Soo...i'm getting a snake...

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J

Journer

Banned
Jun 30, 2005
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So...i'm either getting a ball python or a boa...going monday to a friend of a friend who happens to be a breeder. Snakes are cool pets and are way overlooked...i dont know why more people dont have them. If you handle them regularly they are usually very docile (well, certain breeds, the more popular ones), easy to maintain, dont smell bad if you clean the cage, and you can leave them while on vacation with no worries, and cheap if you dont get a super exotic or extremely large one. I'm thinking a nice male boa if fed properly...maybe a little under the usual will get to be about 5-6ft after about 5 yrs...after that it will grow so slow it wont be too big of a deal....

anywho...who else has a snake(s)? pics?
 
Lithium381

Lithium381

Lifer
May 12, 2001
12,452
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I've got a california king, in the beginning he struck at me here and there but he pretty much ignores me now....i feed him mice. he's about 15 years old now
 
J

Journer

Banned
Jun 30, 2005
4,355
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Originally posted by: compnovice
Boa's can crush you... that's about all I know about them...
Click to expand...

meh...depends on how big they get....some cant get pretty large (over 16ft) so you would need to be careful. Most people say if your snake is bigger than 6-7th someone should be in the room with you...its not very common for a snake to attack a human though...you hear ****** all the time about it but thats only the media...i'm sure if someone did a study people would see how rare pet-snakes attack owners and other pets...

anywho...i've got a big machette and other weapons in my room...so if it did get really large and tried to go at me (and i was by myself) i would have a chance at least...lol
 
J

Journer

Banned
Jun 30, 2005
4,355
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Originally posted by: Lithium381
I've got a california king, in the beginning he struck at me here and there but he pretty much ignores me now....i feed him mice. he's about 15 years old now
Click to expand...

thats cool...how big is he? pics?
 
C

compnovice

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2005
3,192
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Originally posted by: Journer
Originally posted by: compnovice
Boa's can crush you... that's about all I know about them...
Click to expand...

meh...depends on how big they get....some cant get pretty large (over 16ft) so you would need to be careful. Most people say if your snake is bigger than 6-7th someone should be in the room with you...its not very common for a snake to attack a human though...you hear ****** all the time about it but thats only the media...i'm sure if someone did a study people would see how rare pet-snakes attack owners and other pets...

anywho...i've got a big machette and other weapons in my room...so if it did get really large and tried to go at me (and i was by myself) i would have a chance at least...lol
Click to expand...


My neighbor was telling this story about his uncle who had a pet boa (don't remember the length). His aunt came in one evening from work and found the boa wrapped all around her husband, trying to crush him. She was just in time to get the snake off.

I am just taking his word for the story, but either way, I would not keep a pet that was capable of killing me, be it a snake or a tiger.

That said, I am afraid of snakes...
 
masterxfob

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
5
81
my ball python just died recently :( he was about 3 years old, 3 ft in length, and quite an easy going snake. he was having problems with regurgitating his food lately, i think it was due to the heat. my apt gets pretty warm and i don't have an AC unit.
 
A

Auggie

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2003
1,379
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hmmm... unless your apt was getting hotter than 95 degrees (in houston, my apt without AC on only ever gets up to 88-89degress), a ball python should be able to cope... it sounds like maybe there was something else wrong with him. sorry to hear he/she died :(
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,168
14,596
146
I like snakes so much, I'll swerve clear across a 4 lane highway to run one over!

Can you tell I'm not a herp-lover? I know people who hava a wide variety of them, from garter snakes to fvcking cobras...(which IMO, should be illegal to own)...no use for snakes...just rodent controllers...not "warm & fuzzy" pets...
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: BoomerD
I like snakes so much, I'll swerve clear across a 4 lane highway to run one over!

Can you tell I'm not a herp-lover? I know people who hava a wide variety of them, from garter snakes to fvcking cobras...(which IMO, should be illegal to own)...no use for snakes...just rodent controllers...not "warm & fuzzy" pets...
Click to expand...

Let's be fair...you're MUCH more likely to get bit by your neighbor's dog than by their cobra, even when you account for the lower incidence of ownership of the snake.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,168
14,596
146
Probably true, but I'd certainly rather have my neighbor's dog on the loose than a cobra...
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
I have a ball python. They're fairly easy to take care of. Feeding is easy now too since I switched to frozen mice from here. He'll eat 4 of the hopper-sized mice at a time.


He (she?) is pretty docile most of the time. When he smells a mouse, you do not want to get close. He'll strike at anything moving or warm, and this behavior continues for a day or two after he's eaten.

Originally posted by: Journer
Originally posted by: compnovice
Boa's can crush you... that's about all I know about them...
Click to expand...

meh...depends on how big they get....some cant get pretty large (over 16ft) so you would need to be careful. Most people say if your snake is bigger than 6-7th someone should be in the room with you...its not very common for a snake to attack a human though...you hear ****** all the time about it but thats only the media...i'm sure if someone did a study people would see how rare pet-snakes attack owners and other pets...
Click to expand...
I've been hurt more by my cats than by the python. I've never been bitten by the snake, but the cats have scratched me numerous times.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
For your first snake (you will want more :D) I highly recommend a Ball Python. Technically, its' name is Royal Python, but not many people know that.

They don't get very big 4 feet, max, usually, and are very hearty.

Just make sure the cage has a hot side and a cold side, have the lighting for the cage on a timer (12 on/12 off) and always have plenty of fresh water available and it'll be happy.

I had to get rid of my three snakes (Ball, Red Tail Boa, Brazillian Rainbow Boa) very suddenly about three years ago when work moved me on short notice. I miss them. :(

They are very cool pets. Especially for those of us that are allergic to cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, hamsters, etc. :roll:

I would feed the snakes, put bowls of fresh water in there and go away for two weeks. They never missed me. Very hearty, great pets.
 
J

Journer

Banned
Jun 30, 2005
4,355
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Originally posted by: BoomerD
I like snakes so much, I'll swerve clear across a 4 lane highway to run one over!

Can you tell I'm not a herp-lover? I know people who hava a wide variety of them, from garter snakes to fvcking cobras...(which IMO, should be illegal to own)...no use for snakes...just rodent controllers...not "warm & fuzzy" pets...
Click to expand...

I dont know why someone would want a venemous one unless they were just head over heels about snakes like some dog/cat owners...i dont see myself ever owning something THAT deadly...i think people have a right to own whatever pet they want (assuming they can take proper care of it), but if my neighbors venemous snake were to escape i would be scared shitless...

to say there is no use is all in the eye of the beholder. there isnt much use for a dog other than to eat and ******...some dogs do a lot more but for the majority, dogs just sit on ass all day. cats are even stupider...they are almost impossible to train and most cats dont even like their owners o_O...since the love between an animal and human is created by the human only...you cant say that someone cant get warm and fuzzy about their pet snake....some love to crawl around your body, give you snake kisses, etc. people are just afraid of snakes because of media/movies...a ball python is probably the best pet ever...easy to maintain...no vet. is really ever needed...they dont ****** all over the house (unless you let them roam free) etc.

dont get me wrong...i LOVE most all animals...i have a dog ive spent plenty of money on...i'm not saying snakes are the best creature to ever walk...err slither...the earth...but they really are a good pet for those who want something low-low maintenance
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Originally posted by: Journer
Originally posted by: BoomerD
I like snakes so much, I'll swerve clear across a 4 lane highway to run one over!

Can you tell I'm not a herp-lover? I know people who hava a wide variety of them, from garter snakes to fvcking cobras...(which IMO, should be illegal to own)...no use for snakes...just rodent controllers...not "warm & fuzzy" pets...
Click to expand...

I dont know why someone would want a venemous one unless they were just head over heels about snakes like some dog/cat owners...i dont see myself ever owning something THAT deadly...i think people have a right to own whatever pet they want (assuming they can take proper care of it), but if my neighbors venemous snake were to escape i would be scared shitless...

to say there is no use is all in the eye of the beholder. there isnt much use for a dog other than to eat and ******...some dogs do a lot more but for the majority, dogs just sit on ass all day. cats are even stupider...they are almost impossible to train and most cats dont even like their owners o_O...since the love between an animal and human is created by the human only...you cant say that someone cant get warm and fuzzy about their pet snake....some love to crawl around your body, give you snake kisses, etc. people are just afraid of snakes because of media/movies...a ball python is probably the best pet ever...easy to maintain...no vet. is really ever needed...they dont ****** all over the house (unless you let them roam free) etc.

dont get me wrong...i LOVE most all animals...i have a dog ive spent plenty of money on...i'm not saying snakes are the best creature to ever walk...err slither...the earth...but they really are a good pet for those who want something low-low maintenance
Click to expand...

It depends on the animal's personality. I've got two cats. One is dumber than most bricks, and moves about as fast as one, while the other is fairly smart and very energetic. She's 14, but she'll still hurry to stay with me while I'm getting ready for work, and she knows my routine, like which room I'm going to go to next.
And sure cats/dogs can be cute and nice and all, but there are a number of things that I don't like about them.
Dogs - the whole licking thing. Yuck.
Dogs and cats - having trouble taking a crap? Just use the ground/floor/carpet as toilet paper! Scoot the scat away!
Cats - throw up and then shake your head, flinging it everywhere. My cats are getting better about the throwing up thing - they'll meow a certain way about 10 seconds before horking up something, time enough for someone nearby to grab them and set them outside.
Cats - they walk in their toilet. And then they walk around the house.
Cats - they lick their own butts in place of toilet paper when the floor just won't do. Then they lick themselves all over. Who wants a big hug?

Snake - it just sits there and waits to be fed. It won't leave pleasant gifts on carpeting. It doesn't need toilet paper. It really doesn't need much of anything. Forget that he exists for a week and he probably won't even notice. They aren't exactly thrilling pets, but they also aren't much trouble at all.
 
T

Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
1
81
I have a corn snake, which would fall under the "colubrid" option, but I clicked the "other non-venomous" option before considering all the options carefully.
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: BoomerD
albino monocled cobra

Just can't see why anyone would want one of those for a pet...nor someone living next to me with one either...
Click to expand...

wow it looks nice. but i agree i wouldn't own a poisonous snake either.

i have had a few ball pythons and a red tail boa and a few Gardner snakes.


i enjoyed the ball pythons. they make great pets. easy to care for and cheap to feed. the red tail took a little more effort.

though the best was the Gardner snakes. i had 5 of them in a small cage. i would just have to put in a few goldfish every week. they were great snakes. they would go around the cage all the time. only trouble was when cleaning out the cage they would try to bite me. heh
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,280
7,074
136
When I lived in Florida I had a bunch of friends who had ball pythons. They were all the rage back in the day. Now it's a huge problem because people just let them go, I guess, and now there are huge pythons running around in the Everglades:

http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/07/27/fl/immokalee/ib04.txt

http://www.criticalmiami.com/index.php?id=236
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12820947.htm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0203_050203_everglades.html

"As babies, Burmese pythons may be cute. But they grow into 15-foot-long (5-meter-long) beasts, prompting some owners to get rid of the snakes by dumping them into the forests of South Florida.

Now the giant pythons are breeding in the Everglades, threatening to overrun the national park. They may be preying on native mangrove fox squirrels and wood storks, and they could be competing with the threatened eastern indigo snake for both prey and space. Stunned parkgoers have even spotted the pythons in epic battles with native alligators.

From the mid-1990s through 2003, park officials removed 52 Burmese pythons from the park. In 2004 alone, 61 animals were taken out. Fifteen snakes were captured last month."

Note the "capable of eating deer and endangered Florida panthers" line in the first article. Glad I moved :Q
 
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