New snake recommendations

[Mr.Scorpion]

If you can come across them, young baby Albino Boas are very cool. They are reasonably hardy I find them a nice little relaxing-to-watch snake.

 

[WidowMaker]

Mr Scorpion, very pretty snake you got there.

 

[MilkmanWes]

What about some species of rat snake? Liots of very interesting and attractive possibilities there.

http://www.ratsnakes.com/gallery.html

The Mexican Nightsnake is probably going to get on my to buy list. Saw one at a show and it was pretty cool. Recently we got a pair of Trinket Snakes (Helena helena) and while the male is rather nippy they are very active and attractive.

Also some of the various king snakes or milk snakes.

 

[Mr.Scorpion]

Mr Scorpion, very pretty snake you got there.

Thank you.

 

[dangerprone69]

I'm looking to get another snake myself sometime next year and I'm leaning towards a Boa Constrictor, a Hogs Island Boa or a Honduran Milk. Maybe I'll just go for the jugular and get a Gaboon Viper. ;P

 

[nightbreed]

Ahh I saw a pair of Hog Island Boas the other day :drool: talk about love at first sight

 

[Lasiodora]

To make your decision a little harder here are my pair of bloods. Ignore the very wet substrate. He tipped his water bowl that day. I keep the substrate drier than that. They are easy to keep if you have the husbandry down and calm down as they become older (there are exceptions). I don't feel that they require more work than any other snakes that I have kept. That's just me though. I keep my yearlings in sweater boxes (they don't like giant airy cages) when they are young. The sweater boxes have heat pads that keep one side 80-84f. I use cypress mulch as substrate. Newspaper works as well. They were in shoeboxes as babies. I love them because they have beautiful patterns and lovely earthtones. Mine are marbled borneos. Good luck with your decision. No matter what you get make sure you get it from a reputable dealer. Preferably straight from a breeder. They can answer all your questions and help you whenever the need arises. Just be sure you can provide the appropriate husbandry, temperature, cage size, and food item for which ever snake you decide to get.
Mike

 

[psionix]

I've got an ATB (among other things), they are pretty cool, just don't plan on doing much other than displaying them. they are really defensive, so holding them and getting bitten (numerous times) go hand and hand. GL on the decision.

 

[David_F]

What about some species of rat snake? Liots of very interesting and attractive possibilities there.

http://www.ratsnakes.com/gallery.html

The Mexican Nightsnake is probably going to get on my to buy list. Saw one at a show and it was pretty cool. Recently we got a pair of Trinket Snakes (Helena helena) and while the male is rather nippy they are very active and attractive.

Thought about some of the different rat snakes but right now I'm mainly interested in something that's either going to be fairly bulky or an arboreal. Big differences, I know, but...eh. Those Trinket snakes and Night snakes are very nice looking, though. Might have to look into those sooner or later.

To make your decision a little harder here are my pair of bloods.

I think you just nudged me a bit closer to bloods. The 80-84 temp you mentioned, is that the warm end? Do bloods need to be kept cooler than some of the other python species? Everything I've read says about the same temps as for ball pythons (88-90 on the warm end). Great looking snakes. I think once I get the new home set up completely I'll be looking for a breeder.

 

[Lasiodora]

If you saw them in person, your decision would already be made
I forgot to mention that the room they are in is very warm during the summer and early fall. I raise the warm end temp to 88f in the winter. You would have adjust temps according to what the ambient temps are at your house.
Just so you know babies are pretty nervous. They'll huff and puff and many times strike at you. All bloods are like this as babies. Mine were but they've calmed down.

Here is the best caresheet you will find antwhere:

VPI caresheet

 

[David_F]

Well, after looking and looking some more I've finally decided on a new snake. Not the blood that I wanted to get (that will be after the beginning of the new year) but I found an ATB that I'll be picking up right before or the week after Christmas. So, I have just another question or two so I can get his enclosure set up before I bring him home.

I plan to put him in a 29 gallon (30" x 12" x 18") aquarium. The snake is about 4' long (yes, WC adult but he seems to be very healthy and I'll be getting a fecal exam done after his first BM and a follow up at the vet if anything comes up) so I think this will be a decent size viv. I plan to paint the back and sides of the aquarium to minimize stress from movement around the tank. I may try to insulate it as well. Anyone think this will work? See any problems?

I've read that radiant heat panels are best for providing heat but I may not be able to get one immediately. The room temp where he will be kept stays at about 75F. The aquarium has a UTH which will give a good temp on the ground but to raise the ambient temp and provide a warm spot above ground will a CHE or red bulb work okay? I know ATBs are known for striking at bulbs but it will be screened. All heat sources will be connected to a thermostat. Any problems with this set up?

Thanks for all the info so far in the thread and for any input on the new set up.

 

[Beardo]

David, a human heating pad underneath the enclosure will work fine as a heat source. I have kept many ATBs using this method and they all thrived. They are only semi-arboreal unlike their Emerald relatives and will frequently spend time on the ground of their enclosures.

 

[David_F]

Sounds good. I was just worried about the ambient temp being too low but I guess if he's uncomfortable he'll spend more time on the ground.

Gracias.