Help me choose 1st snake... - Page 4

pied pythons · #31 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 08:57 AM

Hmm...I'd strongly recommend against getting a royal due to their picky feeding habits and nature of getting stressed very easily.,,

A corn is naturally the best starter snake; and if you were to get an adult they really aren't that ''thin''.

However, as your mother is not keen...how about a grey ratsnake, or carpet python?

Perhaps a dwarf boa?

Most starter snakes (tollerable, easily cared for, and not easily stressed out/put off food) are corns, milks/kings, garters etc...and all of which are what your mother would class as thin.

Whatever you do...ensure you do not rush into anything. Do heaps and heaps of research on snakes; then pick what you think is suitable for you...then do heaps more on that specific snake...and when you think you have enough knowledge, then go out and get the necessary equipment...

Allow the viv to stand and settle for a week or so, before adding any snake. (as you will know when your research is done).

Don't handle the snake for a week or so, and don't feed for a week ish after obtaining it, so it can settle in properly and adjust.

why is it your mother doesnt like the sleeker snakes; just out of interest?

best wishes

babyelo · #32 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 09:39 AM

Wow, thanks for all the help!
To answer a few questions,
-I do want to handle my snake quite a bit, i don't want it to be like a stop and stare animal only... especially that Im used to caring for tortoises - you get the picture
-As for the viv, at the moment it can be anything up to 1.5 - 2 meters wide, 0.5-1m long and as tall as it needs to be
-Also, id rather get a baby / smallish snake that won't grow over 3 feet in the next two years... I'm going to uni at that time and well, mom might regret her big, thick snake idea, so it will need to be something managable for her too

-And she doesn't like thin snakes because.. well she just has a stereo-typical view of what a snake should be - ie the ones in the zoo... and also, she thinks if a thick one escapes, hell be easier to find ( i agree with that ).

So far, im thinking about
-garter (if thick)
-carpet python
-ball python (ye i still am)
-some sort of smallish boa

A, also, what do u people do when you go on say a 2 week holiday (I know u get someone to feed and care for your snakes, but maybe someone does something else)?

babyelo · #33 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 09:43 AM

Can anyone else share their opinions about:
-mexican rosy boas
-western hognoses

Also, are there any breeders located in or near outer London?

Doogerie · #34 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:20 AM

it's odd about your mother not liking thin snakes like corns my mum is not a fan of snaks but dislikes fat one's more then thin. You ever seen a Anaconda (not recomending them) but so fat and big serously cool but if you get one of them you run the risc of becoming lunch

Ssthisto · #35 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:22 AM

Right, if you want a snake you can handle a LOT I'd avoid royal pythons personally. Though you do find some that are not bothered by handling and won't go off food, there's a significant proportion of them that will stop eating entirely if you mess with them (and no way to tell those at first glance from the others!) I personally find that of my five, only one or two are not stressed by handling.

Garter snakes are slender, whippy snakes and although they're handleable they're very quick.

If you don't want something that won't get to over three feet in two years, you're looking at something with an adult size of around three feet. That's pretty restrictive - especially since your mum doesn't want slender colubrid-type snakes - but leaves you with rosy boas, hognoses, sand boas, some of the dwarf boa localities. I've kept all but the dwarf boas myself, and if you want something that's handleable I'd suggest the rosy as the best option.

Sand boas can be a bit nippy - this is as a function of how they hunt. Granted, their mouths are NOT very big... but they strike quite quickly from under cover. Great fun to feed, not so much fun when you're trying to get one out to hold it. That said, one of the nicest, most placid snakes I've ever dealt with was a Saharan sand boa.

Hognoses are mildly venomous - you don't want to let one latch on and chew on your finger. They're drama queens - a lot of hissing, puffing up their neck and mock-strikes with their mouth closed - and are pretty nice once you've got them in hand.

My rosy boa may have been slightly atypical - he was blind in both eyes (birth defect) but he was a lovely snake. They have very sleek, smooth scales and feel almost velvety. They're not inclined to be squiggly quick, and mine was not particularly nippy.

eightsnake · #36 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:29 AM

hi Babyelo,

Where abouts in London are you?

I live in Essex and you are welcome to come and see any of the snakes I have listed in my sig.

If you are looking at carpet pythons, I gotta 6 footer you can come see and decide if you like or not and can manage or not!!

I also have boas, a royal and a king snake which was my OH first snake, he is about 10 years old now.

The only ones on my list which would be totally unsuitable for a first would be the GTP and the Brazilian Rainbow boa.

The royal python is a great snake to handle etc and doesn't grow too big and is def not thin

However if you are unlucky and get a bad feeder then you are in for a lot of trouble and frustration trying to get it to feed so is not worth the risk especially if mum is gonna be looking after it at some point.

Let me know, you are most welcome.
If you give a more exact idea of your location, ie north, south, east or west London, I am sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction.
There are always snakes for sale on here, I bought my BRB from a member just over a week ago.

Good luck

Lorraine

babyelo · #37 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:31 AM

Ok, thanks for that, do you have a link to a picture thread with rosy boas? Also, how much do they cost? And finally, will they look really chubby when theyre full size (ive got a vision of a short thick snake=[ )

Ssthisto · #38 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:33 AM

They'll only look hugely chubby if you overfeed them. They ARE short thick-ish snakes.

Google has loads of pictures of rosy boas - most of them are along the theme shown there (greyish or tannish background, with longways striping ranging from creamy brown to black).

Not sure what the prices are - I haven't been looking for them myself

babyelo · #39 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:41 AM

Hmmm ok change that size to 5-6 feet in 2-3 years.... I just remmbered i have a brother

Do any boas fall under that size?
Also, was there ever a case of a royal dying because it refused to eat, or do they get over it after a few weeks/months and just eat anyway?
Has anyones royal/boa ever tried to/did escape?
Also, do boas at 6feet pose a serious safety risk?

Husky · #40 (**permalink**) 13-05-2008, 10:42 AM

dont let people put u off a royal! there great snakes and i started with a royal, yes yhey can be picky feeders but aslong as you make sure the conditions are right and the snake isnt stressed then its not a prob! a royal wont feed when young if its stressed, the answer to this prob is simply, dont stress the snake out! when they get older it may fast for a few months but alot of snakes are known to do this! royals have a great temprement and are a complete pleasure to own! i think they make a good starter snake, just do your research and make sure the enviroment is spot on!

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