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best kind of snake?

loostercc

New member
hey guys so i had a friend ask me for some advice on getting his own snake. he wants one thats around the 6-10 ft range so he can handle it himself (larger guy). he would prefer a boa or a python, even though i did tell him some colubrids get that long, he just wants a beefier snake i suppose.

ive heard a bunch of different opinions from reptile stores and random places but all u guys have definitely been my best source of snake information. i was just wondering which kind yall think is best for him?
Thanks!!
 
I have seen a lot of people on this with sight say colombian red tailed boas are good and also carpet pythons.
 
An Indigo is an awesome choice, though costly and more work than a boa. One of the most sought after snakes in the higher end market. See example photo from of the father of mine and the breeder I got mine from:

http://userpent.net/Drymarchon.html
 

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o wow those indigo are awesome! how much do they run? also for the hogg island and the red tailed, how difficult is the care for them?
 
o wow those indigo are awesome! how much do they run? also for the hogg island and the red tailed, how difficult is the care for them?

The one pictured is an Eastern Indigo. Go check out that link I posted for price info and details on Cribos which are related but alot less expensive and similar in size or even longer at times in some cases.

Hogg Island and Red Tails will be much cheaper I'm sure. They need more heat than Indigos and Cribos, but will eat less and poop less. Not known for the intelligence of the Dry's though. For some that is better as they dont take as much work which makes them less demanding.

And yes black milks are way rad too! They just dont have the girth that your friend may be looking for though as you stated in your first post. They get about 6 feet and are very low maintenance. I had several but sold my lot in order to get my Indigo :licklips:
 
I love the personalities of the Carpet Pythons, & I love their dragon heads.

If I had the money, & space, I would have an Indigo in a heartbeat!
 
King Ratsnakes. Great snakes, they get big, are active, and are really a snake one can interact with.
 
I have to agree, my Indigo is my pride and joy, but he's a LOT of work, not to mention he's way more active than any other snake I've ever had! Poops a lot, too.
 
I have to agree, my Indigo is my pride and joy, but he's a LOT of work, not to mention he's way more active than any other snake I've ever had! Poops a lot, too.

Haha yeeeep! I just got done feeding my feller and he was rather psycho today for his foods :D

Not to mention the two piles of stanky dookie piles I got to clean up as well :eek:

They are definitely not for a newcomer to snakes to try and wrastle with at their dinner time :sidestep:
 
You may want to tell your friend that a general room of thumb is if they get 8ft or more (I think that was the size limits) you want two people around when you handle them (at least with the beefier snakes). They are a lot stronger than they look and if they have a temper tantrum its easier to diffuse the situation with 4 hands instead of 2. Especially if your friend isn't very experienced with snakes. They are easy to get off of you (in most cases) if you know how. :D
 
Also you have to get a permit if you buy an Eastern Indigo from a breeder in another state. You don't have to have the permit if you buy within your own state. Then there are a few states that do not allow them to be owned as pets period.

I'm actually looking to get one but since I don't know of any breeders in WV I'm going to have to go the permit route. Hope to get some extra cash next spring with kingsnake sales.

As for a beefier colubridae I would suggest a Brooks kingsnake. They tend to get on the larger side and have a bit of girth to them. Though like most kings some of them are nippy. It helps to make sure they are fed enough. Not all snakes are the same though. I actually have one king that has never bitten me. :D
 
I wouldn't try to jump unto a cites 1 animal(Indigo) as a first time owner.
Boas, IMHO, would fill the bill great. Hog Isle are an option, but so is any other Boa Constrictor Imperator/Constrictor if the limit is 10 feet.
Personally, I'd stick with a Boa Constrictor Imperator.

Another cool option is a dwarf reticulated python.
 
BCIs (Boa Constrictor Imperator) are perfect! Easy care, nice temperament (at least my 3 have nice temperaments), and "normal" color/pattern BCIs are fairly inexpensive.

I also adore my Irian Jaya Carpet Python and my Black Milksnake. Both are fairly big, and both are very sweet snakes.

Personally, I think that if he is inexperienced or just wants a "cool" snake, you cannot go wrong with a Black Milksnake. I have one of Markus', (she's between 5 and 6 feet long) and she is an absolute angel.
 
wow haha so many good options! and yes he does have experience he had a normal ball for a long time before he had to sell it cuz he moved :/ i told him to try a pit colubrid (bull, pine, gopher) as well but i believe hes leaning towards the boas after all yalls opinions. the indigos are kinda out for him just cuz he doesnt wanna deal with quite that much maintenance, however ive been thinkin of those now haha
 
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