New snake ideas?

riddick07 · 12-03-15, 03:36 PM

I have 3 spots open in my rack and no idea what I want to put in them! My rack has 41qt containers and generally keep the temps at 85 at the highest and 74 on the colder side. I know I'm getting a mandarin rat at some point but I've read they do better cold temps and I was going to keep it at room temperature most likely so not in the rack. I also have a 36x24 display cage that will be open in the next month or so when the new cage comes in for my one beauty snake.

I've thought about a hypo tangerine milk, thayeri King, albino african house snake, and a couple other that I can't really recall. But I'm not sold on any of those really though I feel partial to the hypo tangerines the more I look at them. I'm not looking to add anything right this second but can't seem to come up with anything that's a definite I want that one. Soooo any suggestions or ideas?

The guys I already have... I'm not really interested in getting another one of any of these except maybe a beauty but they don't work in the rack...
3 corns
2 Chinese beauties
1 Cal King
1 black milk
1 silver Trans pecos
1 albino grey rat
1 white sided rat

**EL Ziggy** · 12-03-15, 03:59 PM

If you like colubrids you should look into Pits (Bull, Pine & Gopher snakes). Mine started in tubs but I've moved them into PVC enclosures. They're hearty, modestly sized, have some cool morphs, and the husbandry is a breeze. I'd also highly recommend a carpet python but I wouldn't keep them in a rack as I think they make great display snakes.

Jim Smith · 12-03-15, 04:18 PM

What about a beautiful Bamboo Rat Snake or a 100 Flower Rat snake. Both beautiful, a bit different and you can usually find nice specimens if you look around a bit.

**Minkness** · 12-03-15, 04:25 PM

Western hognose. =)

Though I second the carpet python as a display animal.

riddick07 · 12-03-15, 04:34 PM

I don't really mind keeping snakes in there until they are moved to bigger cages when they get too big. I was thinking more permanent residents but I'll probably be keeping my one beauty in the rack until she's ready for an adult cage. She's still too tiny and will slip through the crack right now which is the only reason she's not in it now.

I actually almost bought a hypo Stillwater bull but than the beauty popped up and I bought her instead. I wouldn't mind a pit at some point. I also liked the yellow tail cribo and the woma python.....but I'm trying to give some thought to moving around in the future and how many huge cages I can fit in smaller places

A pit can go in a 4 by 2 though right? I might go with one if it can fit in my stack of display cages. I have boaphiles but I think I'm going to switch to ap cages since I've liked the quality of their stuff more than boaphiles so far...so the new stack will be 4x2 ap cages in the future.

Ah the 100 flower rat is an Asian rat....I'm starting to feel like I'll have one of most of those at some point...most of them are on my future snake list these days. A quick search seems to show they are another room temperature snake?

I've almost gotten a bamboo a couple of times but just haven't found one that I have to own so far. Though they do seem like they will work in the rack!

riddick07 · 12-03-15, 04:40 PM

I've thought about a carpet a couple times in the last 10 years actually but they don't appeal to me as much as some of the others available. Both of my beauties are going in 4x2x3 display cages so I'm not against another big display cage just have to pick and choose to keep room in mind especially since I have my new sunglow boa that will get big at some point! I know I want a rhino rat snake for a display animal in the future so maybe one more for on top of that display cage....or you know who needs a couch...maybe I'll just get a couple recliners and stick cages in between

**Minkness** · 12-03-15, 04:48 PM

.or you know who needs a couch...maybe I'll just get a couple recliners and stick cages in between

[/QUOTE]

I like the way you think!

Humble308 · 12-03-15, 04:53 PM

Riddick do you have any pics of your albino grey rat? I just bought a breeding pair het for albino and I'd be excited to see what they look like

Secondly I would whole heartedly agree with EZ on a Pit family snake. My bull snake Lilith escaped a few weeks ago, but she was easily my favorite snake that I've handled. Sassy and not afraid to bite, but after a couple handlings she would come out of her hide when I entered the room as if wanting to be picked up.

You have an already awesome collection and a Pit would set it right off and fit into your husbandry! Hognoses are pretty cool too, but I'd say they're more cute than anything. My hoggie doesn't come out much but she's a great handler and is curious about the world when I pull her out of her little shelter.

Lastly EZ, you've mentioned those PVC enclousures before, do you have any pics of your set up...I'm having a tough time getting a visual?

prairiepanda · 12-03-15, 04:59 PM

Most pits would do great in a 4x2. But if you want something that can live in the 41qt tubs as a permanent home, the gophers tend to be smaller. I particularly like cape baja gophers(Pituophis vertebralis); they stay small enough to be happy in a 41qt. Larger pits would definitely appreciate a larger enclosure as adults, though, as they do tend to be quite active.

Also, since you like rats I would also suggest a russian rat snake. Very cool colour transition. The 100 flower rat is also very nice. Or maybe a Baird's rat? I like your idea of getting the hypo tangerine milk snake, too. Even though hondurans get bigger than most milk snakes, they're not very active so they do alright in bins. Plus the bright red and orange is just fantastic!

**EL Ziggy** · 12-03-15, 05:07 PM

You can definitely keep bulls in a 4x2. I keep mine in the AP T8's.

Jim Smith · 12-03-15, 05:38 PM

El-Ziggy, That is a lot of snake! Beautiful animal. You've got a very nice, diverse collection.

riddick07 · 12-03-15, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humble308

Riddick do you have any pics of your albino grey rat? I just bought a breeding pair het for albino and I'd be excited to see what they look like

She is still tiny. I don't think she was very old when she came in! Took a couple shots just now not the best but should work well enough. She is from the same person as my king and was actually a why not throw her in buy when I bought my king. I like her more than my king haha

Jeez a lot of pit fans going on! I definitely wouldn't mind one and I've seen some pretty cool looking ones on kingsnake and fauna. I'll probably buy one when there is more of a selection again.

I never used to be a colubrid fan....I actually didn't realize there was so many options until I looked in that section on kingsnake when I was getting the cornsnakes that started the snake obsession again. Before I was very much a python and boa fan. After looking at all the boas again I'm not sure I will get another one. There are still a couple pythons I wouldn't mind in the future though! I'm definitely turning into a rat snake fan these days.

Okay so for the rack...the hypo tangerine most likely and maybe use the other two for growing snakes that will go in displays eventually...bet I have more than two snakes getting up to size

El-Ziggy I almost ordered one of those the other night since they are on sale right now but decided to wait a bit longer. Are they solid cages? The boaphiles are kind of flimsy which is why I want to switch and my ap rack is quite solid. Of course I already have an ap arboreal cage coming in so I can compare myself soon!

Bandit · 12-03-15, 07:56 PM

Riddick, I'm gonna vote for the tangerine Hondo milk...beautiful snakes, and from my experiences with them they seem to be more laid back than some other milks. I don't have that much experience with African house snakes, but the ones that I have worked with (all juveniles) were really cool. Plus I don't see them that often.

Also gonna say pits would make a nice addition. And since you're already looking into kings - speckled kings are gorgeous IMO and they are generally pretty laid back.

Are you just mainly interested in colubrids? Or are you looking into other things as well?

riddick07 · 12-03-15, 08:06 PM

I think my main interest is colubrids anymore but I do have plans for a woma and if I ever have the money laying around I like the black headed pythons a lot. Honestly, if you added up all the snakes I've bought it would probably add up to a black headed pythons cost the number just seems so large when it's all at once. And I've always been a Burmese fan though I won't get one of those until I buy a place or am more solid on where I'm living long term. I had a burm that died suddenly 5 or 6 years ago now but he was awesome for the years I had him. Right now other than colubrids I have a ball python and two boas.

Bandit · 12-03-15, 08:41 PM

Ah I see. Well if I think of anything else I'll let you know!