I think I want a snake....

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 3, 2007
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Michigan
I have never been around a snake my entire life until about 2 months ago.

My buddy got 2 small little ball pythons and I gradually got used to holding them, and even looked forward to going over to his house to hold them...

then i go over there one time and he brings out this monster *to me, at least* 5' python.. Not sure what kind it was... I have a picture if it'd help...

Anyway, So I built up the courage to hold that one.. and let it slither around my neck... I really feel like I would be a good snake keeper and I've done some research about them, and have been talking to people and everyone i talk to highly suggests getting one...

Heres my question though... I have a bad habit of going "all out".. you know.. Go big or go home kinda thing... I don't want to get a really rare snake or anything, I'll be fine with a baby python for my first snake... what I'm wondering about is my tank. Can I go balls to the wall with this thing, and spoil my snake rotten for my first tank... or is it something I should build towards as he grows?

what I mean by go all out, is like, a nice sized tank.... with a water fall, a little moat surrounding a rock, a big branch for him to crawl around on... some sand *i don't know if I can put sand in the cage though...* under the waterfall is where his "hide" would be, but it wouldn't be in water, that'd only be for decoration, because in the hide, he wouldn't be able to see the waterfall. maybe just hear it..

and I'd feel better about buying a snake online from a trusted source, or website... just because I have a hard time believing anything that comes out of the people's mouth at the pet's stores around here... Anybody know a good site for purchasing snakes?

I want to buy a baby and let him grow while my love for him grows, and so does my comfort... or should I be around snakes more first before buying one?

any and all help is very appreciated :)
 
In the hobby, going big is getting as many as you can possibly take care of without hoarding them.

:D

Ball is a great choice, but there ARE others out there. Either way, which species are YOU interested in? People tends to take care of species that they have an interest in more.
 
I'm still reading up about snakes... I really like the bright colored snakes... or the albinos... At least I like how they look.

I love the mellowness of the ball pythons though...My knowledge of species doesn't go far past ball python... are albino berm pythons good for a first time handler?
 
Well, having a moat in your snakes terrarium is not a good idea...

Give yourself atleast a week or two to do research and stuff, because it could be "hype". If it's hype, you will get the snake and never look at it again after you have it for a week.

But if you really are sure you are up to it, you could get a ball python, just make sure you have big enough housing and stuff. If not, there are other beginner snakes I can recommend.

Oh yea, welcome to MFKers.
 
Berm python? You means Burm aka Burmese? Um... only if you are REALLY SERIOUS about it and got a room dedicated to it. They get big fast, and although they are gentle giants, they can potentially give you a lot of problems. Big snakes are not considered as good for beginners. By the way, boa constrictors are considered as medium snakes.

I am assuming you prefer boids (boas and pythons) over colubrids. There are soooooooo many out there like Carpets, Boa constrictors, Scrubs, Dumeril's, and many more.

All of them get to be different sizes too depending on the locale and subspecies!
 
Well it's been a growing interest for about a month now, as I mentioned in my first post. The thing about building the tank is it's a one time thing.. then I just clean it.

Giving the snake attention will be no problem. I like the shock factor of certain things, and I like being a little more radical then others... I think having a snake is VERY radical... and I would love showing it off... I think I would eat off the attention the snake got, honestly. It's just how I think... lol

I think a snake is the perfect pet for me... plus, How entertaining is it to watch them feed?? :)
 
Really... really... boring to watch them feed. It is a sloooooooooooooooooooow process.

Most of us snake keepers keep our specimens in tubs, not in display cages except in main areas of the house like the living room or for display at a show and other events. It easier for us to maintain them and we can have as many as possible in a small area by stacking them or putting them on shelves or a unit called a rack.
 
TheBloodyIrish, Yes, Burmese. I'll hold off on buying one of those... Until I move to my next house... :)

Any snakes you know that get to be around 6-9' long full grown? that are in the "boids" category?
 
Well, isn't the initial striking fun to watch?

I don't want a lot of snakes... I want one. My baby... and maybe after I get into it more, and decide I want to get more into the species, then start getting different breeds... but that's down the road.
 
Jungle Carpet Python can be between 4'-8'; Dumeril's Boa get between 6'-8'; Tanimibar Island Scrub get to be about 5'-7'; Boa constrictors vary from 3' to 12' depending on the locale and subspecies. There are a lot out there, but those are the first ones that come to mind.

Tanimbar are like mini-scrubs, however they are REALLY high-strung, so forget I even mentioned that.
 
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