What should I get?

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 01:01 AM

So I bought a 6 inch N. chromatus tarantula recently, and she came in a glass 20 gall (I think) tank. I GREATLY prefer plastic/acrylic tanks for my spiders, because I'm always moving them around for feeding and stuff, and I'm a weak baby, lol.
But my mom said I can go to Repticon in January and finally get another snake! So, though I MUCH prefer bigger snakes, I want to get a small snake that could live in the 20 gall for at least long enough until I can get a bigger tank for it. My dream snake is a P. brongersmai, but I can't find anybody who sells them, at least haven't seen any for sale online and none of the expos here have had any, so I've kind of given up hope for now at least, and with that cost and the fact that my mom has already spent about 1,500$ on me these past few months for my spiders and new gaming desktop I can use for work.
My main two interests right now are hognoses or sand boas, but idk which one I like more! Hognoses are so cool, but sand boas are so cute <3 (not saying hogs aren't cute too) But I could also get a baby python or boa that would outgrow the tank, it doesn't have to be permanently in the 20 gallon. Any ideas on what I could get? I've had a ball python and help my sister out with her Mexican black kingsnake, basically anything is up for consideration, except for those very venomous snakes and red tail boas (I love them to death but I just wouldn't have room for one, probably wont have room for a snake that size for several years)
Although I'm considering getting a small snake like a hog or sand boa, I definitely prefer pythons, 4-6 feet is fine by me
So:
- Can go in a 20 gall glass cage, at least for half a year
- Probably has to be under 200$ (baby or adult) for my mom to let me get it
- I don't really care about temperament, if they're nice, they're nice, and if they're grumpy, well that just makes them more interesting and will help me gain more experience!
- No red tail boas, just too big for me to care for right now, and no hot snakes, can't risk them biting my house hold members
- Also I have experience with fast tarantulas and a few other snakes

And here's a dumb question from a dumb person: Would it be safe to keep my snake in my bedroom, which also has my rats? My sister said it would make them more aggressive, so I kept my old ball python in the dining room. The rats are females, which don't have a strong odor as the males do, and I keep their cage pretty clean.
If it's unwise, I can keep the snake in the basement, that's fine

But I'm getting a new loft bed that comes with a computer desk and a few metal shelves under it (They're labeled as "book shelves", but we all know they're truly made for reptiles and spiders, right? Ahahah)

(I haven't been on this forum long enough to figure out if the members here prefer people using latin names or not. In Arachnoboards, you pretty much always have to use latin names or face the backlash, but I only know all of the tarantula scientific names, haven't learned all of the snakes, though I recognize a few of the common ones)

**Minkness** · 12-07-16, 01:32 AM

Well hello again! Lovely 1st post!

A standard 20 gallon is pretty useless with most snakes to be perfectly blunt about it. You can get just about any baby snake like a corn or king, or even an irian jaya carpet. (Mine stayed in a 15 for a year before getting a serious upgrade lol). Hognoses are great and would never need a larger footprint than that tank if you got a male. A female would need at least a 20 long after 18 months. I have 4 males. 1 is in a 20 long and one active little guy. One is in a 10 gallon and is super laid back, not very active. The other 2 are feisty but not terrinly active so they are in smallish tubs.

Honestly, tubs over tanks for most things. Tanks are great for display, but so few babies are good for display. So if you get a baby snake, might as well put it in a tub. (This is just my opinion of course).

For smaller pythons though, look into spotted or childrens python. Mine is fiesty but not unhandleable, a great eater, and now that he's out of the hidey baby phase, I see him out and about kore often. He is a bit over a year old now and still fits nicely in a 10 gallon tank with room to spare.

These are just snakes I have experience with.

I was not terribly impressed with my sand boas, thus why I no longer have them.

Garter snakes might be good, and again, a male could live in the 20 you have now for the rest if it's life.

Looking forward to see other's suggestions.

=)

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 01:44 AM

I used to have a tub for my ball python, but when we moved I guess we just didn't bring it with us, lucky they're cheap! I just always worry about heat mats and heat lamps melting them, at least the heat pads that I have would definitely melt them.
I would love a carpet but my sister would hawk over it constantly (They're her fav snake) Spotted pythons look awesome!
I love garter snakes as well, used to catch them all the time at my old house, definitely would be nice to own one properly.
Idk if the expo will have spotteds or garters though, the ones I've been to in New York really only have balls, red tails, corns, and hognoses, but Repticon is definitely bigger than both of them, so we'll see

I also prefer "thicker" snakes, that's why I love pythons so much, but a pretty garter or corn isn't out of question

**Minkness** · 12-07-16, 01:51 AM

I hear ya. Hogies get thicker as they get older. Nice hefty colubrid for their smaller size. Spotteds are getting a bit more common lately, just keep an eye out for them since they Re small and have what some consider a 'drab' appearance so easily get lost in a table full of colorful....other things lol. Also, spotteds aren't that thick like a boa or a BP. Mine apparently thinks he is semiaboreal! Lol.

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 01:57 AM

Hahah, they would definitely get lost under all of the boas they sell at the usual expos. I saw a pure orange red tail (no clue on the actual morph) going for 20,000$. I did manage to spot some rosy boas at Rexpo two months ago. Not a snake I'm interested in, though, just something different from the other snakes sold

dave himself · 12-07-16, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbyTross

Hahah, they would definitely get lost under all of the boas they sell at the usual expos. I saw a pure orange red tail (no clue on the actual morph) going for 20,000$. I did manage to spot some rosy boas at Rexpo two months ago. Not a snake I'm interested in, though, just something different from the other snakes sold

True red tails don't come in morphs, told ya you'd pick it up as you go along

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave himself

True red tails don't come in morphs, told ya you'd pick it up as you go along

Oh gosh, well, you were right ahaha, it was some kind of boa at least, I know that for sure.
Now I can't decide between spotted python and hognose :/ BTW, any info on if it's "safe" to keep a snake in the same room as my rats? Meaning, will the snake be on hunt mode constantly? Or will they be cool with it? If not I'll just keep it in the basement where our other snake is

MartinD · 12-07-16, 06:48 AM

You can try and then observe the snakes behaviour, here are 2 responses from another site....

From what I've observed, every snake in my room (6 snakes) had no change in their behavior when I went in to get them out of their tubs. The two closest to my rat were my BCI and Kenyan Sand boa, but every time I took them out they were just fine and acted very calm.

With one rat, I'd doubt you'd notice any difference. When you start increasing your numbers and they really start putting off a noticeable scent, then you'll be able to get a better idea.

When I first moved my rats in the same room as my snakes so many years ago, I thought that I'd at least notice a touch more cage aggression from the snakes, but so far, so good.

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinD

You can try and then observe the snakes behaviour, here are 2 responses from another site....
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Thank you so much! That's very helpful. I have 3 rats, but I think that wouldn't really cause too much of a disturbance

riddick07 · 12-07-16, 07:00 AM

I used to have snakes in the same room as rats and never noticed a difference in behavior.

If you like boas you can go for a dwarf like a Tarahumara boa. They stay small 4ft at the most as long as you get a pure one. My Tara's are over a year old and on hopper mice still unlike my other boas that are the same age and could take weaned rats at the very least.

Humble308 · 12-07-16, 08:24 AM

I think you'd be happy with a spotted or children's python. I've seen them at shows for $75. If you're interested in colubrids I'd highly recommend a African house snake.

They'll have cute python eyes and most stay under 4-5 feet. They're really hardy and are well known for their strong feeding response. My little worm used to hit food on the tongs much harder than my gopher snakes. I think I bought my normal for $25 at a show and you can usually find albinos under $100.

Beyond that if you like bigger snakes many folks here will vouch for carpet pythons as being a great snake to keep. Back to colubrids I've really been enjoying my gopher snakes and I keep my 2 yearlings in a 20 gal though it's about time to move them to adult cages. Best of luck, you can get several awesome bigger snakes with your budget. All the vwst

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humble308

I think you'd be happy with a spotted or children's python. I've seen them at shows for $75. If you're interested in colubrids I'd highly recommend a African house snake.

They'll have cute python eyes and most stay under 4-5 feet. They're really hardy and are well known for their strong feeding response. My little worm used to hit food on the tongs much harder than my gopher snakes. I think I bought my normal for $25 at a show and you can usually find albinos under $100.

Oh wow af. house snakes are cuties!
I've seen so many people claim that hognoses are their favorite snakes, so I feel like it would definitely be worth it to get one, but I just love the pythons so much

Albert Clark · 12-07-16, 08:45 AM

I think it's important for you to get a species you really have a passion for and want to interact with. You sound rather experienced and that's a great asset. We can all make suggestions but are you truly going to be happy with someone elses recommendation? Just my thoughts. Also this where the addiction begins and flourishes... Lol

AlbyTross · 12-07-16, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

I think it's important for you to get a species you really have a passion for and want to interact with. You sound rather experienced and that's a great asset. We can all make suggestions but are you truly going to be happy with someone elses recommendation? Just my thoughts. Also this where the addiction begins and flourishes... Lol

Very true, I went to an expo last year looking for a leopard gecko and ended up with my crested gecko who I love to death
I suppose it would be easiest if I just wait and see what's at Repticon

(Knowing me though I'll probably fall in love with all of the baby hognoses)

MartinD · 12-07-16, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbyTross

Thank you so much! That's very helpful. I have 3 rats, but I think that wouldn't really cause too much of a disturbance

You're very welcome my friend