Hard decision....time for a change

trailblazer295 · 06-26-17, 03:02 PM

A few people know but I've been thinking about it for awhile now. I kept going back and forth unsure what to do. Changed my mind a dozen times after "making a decision" changed it a few days later. Now I've finally picked one and sticking with it. It's time for a change with my reptiles.

Decided to sell my kingsnake. I've found a buyer I'm confident in, a guy who bought one of Kaa's clutch mates. He is also big into boas. Been chatting with him for awhile and came up I was selling my king so he started inquiring about her, how much etc. Worked out the details pretty quick. I wasn't looking for big money was more concerned about the quality of care. I feel he can take care of her properly. I'll hold her for a month or so while he gets a few things sorted out. Not an issue for me as I haven't had a response from anyone else I deem to be half competent and I have a freezer full of feeders.

The decision to sell her was hard, took her in as a smelly, underfed and under stimulated snake. Bulked her up and gave her a bigger home with stuff to climb and hides to curl up in. But I never really boned with her. I don't know if it's because I got her as an adult and rest were babies. She was a mouth to feed and a snake to look at but that's about it. I felt bad due to taking her in from people who didn't know what they were doing. I wanted her to be well cared for in whatever time she has left. I was told she was 10 and I've had her a few years so she might only have a few left. I've set a personal limit on 5 snakes as that's a number I'm comfortable caring for as well as space for the cage sizing that I want to do. So decided there are other snakes that could better fill that slot.

So begins the next step. Now this one will be a long one as I will be waiting for Kaa to grow out of his current 2x2x1 pvc which I would use as the starter cage for a new addition. The RHP gives me perfect 90-80 and whatever humidity I need to have. I prefer starting with young snakes as I can grow with them and learn how they behave.

Now this might be the biggest shocker yet, but I don't know what I want to get. I know a few snakes that I like but none that have screamed "OMG that's the one, I have to have that one". I want something a bit different and not common and something to compliment my current collection.

A few stipulations
- rodent/bird/rabbit eater (no fish or lizards)
- can be COMFORTABLY housed in a 6x2 footprint as an adult. This is the biggest I have space for. Height is negotiable. I want it to be a good sized cage for it and not a bare minimum situation because I don't have the space to go wider.
- can be handled by 1 person. I live alone with no helpers available so no giants.
- not WC

Those are the necessities, I might think of something else later. Something more visible even if perched would be ideal vs hidden all the time. Doesn't have to be a handling frequent snake though but being able to sit on the couch and watch would be great.

The group it will be joining

Kaa

Ono

Banzai now 823g

Mushu

RAD House · 06-26-17, 03:39 PM

Well I certainly hope you never boned with her. On a serious note I have been in the exact same position, and everyone is probably better off in the end.

**EL Ziggy** · 06-26-17, 03:45 PM

I feel your pain Blaze. I decided to rehome both of my kings last year to make room for a couple of new critters. I loved them but I realized I prefer keeping larger snakes and with limited space something had to give. When I get a pet I commit to caring for it for life so I felt bad at first. Once I knew I had found a great home for them my conscience was clear. You've already got an impressive and diverse collection. A few critters I can think of that would compliment what you have would be a Pit of some sort (Bull, Pine, or Gopher snake), a Sunglow Boa, an Eastern Indigo, Vietnamese Blue Beauty Snake or a Texas Leucistic Rat Snake would all be great. An Olive Python would really be a wonderful addition. I know you've balked at them before but they really don't get too big (8-10 ft) and they can be handled by just one person. They're more like baby giants.

Scubadiver59 · 06-26-17, 04:31 PM

I was going to go there but I held off figuring someone else was going to say something about the spelling error...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Well I certainly hope you never boned with her. On a serious note I have been in the exact same position, and everyone is probably better off in the end.

SerpentineDream · 06-26-17, 05:18 PM

Russian rat snake! They are active, diurnal, curious and personable. Mine are the friendliest snakes I've ever met (except for 1 who didn't get the memo and thinks she's a coachwhip). They are semi-arboreal so they appreciate a taller cage and lots of branches. They'll watch you as much as you watch them and use all of the space you give them. They take cool temps--80F hot spot, low 70s cool end. They also enjoy a big water dish as they love to swim. I think they're pretty, too... iridescent black with yellow bands and yellow chins. They don't get huge. Maybe around 6 feet or so and fairly hefty. However they are always on the move and sticking their noses in your business.

REM955 · 06-26-17, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

Russian rat snake!

Personality is quite intriguing. I am looking at a few care guides online.
I see brumation being mentioned. How critical to their health is it? I assume it is more than for just breeding purposes.

SerpentineDream · 06-26-17, 05:51 PM

I have not brumated mine. They didn't stop eating during winter so I guess they didn't care.

pet_snake_78 · 06-26-17, 07:29 PM

King ratsnakes are pretty. Also interesting are neotropical bird snakes. Both easy to care for.

dave himself · 06-27-17, 01:19 AM

It's always a hard decision to move on an animal you've had for a long time, but sometimes it's for the best. And what about a girlfriend for that gorgeous boy Kaa, plus it'll give you a nice wee breeding project in years to come

trailblazer295 · 06-27-17, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave himself

It's always a hard decision to move on an animal you've had for a long time, but sometimes it's for the best. And what about a girlfriend for that gorgeous boy Kaa, plus it'll give you a nice wee breeding project in years to come

Haha no breeding projects mate

not sure I'm ready for a 9ft SD at the moment. Kaa is still a worm clearly.

dave himself · 06-27-17, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Haha no breeding projects mate

not sure I'm ready for a 9ft SD at the moment. Kaa is still a worm clearly.

No mate I ment get another baby

trailblazer295 · 06-27-17, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave himself

No mate I ment get another baby

I know but that girl will grow up.

dannybgoode · 06-27-17, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

An Olive Python would really be a wonderful addition. I know you've balked at them before but they really don't get too big (8-10 ft) and they can be handled by just one person. They're more like baby giants.

I largely agree but some do get bigger. Most of the mature ones I know of in the UK (which admittedly is only a handful) are all around the 12' mark and they are recorded reliably to 14' +.

Wouldn't stop me recommending them though - they tick a lot of the boxes TB mentions. I've also taken a fancy to a patternless African rock as well which is very nearly full grown and a shade under 10'. Taking on an adult larger snake has many benefits and something that should be considered.

If chuck the Cuban boa (C angulifer) in the mix as well as L mackloti.

trailblazer295 · 06-27-17, 01:55 PM

Keep the ideas coming.

So far my maybe list of snakes I know I can get up here

- BCC (know someone who is importing a 2.2 Peruvian and 1.1 Guyan either baby or juvies so be a few years before they are breeding ready
- Australian Water Python (know a local breeder)

I have only seen one Olive and as mentioned in the other thread it was likely the "fake" one which doesn't look appealing as an adult and much bigger. Not sure what the market is like up here for pits and beauty snakes.

UPDATE a quick google search located an Australian Olive Python breeder out west....

Looks like I'll be safe from temptation of a male, every care related link I find say minimum cage is 8x3x3 and I don't have that kind of space.

Roman · 06-27-17, 02:36 PM

This is a nice size for medium sized Colubrids. If you can provide a height of 5 ft this would be a nice setup for a pair of Red Tailed Green Rat Snakes (Gonyosoma oxycephalum). Add some life plants, branches and some bright lighting, preferable with some UVB and you will have a real eye catcher. I don't know about the availability in the US or Canada, but here in Europe and in Germany you can find some CB snakes each year. Don't buy WC, they are death candidates 9 out of 10. Alternatives would be the other members of the same genus, the Rhino Rat Snake (Gonyosoma boulengeri), the Green Bush Rat Snake (Gonyosoma prasinum) and Gonyosoma frenatum.

My Gonyosoma oxycephalum

My Gonyosoma boulengeri

Another alternative could be Baron's racer (Philodryas baroni), just be sure to check if you are allowed to keep them, they are rear fanged.

Philodryas baroni

I don't have any personal experience with Russian rat snakes, but they are active and attractive snakes as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

I have not brumated mine. They didn't stop eating during winter so I guess they didn't care.

They do need to brumate, they come from northern Korea, China and Russia, so they are used to long and hard winters, if you just keep them on warm temperatures the whole year this might shorten their live span.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pet_snake_78

King ratsnakes are pretty. Also interesting are neotropical bird snakes. Both easy to care for.

What do you mean with neotropical bird snakes? Spilotes (Pseustes) sulphureus or Phrynonax (Pseustes) poecilonotus? If so, they will grow too large for this enclosure, they will reach 9 or 10 ft in length, and the width/depth of the enclosure is to small for them to feel safe, they need at least 3 ft in depth.

The same is true for the Tiger Rat Snake (Spilotes pullatus). I have no experience with the king rat snake (Elaphe carinata), but as they might grow to 8 ft I think this enclosure would also be on the small side for them. A Taiwanese Beauty Snake (Orthriophis taeniurus friesei) might fit into it, but a Vietnamese Blue Beauty (Orthriophis taeniurus callicyanous) might grow to more then 10 ft, so the enclosure would be too small.

Roman