Best Snake Pets: what are your opinions? - Page 3

SnakeyJay · 12-26-12, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Aren't hognose snakes pretty low maintenance?

No more so than most other colubrids.. Plus you have the added problem of some babies being hard to get feeding on mice apparently.

MoreliAddict · 12-26-12, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Actually, I shall clarify...

My dogs and cats are my pets.

My reptiles are captive specimens.

As long as my snakies trust that I'm not trying to eat them, and killing me isn't their primary motive, I consider them my pets.

"pet: any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately"

Sophia'sSophia · 12-26-12, 09:33 AM

For my lifestyle the best choice is water snakes.
They can eat deli meats (Low budget, 1.50$ feeds two adults for a month), perfectly suited to my (Floridian) humidity, low activity level, small to medium sized (fat at 3-6 feet depending on species), small heat requirement, environmentally safe (in case of escape), ridiculously friendly (cb) and easy to tame (wc).

annnd a pic of a baby, just for fun

infernalis · 12-26-12, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

"pet: any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately"

Ok then.....

MoreliAddict · 12-26-12, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Ok then.....

So do you think that in general, wild carpet pythons are as tame or reluctant to bite as their captive counterparts? If not, then we have tamed them in some way or another...

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Ok then.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

So do you think that in general, wild carpet pythons are as tame or reluctant to bite as their captive counterparts? If not, then we have tamed them in some way or another...

Yeah but wild carpet pythons experience real world threats in their daily lives, they have a reason to bite and be defensive. If you were to take wild caught eggs and hatch them in a captive environment they'd probably be the same as the hatchlings from your captive bred. I personally think that reptiles aren't necessarily pets and they will always rely on instinct.

infernalis · 12-26-12, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

So do you think that in general, wild carpet pythons are as tame or reluctant to bite as their captive counterparts? If not, then we have tamed them in some way or another...

See, this is where I cannot wrap my head around this.

I never said reptiles lacked intelligence, Quite to opposite actually.

When you say "tame" it immediatly makes me think of a dog or a cat who will claw or bark at the front door to be let in.

Can't think of one documented case in history where any reptile begged to be let back in the house.

I would love nothing more than to place a neonate carpet python in a 20x20 foot room, heated to an average of 100 degrees, with a HOT basking spot and see how a carpet python behaves when given a captive environment that 100% mimics it's natural environment.

I think you will find that it's behaviour would be more in "tune" with the wild counterpart.

dinosaurdammit · 12-26-12, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

See, this is where I cannot wrap my head around this.

I never said reptiles lacked intelligence, Quite to opposite actually.

When you say "tame" it immediatly makes me think of a dog or a cat who will claw or bark at the front door to be let in.

Can't think of one documented case in history where any reptile begged to be let back in the house.

I would love nothing more than to place a neonate carpet python in a 20x20 foot room, heated to an average of 100 degrees, with a HOT basking spot and see how a carpet python behaves when given a captive environment that 100% mimics it's natural environment.

I think you will find that it's behaviour would be more in "tune" with the wild counterpart.

My monitor goes back to his enclosure and tripods to get my attention so I can open the door. I dunno if thats him being smart or just normal.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

My monitor goes back to his enclosure and tripods to get my attention so I can open the door. I dunno if thats him being smart or just normal.

Maybe it's just an instinctive routine? That does seem pretty smart though.

KORBIN5895 · 12-26-12, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia'sSophia

For my lifestyle the best choice is water snakes.
They can eat deli meats (Low budget, 1.50$ feeds two adults for a month), perfectly suited to my (Floridian) humidity, low activity level, small to medium sized (fat at 3-6 feet depending on species), small heat requirement, environmentally safe (in case of escape), ridiculously friendly (cb) and easy to tame (wc).

annnd a pic of a baby, just for fun

What kind of deli meat are you using?

infernalis · 12-26-12, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

My monitor goes back to his enclosure and tripods to get my attention so I can open the door. I dunno if thats him being smart or just normal.

That is smart AND instinctive, your monitor knows when it needs to return to it's optimal environment.

Think of it as a built in "alarm system" that warn when conditions need to change one way ot the other.

I would wager to say from my own personal observations that most reptiles can sense barometric conditions as well, and will behave accordingly.

Certain animals recognise rainfall as feeding opportunity, and know when a weather shift is taking place.

dinosaurdammit · 12-26-12, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

That is smart AND instinctive, your monitor knows when it needs to return to it's optimal environment.

Think of it as a built in "alarm system" that warn when conditions need to change one way ot the other.

I would wager to say from my own personal observations that most reptiles can sense barometric conditions as well, and will behave accordingly.

Certain animals recognise rainfall as feeding opportunity, and know when a weather shift is taking place.

I have concluded that he is not only smart but he can plan. He plans things out many steps in advance. Which shocks the hell out of me. I like to put a bit of turkey hearts tied to a string and "fish" for monitor activity. He watches it, and as i dart it around he will race after it and its like he already has the whole room's lay out so if it ducks one way he is already headed to cut it off. Its like raptors just came alive again.

**Aaron_S** · 12-26-12, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

What kind of deli meat are you using?

I just want to ask this question again...

Do you supplement the meat with anything? Something like calcium?

Terranaut · 12-26-12, 01:41 PM

I consider my snakes pets. Very much so. I don't consider however that they could ever think of me as master/owner. So the difference between a pet and a specimen lies wholey with the mindset of the keeper and is not defineable by a single opinion. 2 people could own the same animal and it will be a pet for one and a specimen to the other. All IMHO of course.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-26-12, 01:47 PM

I have to agree with Terranaut. I consider my reptiles my pets; it can be a pet without cuddling and kissing it. That's just me though.

~Maggot