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Argh...I can't stay away from the pet store. I think I found a new possible snake?

D

DesmondTheMoonBear

New member
Took a trip to the pet store yesterday to pick up some more frozen pinkies for my little corn snake. Of course I couldn't help but examine the store's "Hatchling rack". Besides the normal fair of corn snakes, ball pythons, and kings, I spied a neat little albino snake actively peering at me through it's plastic box. It was labeled "Albino gopher snake". I hadn't heard of it before and asked to hold it. They warned me at first of it nipping, but I insisted anyway. I reached in and was quickly presented with a surprising threat display of LOUD hissing. Though as soon as it was out, I couldn't put it down, it was incredibly tame and I could handle it like I would with any of the stores corn snakes, except this one wasn't too fast and was looking around more than moving. It's priced 80$ and I want to get the little guy tomorrow. I did lots of researching too, but I always like some input from experienced people, like I might find on these forums. From what I know, the care is similiar to the corn snake except it might need slightly drier conditions, larger food, and a larger tank. 6-8 ft is a pretty good adult size, but honestly, I've always felt that corns snakes were a little too small for my taste. Gopher snakes sound really nice as far as size goes, big and strong, docile, but without the sheer power or large bite/mouth of something like a red tail boa. Sooo, what are your opinions on gopher snakes everyone? :)
 
I have an albino Gopher snake and they are brilliant.. very pretty snakes and a great, intimidating threat display. though they tend to give up with the threat after the hissing part.... They do like larger enclosures and cooler temps than a corn, but other than that they are very much like corns...
here's a vid of one of mine... though not a Gopher (this is a Northern Pine) they are very similar.... Same family Pituophis...
Here's Sid... One Bad A** snake.....



And yes..... we still have him and he still does this.....
They are quite smart (for snakes) and have so much character.... Proper grumpy, but nothing to get worried about...
I would get it if I was you, you won't regret it...
 
Personally, if it were me and I decided that a gopher snakes was something I really wanted, I would find a good breeder. Buying from a breeder supports the people who are obsessed with whatever species you are interested in, and supports the hobby in a way that buying from a pet shop just can't.
 
starsevol said:
Personally, if it were me and I decided that a gopher snakes was something I really wanted, I would find a good breeder. Buying from a breeder supports the people who are obsessed with whatever species you are interested in, and supports the hobby in a way that buying from a pet shop just can't.
Click to expand...

I'm not too sure what people mean by "breeder". But I do know this store is very knowledgable and takes great care of their animals. It's a VERY small family owned store that breeds some of their own snakes/reptiles. (I know they breed their GTPs, crested geckos, leopard geckos, etc.) They even have a rodent room for their own feeders. I'm pretty confident in buying from them. They wouldn't leave me alone when I asked to buy my first snake, even though I had already researched A LOT. I admired that.
 
Shops like that need support... And without shops, a lot of people would never encounter snakes and the hobby wouldn't grow...
 
A breeder is someone who breeds and sells healthy snakes. Gopher snakes do not get 7 feet long though, they stay around the same size as corns. I think perhaps you were looking at bull snakes, which for some reason are often labelled as gophers- but they are two separate snakes within the pits, just like the pine snake. I had both a gopher and a pine, I loved the pine but the gopher was much neater I think :)
 
Sid is absolutely adorable! I have a pair of Northern Pines :) Mine have abit of a rusty red color to them tho. I have to admit that I am Really glad mine Dont do that! hehehe :) Might be bluff but... would work for abit with me. LOL Of course I would get them out anyway but would make me hesitate. hehe Thanks for shareing the video! Oh ya, btw, cool accent :D

I have never had a gopher snake but if they are anything like the NPines... I would get it too! Wonderful snakes and abit slower moveing but really gives you something to hold onto because they are abit meatier. But!! You have to share pics! :D
 
I have to put my vote in the "get it!" column. I have a little San Diego gopher, still just a tiny little yearling at going on 150 grams, but I love him! He turned out surprisingly docile, and is a joy to interact with. more laid back than the corns, and heavier-bodied which is nice--not as delicate as a corn of similar size. I've been playing with getting another, and if I do, it'll definitely be an albino gopher. Beautiful snakes!
 
He sounds like something in a ghost story, lol! My opinion of petstores is that they are going to carry snakes & whatever no matter what. I know it seems like we are supporting it but they are going to do it regardless. And, yes, if I hadn't been in the store one night for cat food, I would never have gotten a snake (and I'd have more money!). I still want that little guy, he is still there. I think he's an amel but he's cute and he got me into the hobby.
 
Wooo! I salvaged the last of my money and went and bought this snake. :) It's even more awesome than I imagined, and this time the snake didn't bother putting up a threat display, it was incredibly tamed. (That is until they probed it, lol. Even then it didn't put up a threat display, it just got squirmy) It's a female so I can't wait till she's full sized! Apparently she's an applegate albino so that's a plus too. I'll post pictures when I can! (Hopefully tomorrow, but I might make a new thread)
 
I'm in the same boat as you, except it's not a snake for me. I'm dying to get my hands on a crested gecko. Enjoy the new addition!
 
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