Good Handling Snake?

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andyjs

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2008
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While I've been out of college and looking for work, I've been doing a couple educational programs here and there on biology related things for different groups. I'm planning to build my reptile collection back up to provide some living "props" for future presentations.

I'm considering getting my first snake to add to the collection. Don't worry, it will primarily just be a pet that occasionally will get brought out in front of a small group of kids or something. I'm considering possibly just a ball python, but I'd kinda like something just a little bigger, maybe RTB or carpet python size. I recall hearing that carpets can be jumpy/nippy, but I don't have much experience with them.

Basically, what would be the best snake in the 4-6' range (or slightly larger) to be easily handled by me and also possibly tolerate occasional supervised handling/petting from others?
 
Emerald Tree Boa *input sarcasm*
 
Seriously though I have a carpet python and she is not nippy nor jumpy and she will get to a pretty decent size. I would recommend getting a baby or a sub adult and have it grow with you.
 
That's definitely the plan. Whatever I end up getting, I want to get it small as it will be A) mostly likely cheaper, and B) it will grow up used to me.
 
i use all my snakes in educational shows at one point or another.... both my cali kings are the "safe snakes" for the kids to handle. The carpet is still getting used to it. he thinks he is a chondro and can get perch aggressive but once he's off the perch he is usually pretty good...that being said i will judge his mood before letting anyone touch him and with him it is only light pets while i keep his head safely away from any fingers. course this is an IJ as well...a jungle or coastal might be better.
A red tail would almost certainly be a great show addition. they are very rarely aggressive at all but unless you get some sort of insurance you cover you in case something happens i would strongly advise against letting anyone hold it. i would use the same method as what i do now with my carpet, let people touch it while its head is secured away from them.
 
Thanks for the input. I would be much more likely to do what you talked about as far as holding the snake myself and allowing others to pet it, but it will obviously depend on the snake as well as the person in question (in most cases though, out of fairness I would likely not let anyone actually hold it). Some sort of basic insurance is also in my plan if this all works out and I start doing this regularly.

This whole discussion reminds me of when I used to volunteer for a zoo and would regularly take around animals for guests to see/pet. They had a ball python that was always very well behaved, but I still kept his head pointed away from guests and only let them gently feel has back. At one point, some idiot (adult in his 40s who definitely should have known better) came up behind me and actually reached around and poked the snake in the face. The snake flinched HARD and actually made me jump a little, but even then he didn't get aggressive at all. Would have served that guy right to get bit, but overall I'm glad it didn't happen
 
etb,hahahahahaha.

id say the best bet is a female bp they grow in between 4'-6' and 97% are well mannered. realistically buld your herp collection again and see which snakes work for what your trying to do as all critters go they are individuals.
 
I love my hognose. They never bite, are very cute, and their defense mechanism is to play dead. :ROFL:
 
Greg31 said:
I love my hognose. They never bite, are very cute, and their defense mechanism is to play dead. :ROFL:
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Not the best choice since they're small and are mildly venomous. I wouldn't risk a allowing others, especially children, to handle one of those even though their venom is very weak.
 
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