Opinion: WORST pet snake?

[Carinata]

I am gonna set my radiateds up in the tall sterilites

 

[RobbiesCornField]

I am gonna set my radiateds up in the tall sterilites

But if they're gonna be display snakes, why not just go the whole 9 yards and get vivs? You can talk to your local petco/petsmart and see if they might be getting rid of some of those huge double tanks they have that they keep random furry animals in. I got one of those a while back for $30, and it held 2 adult Dumeril's boas!

 

[Nanci]

My family has always had just the front claws of our house cats removed...

It's not just the claw, it's the entire first bone of the "finger!" Toe, whatever you call it.

 

[Asbit]

Although my two cats are declawed(the info I am about to relate I did not know at the time), when that bone is removed(it has to be to remove the claw) it then throws their spinal alignment out frequently causing back and hip problems. Many cats can not jump or land properly afterward, they can not walk as lightly and many have a lifetime of sporadic and or chronic pain.

Most veterinarians will not tell their clients this information as clients do not want to hear this, what they WANT to hear is that it is not harmful and that it is a simple, easy, non-harmful procedure. Should the procedure not go properly, you can end up with a cat like our Himalayan who had claws growing out off the top of her foot because the toe tip bone was not properly removed but instead ended up being twisted upside down and partially crushed!! Another vet had to fix the damage done by vet #1 and is who explained all the complications declawing can cause cats.

Just so you all know.

 

[Jynx]

Water Snakes. Had a Brown Water snake for a while... Worst. Attitude. Ever. Whoever thought that catching one of those, putting it in a tub, and calling it a pet was a good idea was clearly tripping on some sort of hallucinagen. Slimy evil little creatures, the lot of them. I've never in my life seen a worse attitude. Coming from me (an avid purveyor of Rocks, Burms, Retics, and more), thats saying alot.

 

[Hail_Britannia]

LOL! Tell us how you really feel, Jynx, don't hold back! I wonder if bad snake attitudes can be just genetic, or if living in certain types of environment can cause a snake to develop aggressive tendencies for its own safety. Say, the desert vs. a lake vs. the woods vs. the ocean. I've heard sea snakes can be pretty nasty.

 

[Jynx]

LOL! Tell us how you really feel, Jynx, don't hold back! I wonder if bad snake attitudes can be just genetic, or if living in certain types of environment can cause a snake to develop aggressive tendencies for its own safety. Say, the desert vs. a lake vs. the woods vs. the ocean. I've heard sea snakes can be pretty nasty.

Oh trust me, I'll never hold back my opinion of those suckers! For the most part, every kind of water snake I've ever come into contact with has been a pain in the rear... and the hands... and the face... Hell, even alot of the semi-aquatics have been nasty. I can kinda tolerate garters, but not for long.

Alot of people compare the nasty aquatic snake attitudes to the likes of kings, but at least my kings calm down! That water snake was an evil bride of Satan!

 

[Chip]

LOL! Tell us how you really feel, Jynx, don't hold back! I wonder if bad snake attitudes can be just genetic, or if living in certain types of environment can cause a snake to develop aggressive tendencies for its own safety. Say, the desert vs. a lake vs. the woods vs. the ocean. I've heard sea snakes can be pretty nasty.

Sea snakes are known to almost never bite, deadly as they are. Even when being un-entangled out of fisherman's nets. I've not worked with the species, of course! lol!

 

[Chip]

I am planning on adding a pair of Radiateds next season I think they are fine snakes just more for display sorta like my king rat

Dude, don't. I NEVER double post, nor take the time to argue with you. But I gotta say, stay away from these. I posted pictures, as did Rob, indicating what approaching their cage is like, let alone laying a hand on them. Unless the very appearance/nature of this species entraps you like a siren's song, don't go there. Seriously. There's plenty of time to see some other people's Radiated's in your young life. I would rather deal with a girl who hated me for no reason. And keep taking her out for ice cream, even though she always hits me with a shoe.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

Dude, don't. I NEVER double post, nor take the time to argue with you. But I gotta say, stay away from these. I posted pictures, as did Rob, indicating what approaching their cage is like, let alone laying a hand on them. Unless the very appearance/nature of this species entraps you like a siren's song, don't go there. Seriously. There's plenty of time to see some other people's Radiated's in your young life.

Or... or... OR!!!! He could always handle them at a vendor table. Because my female is sweet as pie. I had her out today when I was changing her to a viv, and she didn't go defensive once. Just... no "rough" handling. They don't like that. And then you can always get one like my male. Meaner than a freshly caught fully grown king cobra. And thinks he is one. LOL

Female:

Satan. I mean... Male:

 

[jesserca]

I had a leucistic texas rat who had the worst attitude ever. She would strike the glass when we walked passed her. She was evil....then she escaped. I fear for my life when I sleep.

 

[yellowbellyhippy]

Robbie... I <3 you! ;-)

 

[yellowbellyhippy]

I had a leucistic texas rat who had the worst attitude ever. She would strike the glass when we walked passed her. She was evil....then she escaped. I fear for my life when I sleep.

ACK! scary!!!!!

 

[wstphal]

I can't really comment on inappropriate pet snakes other than the obvious -- retics are probably not appropriate for many private owners.

~But~ I can see a general principle that I can comment on -- don't take on a snake you can't care for properly in the long term. I know, things happen, and life changes, but if you can tell at the beginning that you won't be able to provide for it, don't get it! Most people, if they exercised a little forethought, would realize that a retic is gonna get too big for them. I think most people should think long & hard before keeping true hots as well -- what happens to the snake if it bites & kills its owner? That's not providing a lifetime home for that hot.

One more thing that has been on my mind lately is planning for our futures. What is going to happen to my pets when I die? I'm not planning on dying any time soon, but I am middle aged, and I will die someday, and I need to think about that. I feel that I should not get any pets that I can reasonably anticipate are going to outlive my expected lifespan, and no pets that I can't arrange a home for after I am gone. The cats are easy, I know people who will take over for me when & if & have already discussed it with them. I haven't figured out the snake arrangements but I will.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

I can't really comment on inappropriate pet snakes other than the obvious -- retics are probably not appropriate for many private owners.

~But~ I can see a general principle that I can comment on -- don't take on a snake you can't care for properly in the long term. I know, things happen, and life changes, but if you can tell at the beginning that you won't be able to provide for it, don't get it! Most people, if they exercised a little forethought, would realize that a retic is gonna get too big for them. I think most people should think long & hard before keeping true hots as well -- what happens to the snake if it bites & kills its owner? That's not providing a lifetime home for that hot.

One more thing that has been on my mind lately is planning for our futures. What is going to happen to my pets when I die? I'm not planning on dying any time soon, but I am middle aged, and I will die someday, and I need to think about that. I feel that I should not get any pets that I can reasonably anticipate are going to outlive my expected lifespan, and no pets that I can't arrange a home for after I am gone. The cats are easy, I know people who will take over for me when & if & have already discussed it with them. I haven't figured out the snake arrangements but I will.

In the event of my untimely demise, I've already arranged a way for Tony to come on here and list whatever he wants as for sale, as well as a list of a few snakes that, if he does sell them, I'll come back from the dead just to beat the tar out of him. When I do get into hots, I'll arrange a way for him to donate the animals to a serpentarium or zoo capable of handling them. Crap happens, and I want to make sure Im' prepared for almost any situation. Any serpentarium or zoo I would consider donating to would, of course, be asked if they would like the animals prior to my untimely demise, and a written agreement would be drawn up. I wouldn't feel comfortable making him ship hots across state lines to people he's never met before and might not be able to handle them.

I do know of at least a few other herp people who have plans for their snakes if they die unexpectedly, and I think every pet owner should take that into consideration before getting any type of animal. I may be young and dumb, but I do take my animals very seriously, and want to make sure they have the best lives possible. Even after my death.

 

[Hail_Britannia]

That's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I'm still young as well, but some snakes can live quite a long time with proper care. I know there will come a point in my life when I will no longer be able to acquire more snakes, for fear they will outlive me. As it is now, if something were to happen to me, I know Adam would care for our pets. If something were to happen to both of us, my mother would certainly give the cats a home. I'll have to talk to her about the snake. Of course, we don't have anywhere near as many pets as some people on this forum, but it's worth thinking about.

 

[Jynx]

I hear alot of bad rap about the Radiateds. While I've never owned one personally, I've had the priveledge of handling a few. They didn't seem that bad. A little pissy, but to the extreme. During the same time though, I did have the displeasure of messing with a few full grown Tiger Rats. Good lord... I half expected that guy to really try and eat me!

 

[Asbit]

I'm right there with those of you who have been thinking and making plans for the snakes in the event of my death. I am the snake person in this house, my youngest is to young to care for them on his own, my hubby does not like to care for animals - he accepts them because I want them and would not know how to look after the snakes, and my eldest says they are to much work for him.

I am currently thinking that as I network and make good friends on the forum, I can maybe have hubby reach one of them to appropriately sell or take in my babies. Although I have told my family I plan on sticking around to be a royal pain in the rear for quite a long time yet.

As for you few younger people who have thought ahead in such a way, I am really proud of you, unfortunately to many of this younger generation can not seem to think past the immediate gratification of their decision of the moment, if you get my meaning!!

 

[bitsy]

One more thing that has been on my mind lately is planning for our futures. What is going to happen to my pets when I die?

That's something that's been on my mind. Although I've now stopped buying and hopefully will not take on any new snakes, I'm 45 and my oldest Corn is 21 and going strong. I probably have Corns that should still be with me when I'm well into my 60s. Who knows what could happen in the next 20+ years, or whether I'll still be around.

Most of mine could be sold on via my local reptile shop and won't give two hoots, but my "special needs" guys bother me. My old fella hates change and could be relied on to go on an exended hunger strike if he had to go somewhere else. Pumpkin with his mangled ribs/vertebrae would be in danger of being euthanased if shown to a vet who's inexperienced with reptiles. I'm still thinking about them, although I might put something in my will about passing them to our main UK reptile rescue with a suitable donation from my estate.

As far as the O/P is concerned, I think I'd echo concerns about larger snakes. The're fine until they need rehoming, when (certainly in the UK) they're near impossible to shift. You have to be able to look into a very secure, long-term future in order to provide for them all their lives. Many zoos and parks in the UK won't take on former pet reptiles (risk of importing disease that either affects their collection and/or costs a bundle to treat) and the few rescue organisations are already stuffed with things like Burms, Retics and Iggies.

 

[RyanR]

African Rock Pythons. (Big and MEAN) Reticulated Python(once again, big and MEAN) Anaconda (easily contain human killing power) and burms (easily kill humans)


Anything that can kill us, shouldn't be our pets.