's about 3.5 feet long and 2 years old. Magellan (that's its name) has the coolest face pattern- he looks so sinister but is a real sweetie, unless he thinks you're food..lol.

BP_okay · 10-13-09, 11:52 PM

Okay guys, now it seems that I am torn between the dumerils, the hogg island, and the woma. Actually a question that might be answerable and help out is rate of growth for these guys. I will most likely be on my own in about 3 years. This means I can get a larger snake, but it can't grow to max length in 3 years. Any thoughts for these 3 kinds of snakes regarding rates of growth.

Julian, yep, you aren't at all biased towards dumerils

I looked at your site and pinky and the brain are gorgeous. That's all the convincing you had to do

Kimberly, I have always been attracted to pueblans, but I since I have a colubrid, who I love and adore, I just want a snake with a little more oomph and a more outgoing nature. After looking up more info on the bloods, I see the Sumatrans are more agreeable than the Malaysians.

Kimberly, how many snakes do you own hon? How do you manage to keep track of everything with their care and pursue a Ph.D. You are an amazing woman. Do you breed womas or know a good breeder?

I feel like my head is spinning from all the excitement and choices. I can't wait to have as many snakes as I want some day. After I said, 2 and no more, I wanted a 3rd. I don't even have my 3rd yet, and am planning on about 10 more I would like to have. Oh my stars, I think i have an addiction! Oh yeah, and now that I am single, the trait I look for first is being a herp addict, and then all that other stuff, like honesty,kindness,blah,blah,etc ;-)