New Here (advise please?)

mpdescha · 11-11-13, 06:09 PM

Hi all! My name's Mack and I'm a pretty experienced snake keeper who has taken a break for a while but now looking to get back in

Here's the scoop. My bf is terrified of snakes. It's taken a lot to get him to the point of being ok with having one in our house, and I don't want to screw it up. I'm looking for suggestions on what snake would be the best (i.e. calmest, most tractable) snake to have around someone who is scared of them.

In the past I've had an assortment of corns (love them, but looking for a new experience) BCI, BP, black & andean milksnakes, kings, and lastly, a spotted python. The real damage was done with my bf when he saw the spotted bite and start constricting my hand! I want to make sure the next snake I get will be as unlikely as possible to do something like this again. I understand that there is always the possibility, but I'd like to at least reduce the likelihood of it happening.

The snakes I'm most considering right now are a baird's rat, african house snake, russian rat or rosy boa. I'd say the russian rat and rosy are my top picks. Russians have proven very difficult to find, and I've read a lot about how rosies can be pretty bitey. Does anyone have any experience with this? I've heard that the mexican rosies are calmer. I for one am interested in the harquahala locality. Anyone with any experience with them and temperament? I am open to any suggestions as well.

Just to reiterate, I'm interested in getting a pet that will serve as a sort snake ambassador to my bf. Hopefully I can convince him that they aren't all mean! Thanks,

-Mack

sharthun · 11-11-13, 06:47 PM

Hey and welcome!

wrecker45 · 11-11-13, 06:55 PM

Welcome. My girl friend was terrified of snakes also. I bought a corn. She now owns her own corn. I now have 8 snakes.

drumcrush · 11-11-13, 07:22 PM

Hey, welcome! Mexican black kings are very docile snakes. Mine wouldn't hurt a fly!.....well, maybe a mouse lol but you get the point. I have a friend who had a Rosie and sold it for a different one because it was bitey. Russian rat snakes also sound like a great option!

mpdescha · 11-11-13, 07:23 PM

Hi, thanks for the welcome!

Starbuck · 11-11-13, 07:53 PM

Welcome! I have a rosy who is 15 and she is the most docile, calm snake I own. She is never nervous, never has struck or anything... plus they have tiny little heads :-)

swolek · 11-11-13, 08:44 PM

If you're looking at rosies, check out Kenyan sand boas, too

. Admittedly, one of mine is an ******* but the other two wouldn't bite me even if I tried to get them to. Gobi, my adult male, is actually the only snake my fiance will handle

.

franks · 11-11-13, 10:20 PM

If your main criteria is something that will most help your boyfriend feel comfortable, and if your two choices are a rat snake or rosy boa, the answer is Rosy Boa. I have read too that some Rosy Boas are bitey, but that is the exception, not the norm. I think that they are deemed so docile that people start posting about bites just to remind others that they are snakes and can bite. I have met one that would try to strike anything, but most are exceptionally docile. My wife hates snakes, and will no go near any of them, but she will handle my rosy boa. Good pets all around imo.

franks · 11-11-13, 10:20 PM

... And welcome to the forum!

Charis · 11-11-13, 10:46 PM

Hello and welcome! I'd suggest the Rosy boa too. My Mom isn't a big fan of snakes but she likes my really calm male Mexican Rosy, we drove two and a half hours to pick him up and on the way back he coiled up around her arm and went to sleep, ever since, he's been her favorite.

Another species I'd recommend would be a tricolor Hognose, L. pulcher. They are fairly difficult to find but our little one is super laid back and probably the most non head shy snake we have. He's never made any kind of threatening moves and is very calm with being handled.

Mikoh4792 · 11-11-13, 11:26 PM

Russians are great pets if you can provide the space. They can get up to 6 feet+ and are pretty active snakes. They require cooler temps(70-82f) so if you don't live in an area that gets too hot they'd be a great choice.

Terranaut · 11-12-13, 05:37 AM

Just tossing this out there....first you mention stuff about your wife but in the next bit mention the snakes you like personally. If you stick to keeping the wife happy and ok with your snake I would drop getting what you want for what she wants. Show her some snakes and see what she thinks. I would also recomend a ball python. Get your snake of choice in a few months. The body movement of some snakes is what freaks some people out. Balls do not move in that ribbony sorta colubrids movement. I find this is why many people are less afraid of bigger slower snakes. Anyway....trust me and get your wife a snake first.

Mikoh4792 · 11-12-13, 05:45 AM

I think most girls like boas cause they are "pretty". If you don't want to house a big animal look into the dwarves. There are many different kinds available.

maroongrad · 11-12-13, 03:21 PM

I have to agree about letting him pick the snake out! Take some time to flip through videos of snakes with him, look up pages on their behavior, have him determine a few snakes he'd be okay with. Personally, I'd say the smaller the snake, the better. If it does bite, realizing that it's not going to do much damage at all is reassuring! But he's going to be less likely to freak about it if he has some say in the snake.

mpdescha · 11-12-13, 04:39 PM

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful replies! It seems most of you are right about letting him help pick out the snake. Repticon is here next weekend and I'm thinking about taking him to see what he likes and doesn't. I was actually pretty set on a rosy before I posted this (small, calm, docile) and was quite surprised upon doing some quick research and hearing of all the biting stories. I had always thought of rosies as a go to snake if you wanted a good, handleable pet.

-Mack