I'm thinking of taking the plunge into....SNAKES!

[snakeguy101]

They aren't that bad.....
They are extremely venomous yes but far from the worst snake to worry about if your working with venomous. They are relatively docile as far as venomous snakes go. Mambas are the ones that are lightening fast and wont hesitate to bite.

yes but they are pipe bombs. totally inert and calm one second then BOOM! you are on your way to the hospital. At least with mambas, you know that they are going to go crazy and you are alert. I have seen some people get some close calls because they became complacent around gaboons. Many times the most dangerous hots in captivity are the calm ones for this very reason.

Sorry for the off topic post, just felt I needed to say it.

 

[packer43064]

I would suggest something like a sand boa, rosy boa or native colubrid (corn snake, kingsnake, milk snake, etc.) They have minimal care and are usually very tame. If you are terrible worried about an escape, you should go with the sand boa since they are burrowers and will not climb looking for an escape route. I have even heard of them being kept in a 20 gal for life without a lid and never once a problem with escaping (although I wouldn't recommend it.

My GF suggested the Sand Boa when I first told her about getting a snake. We've had them at Petsmart, I liked them. I'm thinking Sand Boa just because I would get to use sand, love sand in any type of enclosure. Also they seem like the least chance of getting out. The 2 rats and 4 hamsters not to mention my rabbit will be downstairs in the same room as well as the said snake whenever I were to get one. Also the 125 with anoles would be down there. It would be terrible if any snake got out. This tank will have cage clips and bricks on top and anything else to keep it in.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Another thing to add....
Hognose snakes can be good for beginners if you get one that is steadily eating mice. Sometimes they are difficult to get on rodents because they are specialized frog eaters. They are rear fanged and mildly venomous but getting that rear fang into you is a challenge for them. the vast majority of hoggy bites are harmless.
It's definitely something you should be aware of if you go for this species, but not something to obsess over and freak out about.
I also feel compelled to make sure that everyone here knows gaboon vipers are deadly >.> Have the largest fangs of any venomous snake and a nasty hemotoxin and cytotoxin to go with em. however if you're getting in to venomous snakes they are pretty easy, lazy snakes. All piss and vinegar but rarely bite.... but when they do it's gonna ruin your week lol

this^

luv gaboons. when i finally(if i do) get into venomous i want one

oh and sand boas would be great

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Putting UV on a snake is just a needless expense. It is not required because their bodies are able to digest the calcium and vitamin D3 from their prey. Unlike most lizards which DO require UV (most importantly UVB) They are unable to process calcium without the vitamin D3 supplied by the UVB.
That is another thing to keep in mind. UV comes in 2 forms. UVA and UVB, you need both for it to work effectively with the animals that need it but UVB is the important one and bulbs producing UVB are rather expensive. Many cheaper bulbs will say they produce UV but upon further inspection you find out it is only UVA so you have a useless light source.
Simple answer again. Snake do not require access to UV so why waste the money on it?
It wouldn't hurt to provide it but it is not necessary.

most but not all. some of the best ones dont

 

[HerpHunter77]

I would go king. Tons of cool color morphs (natural and designer), pretty easy care-wise, VERY good eaters, not really huge, pretty active.

They are excellent at escaping though; I'm guessing your friend had a Cali king. You want locking doors or lids with clamps/locks.

so true^^^ i caught a eastern king once and i put him in a bin over night and the next day he was gone!!!

 

[HerpHunter77]

Interesting. Well, if that is truly so, then I am wrong, some other forums also agree that snakes don't need UV. My bad!
But either way, its all the better for me when I get my snakes.

i have never used UV on a snake before either. i have a friend who breeds ball pythons and he doesnt use that.

 

[Sylvias]

The snakes that will go off feed for endless months are ball pythons. They are notorious for fasting for VERY long periods of time (longest I have heard of personally was 8 months)for no apparently reason at all.
King snakes and sometimes corn snakes will go off feed for the winter, usually only 2 or 3 months.
If your snake goes off feed, do not immediately panic, unless they lose a noticeable amount of weight or show other worrying signs it's not a problem.
Hognose snakes are mildly venomous but it is generally not a problem if you happen to be bit. Most people experience slight burning and itching, nothing really severe. An allergic reaction would be the worst case scenario. However, being hit with the venom is extremely rare because these snakes are rear fanged so they have to really get you for their fangs to penetrate skin. Still if it is something you are unsure about this snake is probably not for you.




to Snakeguy:
No worries! I am well aware. Never let your guard down around a venomous no matter how calm they seem to be.

 

[snakefin]

I suggest aspen or care fresh in place of sand though.

 

[packer43064]

Appreciate it, I think Sand Boa would be good for me at first. Will research them some more before I purchase one.

I suggest aspen or care fresh in place of sand though.

Why not sand? Also you mean the carefresh as in like this?

How much in the tank? Enough to bury and not be seen. I use this for the rabbit, I use the grey kind though. The white looks ugly when the rabbit decides to unleash a gallon of nasty pee on it.

I don't like aspen or those other wood chips, I'd rather use this or anything really besides wood chips. At least not Aspen or Pine or Cedar.

 

[packer43064]

For snakes in general, is it better to feed in or out of the tank they live in?

Also how do you exactly pick a snake out of the tank? I've been thinking of this, will they attack. I would hope they would understand after awhile it is me, but is there a "way" to get them out. Just reach in?