What are the most attractive and/or unusual species of colubrid available for keeping

[imnotarobot]

Originally Posted by Roman

So to narrow it down a little – what are your preferences?

I know you are trying to help but really the answer is: I'll know it when I see it. I think there is a tendency for me to like anything that is very brightly colored. Also stuff with ornate or changing patterning such as (obviously) a blue beauty or a radiated ratsnake. That being said however I just looking for some bell to go off as it did with with my beauty snake. Once I became aware of those, I knew I had to have one. As mentioned above, currently I'm kind of in love with womas which when it come down to it, are fairly plain.

Care is not too important but within limits. A slightly different temperature or humidity than normal is one thing, a snake that would need a 20 sq. ft. enclosure maintained at exactly 73.6% humidity at all times and only eats Indian purple frogs named James is quite another. Same with size, again obviously the beauty snake could potentially become quite large and I'm prepared for it but I'm not really expecting more than 8 ft. max. In general I think 5-6 ft. is a good rough guide, I'm not gonna get anything huge like a retic or an anaconda, but if I fall inlove with something I'm fairly open. I really love tiger rat snakes, but I think I've read they can get up to like 14-15 ft. sometimes. That is too big but like I said in general I'm just looking for something that makes those alarms go off and at that point I'll figure out if I can accommodate it.

Thanks for the extensive list.

[jjhill001]

What do you have against snakes that eat Indian purple frogs named James. I'll have you know I'm a well respected breeder of that specific snake!

[SnoopySnake]

Originally Posted by imnotarobot

a snake that would need a 20 sq. ft. enclosure maintained at exactly 73.6% humidity at all times and only eats Indian purple frogs named James is quite another.

I lol'd.

Blue racers, speckled racers, cave dwelling rat snakes, radiated rat snakes, barons racer

[RAD House]

An amazing looking snake that I know people have kept are buttermilk racers. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate these people or a snake. Those speckled racers are neat as well. One day when I have a bit more experience I would like to keep a racer.

[SnoopySnake]

Totally forgot about buttermilk racers, those are awesome too

[toddnbecka]

Originally Posted by jjhill001

What do you have against snakes that eat Indian purple frogs named James. I'll have you know I'm a well respected breeder of that specific snake!

The issue is finding a well respected breeder of Indian purple frogs named James to feed the way cool snake... and being able to afford them.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by imnotarobot

I really love tiger rat snakes, but I think I've read they can get up to like 14-15 ft. sometimes.

Tiger ratsnakes probably can get up to 10 ft, maybe as large as 11 ft but will stay at 8 - 9 ft most likely. The 14 - 15 ft is from older data and is repeatet in "caresheets" all over again without really validating the data. In current literature they are "downsized" to 8 - 10 ft...

My males are both about 250 cm in lenght (right between 8 and 9 ft), the female is about 240 cm (ca. 8 ft).

Good luck for your search

Roman

[Albert Clark]

Very tough call! Indigo has to top the list! Then comes Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). Last would be Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis (California red sided). Unfortunately, T.S.tetratenia is federally protected but there are some captive bred specimens mainly in Europe and parts of Canada.

[imnotarobot]

Originally Posted by Roman

Tiger ratsnakes probably can get up to 10 ft, maybe as large as 11 ft but will stay at 8 - 9 ft most likely. The 14 - 15 ft is from older data and is repeatet in "caresheets" all over again without really validating the data. In current literature they are "downsized" to 8 - 10 ft...

My males are both about 250 cm in lenght (right between 8 and 9 ft), the female is about 240 cm (ca. 8 ft).

Good luck for your search

Roman

Yes. I actually think they are quite beautiful. I also read they defecate more than the average species and therefore smell more than your average snake. What's been your experience with this?

I read the 15ft. Thing like a year ago when I saw one (adult, wild caught) at a reptile show. I thought it was quite beautiful and looked up care and saw that. When I looked again more recently I saw 8-9 ft. What size enclosure do you have yours in? How would you rate the difficulty of care, because having seen them in person, they are beautiful, though I would definitely want captive bred.

[Roman]

Spilotes defecate not more as you might expect from such a large snake. More surprising is the speed of the digestion. I usually feed my snakes one rat every other week on Sundays. I can expect the first droppings at the following Tuesday and the last usually at Thursday, so a medium to large rat is completely digested within 4 days.

My enclosure is 250 x 90 x 190 cm (ca. >8 x 3 x 6 ft). I would rate the difficulty of care as an advanced snake. If you can provide a suitable enclosure, enough branches, good light and the necessary environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) it can be kept without much difficulties (if you get a CB animal). They eat frozen rats without any problems, so feeding is no issue.

So the initial investment for the enclosure and the equipment might cost you (much) more as the snake(s) itself, but keeping them is not any different as any other snakes from tropical rainforests.

Here is some more detailed information about my snakes and my enclosure


--> http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...-pullatus.html


--> http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...us-update.html



Roman

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Very tough call! Indigo has to top the list! Then comes Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). Last would be Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis (California red sided). Unfortunately, T.S.tetratenia is federally protected but there are some captive bred specimens mainly in Europe and parts of Canada.

I actually know 1 person here who has the Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). As far as I know hes the only one (may be more but I certainly havent been able to find them). He wants $1000/ cbb baby. as cool as they are I just cant justify that for a single garter and without an unrelated mate not one Ill be adding to my collection.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

I actually know 1 person here who has the Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia (San Francisco garter). As far as I know hes the only one (may be more but I certainly havent been able to find them). He wants $1000/ cbb baby. as cool as they are I just cant justify that for a single garter and without an unrelated mate not one Ill be adding to my collection.

Wow, that’s a stiff price. A petshop not far from me offers a cb 2011 male of Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia for 99,00 Euro and a quick search found a breeder who offers his offspring cb 2015 for 90,00 Euro.

Roman

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by Roman

Wow, that’s a stiff price. A petshop not far from me offers a cb 2011 male of Thamnophis sirtalis tetratenia for 99,00 Euro and a quick search found a breeder who offers his offspring cb 2015 for 90,00 Euro.

Roman

Thats very interesting that wold certainly be worth the cost of shipping. Can you PM me the link?

[Roman]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

Thats very interesting that wold certainly be worth the cost of shipping. Can you PM me the link?

Sent you a message...

Roman

[D Grade]

Tiger Rat, King Rat, Indigo, Ring Neck, Lyres, or any Boiga (Dendrophila, Nigraceps *spelling*) would be a pretty awesome and rare Colubrid.