Best herp species to keep?

[Sterls]

I absolutely love Carpets actually! Geez there are just too many great species out there! I wouldn't mind a feisty gecko either, as I don't really handle my animals all too much. I've looked into Blood pythons, carpets, and of course Boa's aswell. All heavyweight contenders for my heart. How is/was your experience with the Carpet pythons?

There are far too many species to choose from, I agree. A blood python is pretty much the only realistic snake left on my bucket list, lol.

I have experience with boas and carpets so I can tell you about both. Overall the care is very similar to your ball python, at least that's how I've kept mine. The carpet gets a bit more humidity. And both need more vertical space than BPs.

One thing about carpets generally is their temperament. Totally manageable, just not ball pythons. Both mine were quite nippy as babies. My first carpet I got as a near hatchling and was fully able to tame him down. He was still a handful, mostly due to speed, but he tolerated extensive handling. My second carpet I got pretty small too, she was also nippy, and I managed to get her somewhat OK with handling - she's flighty but doesn't bite. I don't hold her as much as the first one, so I'm pretty confident she'd be better if I handled more often. So if you get one, make sure to take the time to handle it consistently, at least while they're young, otherwise they tend to be a little squirelly.

Carpets also have a Phormictopus-level feeding response! And they'll take down huge meals. While my girl normally wouldn't bite me, she thinks everything is food and has gone after me while opening the lid. So if you get a carpet, just know it might have a "happy" feeding response.

My boa is a big beautiful girl. I got her when she was a month old, and she's over 7 feet long now. Easy care, kind of a handful to handle - but she's as docile as my ball pythons. Same caveat as the carpets, mine at least has a big feeding response.

Overall, I find carpets the most interesting to keep. They're more active, have gorgeous coloring, and eat like it's going out of style. Plus they're fairly handlable if you work with them from a young age.

20171203_110600.jpg

Female carpet python, sold as "IJ x Coastal"

arachnoboards.com

Hopefully that ramble made sense!

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Neither crested geckos nor gargoyle geckos are wild collected for the pet trade, so feel free to own them. I didn't enjoy gargoyle geckos after keeping and breeding them for a handful of years, but I always have a pair of cresties in the collection.

I'm a big fan of Lampropeltis sp., but not most of the former L. triangulum complex -- most are musking biters, at least without a good deal of work. Costa Rican Black Milks (L. micropholis, formerly L. t. gaigeae), which I breed, are a wonderful exception. I most enjoy the mountain kings -- knoblochi especially, which is the species I breed -- and alterna, all of which are way underrated. Gorgeous, sweet, hardy, great eaters.

My male black milk:



An older photo of one of my knoblochi:

 

[viper69]

I've been batting around with the idea of getting a crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) or maybe another snake, preferably Lampropeltis or Pituophis, I have a BP that I have kept for about 2 1/2 or 3 years now, and enjoy her immensely. I am not opposed to other options aswell. I've thought about keeping skinks, and some other lizard species aswell. Any suggestions on a nice "beginner" lizard or snake species, or even just a staple in your own collection? Long live our scaly friends!

I’m a herper first - def recommend Mexican Black Kingsnakes- one of the best out there!!! I owned one and the disposition was by far the most impressive.

If you want a very very alert snake, get a Woma.

White’s Tree Frogs rock- esp the SuperSnow morph- I know the creator, it took 30 yrs to make!!

I don’t know your experience level but there’s tons to enjoy.

 

[viper69]

Neither crested geckos nor gargoyle geckos are wild collected for the pet trade, so feel free to own them. I didn't enjoy gargoyle geckos after keeping and breeding them for a handful of years, but I always have a pair of cresties in the collection.

I'm a big fan of Lampropeltis sp., but not most of the former L. triangulum complex -- most are musking biters, at least without a good deal of work. Costa Rican Black Milks (L. micropholis, formerly L. t. gaigeae), which I breed, are a wonderful exception. I most enjoy the mountain kings -- knoblochi especially, which is the species I breed -- and alterna, all of which are way underrated. Gorgeous, sweet, hardy, great eaters.

My male black milk:

View attachment 374271

An older photo of one of my knoblochi:

View attachment 374272

Costa Rican Blacks- new to me— how similar to MXBs, especially in disposition? Average price for a baby?

My MXB king was the best ever for disposition. I could not have asked for better.

 

[KeGathings17]

I’m a herper first - def recommend Mexican Black Kingsnakes- one of the best out there!!! I owned one and the disposition was by far the most impressive.

If you want a very very alert snake, get a Woma.

White’s Tree Frogs rock- esp the SuperSnow morph- I know the creator, it took 30 yrs to make!!

I don’t know your experience level but there’s tons to enjoy.

I would say I'm still fairly new to keeping herps. My BP was a rescue more or less, came to me with mites, so I treated her for that, and she has been a pretty relaxed snake. Sometimes doesn't like to eat, but overall I enjoy having her. I am actually in the process of turning an old dresser/desk thing into her next enclosure. I understand the basics i.e things like research any particular species, and simple husbandry, and am familiar with things like cage maintenance, feeding, etc. If/when the time comes, I am sure I will have further questions, but this isn't exactly rocket science either, as I am finding out.

 

[viper69]

I would say I'm still fairly new to keeping herps. My BP was a rescue more or less, came to me with mites, so I treated her for that, and she has been a pretty relaxed snake. Sometimes doesn't like to eat, but overall I enjoy having her. I am actually in the process of turning an old dresser/desk thing into her next enclosure. I understand the basics i.e things like research any particular species, and simple husbandry, and am familiar with things like cage maintenance, feeding, etc. If/when the time comes, I am sure I will have further questions, but this isn't exactly rocket science either, as I am finding out.

Go with a leopard gecko if you want a beginner lizard that is manageable in size. I’ve owene them. Good species to start with.
I’ve owned a little bit of all the herps and amphibians.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Costa Rican Blacks- new to me— how similar to MXBs, especially in disposition? Average price for a baby?

My MXB king was the best ever for disposition. I could not have asked for better.

I've not kept any L. getula, so I don't have first hand experience with their disposition -- I've heard of a fair percentange of biters; getula are pretty well known for being strongly food oriented. (I keep rosy boas and a couple of bipolar hognose, so I'm familiar with that annoying tendency).

Black milks do not bite -- well, I've never heard of one, and they're strong but private feeders (overnight, and not strike-feeders). They are active and strong without being spastic -- in terms of handling, they're a lot like Brazilian Rainbow Boas without the climbing (I've only ever kept my one current pair of BRBs, but I think they're behaviorally typical). BMS reach six feet in length normally (males a bit shorter, females a bit longer and a little more bulky than the males) and turn black in their second year, usually -- they hatch as tricolors.

BMS hatchlings this past season averaged about $350- $400 (some I sold for $300 subsequently got flipped, which I'd rather avoid), and it looks like they're still increasing in price, while I think the MBK bubble has burst and I see the price is coming down to about $150 again.

 

[viper69]

I've not kept any L. getula, so I don't have first hand experience with their disposition -- I've heard of a fair percentange of biters; getula are pretty well known for being strongly food oriented. (I keep rosy boas and a couple of bipolar hognose, so I'm familiar with that annoying tendency).

Black milks do not bite -- well, I've never heard of one, and they're strong but private feeders (overnight, and not strike-feeders). They are active and strong without being spastic -- in terms of handling, they're a lot like Brazilian Rainbow Boas without the climbing (I've only ever kept my one current pair of BRBs, but I think they're behaviorally typical). BMS reach six feet in length normally (males a bit shorter, females a bit longer and a little more bulky than the males) and turn black in their second year, usually -- they hatch as tricolors.

BMS hatchlings this past season averaged about $350- $400 (some I sold for $300 subsequently got flipped, which I'd rather avoid), and it looks like they're still increasing in price, while I think the MBK bubble has burst and I see the price is coming down to about $150 again.

The MXB I had was as docile as could be. While I never handled it the day of feeding, a few days later I did, no issues, unlike what I face with my Woma or Hog Island Boa.
Private feeders - could you explain a bit more on their process. I'm used to only strike-feeders, including the MXB. 6 ft is sizable, nice. Yes I read they were tricolor at hatching and change over time. I also read some adults may maintain some banding a bit- how common do you think that is? I like their pure black look.

Cost- They are higher than I expected, is this due to small amount of people breeding them, small clutch size etc? If I were to get one, I wouldn't resell it.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Just to clarify, I don't have any for sale right now. Any herps I retail, I sell on Fauna, but don't have any listed now.

Private feeders: they prefer to eat in private -- after lights out, when no one is around and things are quiet. I get the impression that they at some level understand that they are vulnerable when feeding so prefer to remain relatively hidden when doing so; other species seem either not so concerned (like hognose, who think themselves indestructable) or not so intelligent (like rosy boas, who don't seem to think much at all). That's not to say that they couldn't be trained to eat off tongs, but they will readily eat a FT rat dropped on the floor of the enclosure, which is how I like to feed whenever possible. My male will eat when I'm in the reptile room, but I rarely see my female do so.

Pattern: most of the BMS in the hobby (including mine) are 'San Antonio Zoo line" -- these are from the original import to the San Antonio zoo (in the 1980's, maybe?) from Limon Province. I think there have been other later imports from Limon Province. There is a line (not common) from Providencia, which are said to remain slightly smaller and retain some minimal banding into adulthood; since Providencia is surrounded by National Park, I'm not sure of the legal status of these animals (they are not CITES listed, but I don't know about the national park regulations). There may be other lines that I'm not aware of, and many are NLS (non-locale specific) which are probably from Limon Province.

Anyway, my female is jet black, and my male has a very faint pattern on the bottom of his jaw and throat that is hard to make out unless the lighting is pretty decent. Virtually all of the zoo line animals get completely black, from what I've read. Given that the L. triangulum complex was recently reworked (subspecies were eliminated, and some were lumped with others and elevated to species status, so the former L.t..gaigeae and L.t.micropholis and L.t.andesiana are now Lampropeltis micropholis), the value -- not just financial -- of the locale animals is going to be high. Crossbreeding locales is crummy, but the herp hobby seems to be tolerating it more as time passes, and given that taxonomy is in huge flux lately locale animals should be kept pure. (Excuse the rant -- it has a mind of its own )

Cost: good clutch sizes (~10-12), though not many folks are breeding them but that is changing. When I got my pair 6 years ago getting on a wait list was often the only way to get them, where now they are freely listed each fall. The price is likely a 'Veblen Goods' issue -- demand increases in response to cost rising, contrary to 'supply and demand' sorts of goods (which are actually not all that common in affluent societies, it seems). Market saturation is a ways into the future, so I think price is not topped out yet. Interesting fact: today on MM there are 21,967 ball pythons for sale, 222 milksnakes overall, and zero Black Milk Snakes.

 

[l4nsky]

Surprised they haven't been mentioned yet, but Blue Tongue Skinks are a good option for a medium sized lizard that's towards the beginner side of the spectrum. Rescued mine as an adult 13 years ago and I still adore him. Such a chunky little sausage with so much personality.

 

[LizardStudent]

In my opinion corn snakes are the supreme beginner snake, so wonderful and all those morphs make them so much fun. I am partial to Kenyan sand boas though, another great beginner snake that won't break the bank for it nor its setup.

For lizards, the easiest to keep I think are leopard geckos, but it really depends on if you want a display animal or something to interact with. If you want to interact with something and have the cash, go for a blue tongue skink. There are great smaller species of skink if you don't care so much about interacting, like the Peter's banded or a fire skink.

Personally I love frogs the most, but I always hesitate to recommend amphibians to people. Tree frogs and the like require a large amount of maintenance, are very prone to trashing their enclosure, eat a ton (and hence poop a ton) and are usually shy and cannot be handled. Whites tree frogs are recommended to have a substrate change weekly- a lot of people don't know this when they get them, and their environment largely corresponds to their health and happiness due to their sensitive skin, so lots of people end up having unhappy froggies. I would hesitate to call any tree frog a 'beginner species' since they're so sensitive to pretty much everything

 

[Matts inverts]

When you say herps, do you mean reptiles? My first reptiles were sulcata tortoises and they are easy if you have time and space. I also have a dumpy frog which is easy to keep.

 

[Chris Geckos]

I’m more invert focused than herps- but I’m a huge fan of my gargoyle gecko. Extremely easy, out and about, really interesting coloration and variations. Can’t go wrong imo. Granted they’ll definitely pull a bigger pricetag than a crested, but well worth it I’d say.

I can't wait for this girl to start breeding for me, my Gargs are my favorite geckos by far. Leachies would be a fairly distant second

 

[Westicles]

I've been batting around with the idea of getting a crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) or maybe another snake, preferably Lampropeltis or Pituophis, I have a BP that I have kept for about 2 1/2 or 3 years now, and enjoy her immensely. I am not opposed to other options aswell. I've thought about keeping skinks, and some other lizard species aswell. Any suggestions on a nice "beginner" lizard or snake species, or even just a staple in your own collection? Long live our scaly friends!

Pituophis are great snakes. Keep in mind a large adult bullsnake is a very messy animal! Boy, can they crap!!!

 

[Westicles]

There are far too many species to choose from, I agree. A blood python is pretty much the only realistic snake left on my bucket list, lol.

I have experience with boas and carpets so I can tell you about both. Overall the care is very similar to your ball python, at least that's how I've kept mine. The carpet gets a bit more humidity. And both need more vertical space than BPs.

One thing about carpets generally is their temperament. Totally manageable, just not ball pythons. Both mine were quite nippy as babies. My first carpet I got as a near hatchling and was fully able to tame him down. He was still a handful, mostly due to speed, but he tolerated extensive handling. My second carpet I got pretty small too, she was also nippy, and I managed to get her somewhat OK with handling - she's flighty but doesn't bite. I don't hold her as much as the first one, so I'm pretty confident she'd be better if I handled more often. So if you get one, make sure to take the time to handle it consistently, at least while they're young, otherwise they tend to be a little squirelly.

Carpets also have a Phormictopus-level feeding response! And they'll take down huge meals. While my girl normally wouldn't bite me, she thinks everything is food and has gone after me while opening the lid. So if you get a carpet, just know it might have a "happy" feeding response.

My boa is a big beautiful girl. I got her when she was a month old, and she's over 7 feet long now. Easy care, kind of a handful to handle - but she's as docile as my ball pythons. Same caveat as the carpets, mine at least has a big feeding response.

Overall, I find carpets the most interesting to keep. They're more active, have gorgeous coloring, and eat like it's going out of style. Plus they're fairly handlable if you work with them from a young age.

20171203_110600.jpg

Female carpet python, sold as "IJ x Coastal"

arachnoboards.com

Hopefully that ramble made sense!

My female coastal carpet was also nippy when she was younger. After many, many handling sessions we're finally on the same page! Absolutely stunning species!

 

[Matts inverts]

African house snake. Mine is a common brown house snake and she is a perfect eater, perfect size and super chill. All the sellers had them on live in my area so that’s an issue but it’s easy to switch to frozen food.

 

[Westicles]

African house snake. Mine is a common brown house snake and she is a perfect eater, perfect size and super chill. All the sellers had them on live in my area so that’s an issue but it’s easy to switch to frozen food.

I've never had one, but am familiar with them. Definitely a great, small, attractive snake. I remember reading about them in Reptiles magazine a while back.

 

[Westicles]

Honduran milks are another easy to keep species. Babies can sometimes be stubborn eaters, but they grow out of that pretty quickly

 

[Harmonicon]

Crested geckos are a good option! They have minimal care requirements, I kept one a while back and she was very easy to care for. I've also kept a bearded dragon, but he was much more harder to maintain than the crested gecko. They are always marked as a beginner lizard but they have a ton of lighting and heating requirements and require a complex diet. Once you get all of it setup, it is pretty straightforward though! But apart from care, my bearded dragon was much more fun and active.

 

[Ceymann]

I bred crested, leopards and fat tails in highschool, geckos are super cool and all but I think the most rewarding herps to keep are members of the chamaeleonidae family.