I want a snake!

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skillzdatkillz

skillzdatkillz

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2006
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So I am looking into a snake. I was originally wanting a ball python because they dont get real big and they are not aggresive. But then I read that they can have feeding problems and Id like to avoid that. I really want a snake that likes to be handled but somthing in the 5-6' range. Now Im looking at columbian redtailed boas. How are they in terms of handling and agression and whatnot?
 
Boa are fine for the most part and good eaters once they start. The biggest trouble I see with them is that they generally get over 7 ft. A female will get 9 and I saw a monster 10ft girl once. After the 5 or 6 ft you really are looking at a specialized enclosure.....homemade, old display cases.....anything.
Depending on how patient you are and how available in your area you could look at a Dumerils......gorgeous Madagascar ground boa that tend to stay in the 6ft range. Mellow. Only down I am finding is switching them to prekilled or frozen thawed.

Grown ratsnakes will get as long or longer than a Ball but not quite as thick......or not as fat as fast anyway. OR some of the other colubrids are neat and bigger than you think.

IF you get a nice captive bred Ball and a female, not male, you may tend away from the not eating most of the winter thing. That or they will teach you to be more Zen and relaxed about their 6-10 month fasts.
 
aquaking said:
arn't ratsnakes generally very mean and don't like to be handled? my friends trys to eat us even if we get close! mean bugger!
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really depends if they are captive bread and handeld frequently.
 
Well I need a snake that will take prekilled or frozen food, My mom said that she doesnt want it eating live. She also doesnt want a snake that is more then 6 feet. Well I guess a columbian red tail is pretty much out of the question. So my options now are Corn and a Ball. How should an enclosure be decorated for a ball or a corn. Like for heating and stuff
 
skillzdatkillz said:
Well I need a snake that will take prekilled or frozen food, My mom said that she doesnt want it eating live. She also doesnt want a snake that is more then 6 feet. Well I guess a columbian red tail is pretty much out of the question. So my options now are Corn and a Ball. How should an enclosure be decorated for a ball or a corn. Like for heating and stuff
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Buy a heater pad that sticks on the bottom of the tank. (No heat rocks!) and you can use indoor/outdoor carpet on the bottom. No Form of Cedar wood/shake near the snake. Be sure you lid has clips on both ends to keep the animal in. Include a water ball large enough for the snakje to be able to go completely in it. Corns are easier to keep and can reach 3-4 ft. Ball's are excellent starter snakes but if I may suggest one more good starter.... Childrens python... its somewhere between the skinny corn and a ball. The collection I have ATM includes one snow corn as well as 6 other boas and pythons. I dont usually post on the reptile end of the site but feel free to ask me questions and Ill try to respond. If you can start them young on frozen then you should be ok. Expect to get bit by the babies because it will probably happen but the more you handle them the better off you are as they get larger.

Mem

My 2 favs are my 2.5 ft black blood python and my 6.5 ft Hogg Island boa (peach)
 
Corns are cool, as well as kingsnakes. Ball pythons get a bad rep being that the majority are wildcaught or captive hatched. Those are generally the ones with the feeding problems. If you do go for anything, make sure it's captive bred, from a reputable breeder if possible and is guaranteed eating. My old breeders would stop eating for the winter months, which in turn saves money, but would eat like there was no tomorrow in the spring. Within the corns, kings, rats and ball pythons, there is enough veriety that you can pick out a phase or morph that suits your fance. Do plenty of research on them and the associated pricing. Once you get one, you'll end up wanting them all, haha. It's a sickness I tell ya.
 
GTP

my fist snake and i loved it
 
Budget, Zach, LOL.
 
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