help on choosing a constrictor

[Longbord1]

i need help on choosing a constrictor and i really want one bad i don't want it to be to big maybe one that will fit in a 35 gallon tank?

also it needs to be of a docile temperment.

any input will be great i fell in love with them today after holding one

mike

 

[scorpio]

The biggest constrictor you could fit in a 35 gallon can be a max of around 3 feet, which really limits you.

I would reccoment a sand boa or maybe a rosy boa.

 

[eksong]

I say you're wasting the 35 gallons if all you're gonna get is a rosy.

If you're not looking for anything too large, there are so many to choose from. If docile is what you're looking for what about a corn , king or milk? If you like docile but belligerent, what about a gopher or bull? You could get a ball if you're so inclined to keep something heavier-bodied.

 

[pitbulllady]

When you say "constrictor", do you mean a boid, or ANY constricting snake? Many colubrids are constrictors, too, such as Corn Snakes, King Snakes, Pine Snakes, and House Snakes. A 35-gallon tank is really too small for the larger snakes, that reach six feet or more, so that limits you insofar as size of the snake is concerned.

Among the smaller boids are Ball Python, Children's Pythons, Spotted Pythons, Sand Boas, Rosy and Rubber Boas, Ground Pythons, and depending on what taxonomist you talk to, New World Sunbeam Snakes. Corn Snakes, along with most New World Rat Snakes, most King Snakes and Milk Snakes, African House Snakes(an often-overlooked genus which has a lot of python-like characteristics), and some of the smaller Pituophis, like Gophers, are also constrictors and should still be comfortable in a 35-gallon tank, though the larger Rats(Black Rats can easily excede 6 feet)and Pituophis(Pines, Bulls)will eventually get too big. My 7-foot Texas Bullsnake resides in a 55-gallon tank, and THAT is almost too small for him!

pitbulllady

 

[Longbord1]

im thinking of boids and im def thinking of a ball python but a childrens python sounds good which one grows bigger though??
i really want a thiocker bodied snake

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

How about telling us what sort of food your willing to feed it? If say you live at home with your parents, and your mother hates mice, then a rodent eating snake would not be your best option.

Ive had many constrictors, but by far my most favorite have been my ball pythons. I also love colubrids, milksnakes being my favorite.
I'm also really fond of ratsnakes, which are a bit stinkier, but I love their attitudes.

~Crystal

 

[Longbord1]

my mom will not care at all about wut i feed it
im wondering could u feed an adult ball python those small mice? cuz im sure those are more managable also when u buy those wut container do they come in?

mike

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

as a juvie, yes, as an adult, no. My female is near 4 feet, and can eat a medium rat no problem. Although I normally just feed her small rats.

Is your mom ok with rats? Be prepared.

As for container....umm, a deli cup? Depending on where you buy it I guess.
Try a reptile show, they have a huge selection most of the time, and great deals. And you can see the animals before you take them home.
I was lucky when I bought mine from a pet shop, she came from River City Exotics here in San Antonio, and is almost 5 years old now and ive NEVER had a problem. But I wouldn't recommend all pet stores, some are just horrible. Ive only got 3 favorites here, the other's I can't stand.

Anyway, I think a ball python is a good choice, if your willing to eventually feed it small-medium rats.

~Crystal

 

[Longbord1]

im prob gonna feed it outside of my house.also i am going to the reptile show to buy mine also how much are feeder mice and or rats

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

I paid $.99 or cheaper for my adult mice (depending on where I buy them)
And $2 for my small rats.

Make sure your snake is eating before you purchase it, some ball python's can be stubborn eaters, although ive never had a problem. Ask to feed it. And I wouldnt buy WC, as there are plenty of CB (captive born).

~Crystal

 

[Lasiodora]

im prob gonna feed it outside of my house.also i am going to the reptile show to buy mine also how much are feeder mice and or rats

Longbord,
It seems like you are still a little unprepared for keeping a snake. Before you purchase anything do heavy research (not only the internet). Buy a book. Advanced vivariums has one excusively on ball pythons which I recommend. I would rethink getting anything you would have to feed outside of your house. What will you do in the winter? If you show your parents how knowledgeable you are on keeping this snake, they might overlook what you need to feed it. You yourself need to feel comfortable with killing the rodents or buying and feeding frozen/thawed rodents. Plus maintaining the right temps and humidity. These snakes can live past the 20yr mark. Another thing to keep in mind. If you have thought all of these things through and still want a ball, then good luck and enjoy it. They are fun snakes to keep.
Mike

 

[Longbord1]

im still thinking on getting one thanx for the the great advice mike.i still have some time to think about it.by outside of my house i mean in my garage in a tupperware container or big plastic tub. Are there any snakes that eat crickets?also i really want a boid for a pet due to their thick bodies but im still not sure on what to get help me please

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

NO boids eat crickets or insects, rodents or birds are their primary diet.

Maybe you should look into a garter snake, as they eat many different items, including earthworms and crickets, which are easy to come by.

I suggest using a search engine such as google to find out more about what sort of species you'd prefer.

~Crystal

 

[Longbord1]

i was just wondering which ate crickets but if im gonna get a snake its gotta have a thick body or be a boid cuz then it just bores me.Are there any small snakes that are the same thickness as a baby boid?
i think i might go with the ball python.do htye have the same care as emporer scorpions?does anyone have a carsheet?

how about blood pythons?

 

[BoomerSub]

Bloods can be a bit touchy with regard to their environment and are usually ill-tempered. I'd get a ball.

-PK
-Edited to add: ball python caresheet

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

"i think i might go with the ball python.do htye have the same care as emporer scorpions?does anyone have a carsheet?"

Hmm...a snake is a snake, and scorpion is a scorpion.
And are you sure you wont get bored with a ball python also? Most people call them one of the most boring species in the hobby, but they have great personalities. And IMHO, no snake is boring.

Look up a caresheet.

~Crystal

 

[Longbord1]

well its not like i have to much of a choice
it basically the smallest thickbodied snake out there if i can't get this guy ill get a sand boa maybe?but the ball looks pretty promising.im sure it does much more than a tarantula.

mike

 

[Lasiodora]

Bloods can be a bit touchy with regard to their environment and are usually ill-tempered. I'd get a ball.

-PK
-Edited to add: ball python caresheet

Most captive bred bloods are a pleasure to work with and are not ill tempered. They were labeled mean because of peple's interaction with wild caught adults, which can be demons. They aren't good beginner snakes though because of their heavy bodies (an adult female can weigh up to 50lbs). Their husbandry requires a little more attention than other snakes too.

Longbord1,
There are no insect eating Boids. I'd say your best choice would be a ball python. Buy the book I mentioned earlier and read up. The book will be a great reference in the future. Also only buy captive bred. Do not buy imports. These may be cheaper but they are also harder to establish. Make sure that the animal is feeding. There is an all reptile store in Long Island named DnJ. They carry quality stock and are pretty friendly too.
Mike

 

[Longbord1]

yeah i know that sotre i found place that has just what i want for 25 bux

thanx though.

ill make sure to get that book.

mike

 

[Longbord1]

how about sand boas do they make good pets?

,mike