snake suggestions

[dtknow]

I am looking for a snake that fits some or all of these criteria

Small(or at least, ok with a small enclosure. For the time being maybe an 8 gallon tank? or similar size...upgrade)

Interesting feeding or other behavior(would rather not have something that hides all the time or seems oblivious to surroundings). I think alert snakes are neat and have had a fascination for how racers "up periscope" to check you out when you are looking for them. Of course, this desire and the first collide since most alert snakes are high strung and need their space.

Thoughts? Thanks!
Maybe African house, westerrn hog, eggeater?

 

[KyuZo]

i'll go with the Durango kingsnake that is currently up for sale . stay relative small and active.

 

[dtknow]

Haha, he's a beaut for sur but I don't have that kind of money ATM.

 

[skippy]

western hogs are cool and adorable:clap: and there are several sp of garter snakes that are really attractive and interesting.

 

[Lucas339]

hogs can be hiders. i have one the is a "pet hole". gophers would be cool but i have a thing for egg eaters. im just worried about finding eggs all the time.

 

[UrbanJungles]

Smooth or Rough Green Snakes.
Pretty, semi arboreal (display well) and you don't need any special foods as they feed on crickets readily (one of very few snakes that do this).

Only downside is they are all WC.
Good luck.
Danny

 

[aracnophiliac]

Cornsnakes..Many different colors and mine is rather active

 

[johnharper]

Kenyan Sand Boas are really cool snakes although I have never owned any. Rosy boas are also cool snakes.


John

 

[dtknow]

I've heard the WC's are quite tricky(parasites etc.) and that they need UV light/supplementation in captivity(well, I suppose handling them outside or allowing them to bask on the screen windowsill would solve the former). A lizard/rodent feeder would be easier to cater to.(since I'm going to assume it is not good to feed solely crickets.)

 

[UrbanJungles]

I've heard the WC's are quite tricky(parasites etc.) and that they need UV light/supplementation in captivity(well, I suppose handling them outside or allowing them to bask on the screen windowsill would solve the former). A lizard/rodent feeder would be easier to cater to.(since I'm going to assume it is not good to feed solely crickets.)

Yes it's True, WC's can be picky but as a whole they fare pretty well if you set one up well and keep it under as little stress as possible. Try to get ones that are clear of any sub-dermal nematodes which are visible as raised squiggly lines. The whole UV thing is still unfounded in this species, as far as captivity goes... a small spiral compact florescent will suffice for them regardless. For an adult you don't need to provide, there's a 9 year old adult at a zoo I used to work for that has never had any UV exposure and is stunning!

In the wild, these snakes feed almost entirely on soft bodied arthropods and other inverts. Mostly spiders, crickets, etc. Snakes don't require any type of supplementation as they are very efficient in breaking down prey items to be used accordingly by their bodies. Their uncommon diets also make them uniquely appealing IMO.

 

[KyuZo]

here is another vote for western hognose.
if you want one that will stay small (like under 2 feet), then get a male.

if you want it to grow a little bit bigger, then get a female (3 feet).

my male is out and about all the time.

 

[secular]

I'm a fan of the Western hognose as well. My female is out most of the time. They are active during the day and like to sleep at night. She is also very curious and will "up periscope" as you say, if you get her attention. She feeds readily on FT mice (captive bred and had this diet from the start). Accepts and tolerates handling with no issues. Just reach in and pick her up. A cool pet snake!

I also have a female Kenyan Sand Boa. She's very mellow. Hides pretty much exclusively, always under the substrate. I normally only see her out if it's been dark and quiet in the room. Other than that maybe a head and some eyes looking out at me. ;-) She will tolerate handling with no problem as well, but you have to chase her around the enclosure first (they really like to be hidden). They do have interesting feeding behavior the way they like to surface and attack prey, like a worm from "Tremors" or something. ;-)

Both make excellent pet snakes that don't get huge. The Western hognose might be more in line with what you are looking for (based on the OP).

 

[Mack&Cass]

Cornsnakes..Many different colors and mine is rather active

A cornsnake will rapidly outgrow an 8 gallon tank. I think a smooth/rough green snake would do the trick, as well as a hognose. Sand boas are neat too, but I doubt you'd ever really see it.

 

[Mina]

I would suggest a corn snake or a rosy boa. I have and love both.

 

[dtknow]

Urbanjungles:So are you saying that one could/has been kept successfully fed solely on crickets/other commercially available insects? Apparently they love spiders...if that includes cellar spiders then that'd be no problem.

 

[KyuZo]

rough green snakes are easy to get, but smooth green are hard as hell to find now a day.

 

[Lucas339]

wont rough greens also eat feeder anoles?

 

[KyuZo]

from what i've read, yes.

wont rough greens also eat feeder anoles?

 

[dtknow]

Hmmm most place claim them to be insect specialists. I find it hard to believe they would pass up a treefrog or a baby anole, tho.

 

[UrbanJungles]

I've known of a few kept solely on crickets that do fine. They mainly eat inverts.