[Closed] Herpetoculturist - Show me your snakes

I can't even put into words how scared I am of snakes! Don't know how you can hold one like that...?! Fair play though. I once saw a slow worm on the trail out ridding. Scared the life out of me!

Encountered a few Boas when I was in Belize, stunning creatures, feel amazing to the touch.

I just loive Boas - their head shape, colouration (not in to the morphs - nature does stunning just fine on its own), the size; big but not silly.

Always wanted one, never thought Mrs Danny would agree (well ok she didn't per se but she's come round now I actually have one).

@DJ - what scares you out of interest. Beautiful creatures and if handled correctly most species are very docile.

Reminds me of the time I went to the zoo in Enugu, in eastern Nigeria. All the animals had been stolen and eaten except a small crocodile that was in a filthy manky pond. When I complained there was nothing to see, they took me with great ceremony to see The Python. Very secretive and exciting. I was taken to a hut where a big mama was sitting with a plastic laundry basket which she opened... to reveal a tiny python about as big as that. What a let-down!

Must admit the markings and colours on them are often stunning. I think it's the eyes that do it, esp the lack of blinking! Always look shifty to me! I once saw a nature documentary or film as a kid with an anaconda...I was too young and always struggled since! I know its completely irrational. I recon I need to try holding one but at this stage I can't even go into the reptile house at Chester zoo!

Had two garter snakes when I was younger and would have another but haven't the time at the moment. Got to admit that looks a beaut. What size does he grow too?
I used to volunteer at a zoo when I was in my teens and one day two of us were asked to clean out the tortoises in the reptile house. Chatting away to my mate I opened the wooden hatch at the back of the enclosure and put my hand in but brought it back fast as **** when I realised I had opened the Indian python enclosure by mistake.
Still not as funny as the time I made chimp noises behind the same mate after he entered the enclosure after securing them all away... (we were always told that the chimps were the most dangerous animals in the zoo - and I believed them).

Two normal Royals, A Pearl Burmsee python Normal Het Albino Burm, Albino Boa,Hypo boas male and female Red Tail boa.
I'll have put pictures on later.
Love snakes now. Used to be scared stiff. Such misunderstood animals.

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Bwfc - is that a true BCC female? she's a beauty. Would love one of those but their potential size makes a BCC a no go for now. Don't you just love boa eyes - the way their markings continue through them.

I love the giants but couldn't see myself ever owning one. I know burms in particular can be pretty laid back but too much snake for me.

A carpet python and a green tree python in the collection and that would do me and maybe a Brazilian Rainbow.

@Stevet1. The Central American Boa constrictor imperator generally stay a bit smaller than the Colombian BCI. Columbians are what you'll see labelled common boas and reach 6-8 feet for males, 8 maybe 9 feet for females with the odd exception getting a little larger.

The central American ones generally stay below 6 feet even the females and some males may only reach 4 feet or so. Again there will be exceptions.

The true red tail boa constrictor constrictor girls can top 12 feet and the boys over 8.

Be wary of claims of massive boas though. Most snake owners, particularly the Yanks are pretty bad at estimating snake length and generally add a foot or three!

Oh and Stevet1. Chimps are properly nasty f*****s. They been know to more or less torture Chimps from rival packs (finger nails pulled out, bollocks ripped off, eyes gouged etc).

Yeah, you don't want to get suck in an enclosure with some pissed off Chimps...

She is claimed to be a red tail. But I think she is a cross personally. The shop we got her from were feeding her medium mice when we got her! As a yearling. She is now smashing large rats every fortnight. Guinea pigs sometimes.

Beautiful manners just a bit nervous when picked up.

I said I'd never go bigger than a Royal then we got the boas and now two Burms. The Burms are so placid. Start tap training with your boa early on and you will never have any agressive. The Burms can be a bit hiss in shed. But I'd be pissed if I couldn't see also.

Yeah she's being tap trained from the off and I'm teaching babybgoode (currently age 3 1/2) how to handle her properly from day one also. He'll be growing up with her so I want him to enjoy owning a snake but also to respect it properly too and understand they are not 'normal' pets.

Would I go to burm or retic? Maybe one day but as I say more likely a carpet or a Macklots python.

That, a green tree python this one and maybe something like a gopher snake and I'll be good. Just got to get them passed Mrs Danny!

What a little beauty. An absolutely stunning snake. Some great colours and marking. I have a royal and possibly a rescue corn snake soon. No recent photos though.

I wouldn't recommend a carpet. They are very snappy. See how you get on with a boa. And then try a male Burmese. Not a huge difference size wise between a male burm and female boa.
Dwarf reticulated pythons get to 8/9 ft max. But your talking £200 for a normal basic morph.

Cb 15 Hypo female. Only 9 week old.
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Jesus - don't do that to me! I am not a big fan of morphs but she is stunner. You breed her yourself? I am guessing mine isn't much older but I need to check with the shop I got her from (they bred her in house).

Which BTW if you're ever in the Sheffield area or are looking for somewhere new to check out I would highly recommend. Snakes and Adders its called and its truly an exceptional reptile shop. Look at some of their videos on f/book and you will see they really do put the animals first. Spotlessly clean and all the enclosures are of really good sizes for the larger snakes they have for sale.

Want a retic - they'll get you one but they'll grill you for an hour or two first to make sure you really know what you're getting in to. Want a lizard but don't want to splash out on the right heating and thermostat - simple they won't sell you a lizard.

Don't think I'd get a burm passed Mrs Danny although I may be tempted to try in a few years once this one has grown some and she is more used to larger snakes. A GTP would come first though.

@roper - get some up to date photos of your Royal posted and the corn if you get it.

Oh and BWFC - If you fancy something a bit different check out the CA Super Motley toward the bottom of this page - http://www.snakesnaddersonline.co.uk/boas.html

Jet black iridescent BC Imperator..

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Nah Hypo baby was from Warrington pets and Exotics.
The Albino Kahl and Hypo Adult are from Snakes and Adders. Great shop well worth the two hour drive.
And I'm after a motley to breed with my female Hypo in a few years. Hypo motleys are stunning.

So you know them then. I live in Sheffield and hadn't even heard of them!

Went on the strength of their reviews and the policies they state on the website. No nonsense, no BS...

Do snake owners generally favour the constrictors rather than venemous breeds or is it just personal preference? Just curious as its a pet I would never own but notice there aren't any Cobras, taipans, adders etc mentioned in your collections. Incidentally I've no idea if the those mentioned there are suitable for home captivity, it's just some I've heard of.

Yeah just decided have a ride out to them and ended up coming away with the Albino and a viv. Went back for the Hypo a month later.
Great for boas and Royals.
Can recommend Reptile room near Blackpool, Viper and vine Prestwich, Reptacular Rochdale.

Gotama - A licence is required for venomous snakes. As stunning as they are I like a snake I can handle. And the big constrictors are quite docile with correct handling. The cats are more aggressive the devious little buggers.
Been bit twice by snakes. Savaged numerous times by the cats.

With the bigger snakes just need common sense, don't handle a frozen rodent then touch your snake. Proper temperatures and humidity, don't handle in shed as they feel vulnerable. And use a snake hook from early age tap them to let them know it's not food and then get them out.

The above boas usually just slither out onto your arm though. No need for the hook.

Ah ok, probably quite sensible! I just assumed that if you piss off a 10ft boa it's as likely to squish you as a venemous snake is to bite you, albeit at least with the latter there is an anti venom. *May have seen too many Indiana Jones films here.*

Definitely too much Indiana Jones. There's no known human deaths attributable to Boas. There have been a couple reported but the snake was misidentified.

Even the giants rarely kill humans. Trouble is, a bit like sharks, snakes get really bad press and are totally misunderstood.

Boas are generally pretty chilled as are burmese pythons. Reticulated pythons can be a bit tetchy and anacondas (particularly yellow) are pretty defensive (which gets labelled aggressive).

You just have to be sensible as bwfc says. Thing is, shit rarely goes wrong but then there is no such thing as a minor incident with a 15ft+ 100kg snake.

Guy at the snake shop I went to has a friend who's been keeping retics for 20 years and last year nearly lost a foot because he let his guard down - first time in 20 years and bam.

You just have to never assume your snake is tame. No such thing in the snake world.

The scary thing is you could go online now and have a reticulated python in your house before new years Eve. No questions asked and this imo is the issue.

A good store will make sure you know your shit but there's plenty of stores that will just make the sale.

There a shop in Sheffield that is advertising 'cute yellow anacondas'. Yellow anacondas are one of only 4 banned species in the US (some states / counties have specific exclusions on top) and yet this guy who sell you one no questions asked. Just stupid.

They do make great, different, interesting pets but you have to know what you're getting in to...

Exactly if you know the risks and respect them they make great exotic pets.
But same goes for a dog that fluffy lab puppy could snap at you possibly

I remember reading one of those day in a life of things in a Sunday supplement. The guy was a snake keeper at the zoo and was attacked by a boa constrictor . He mentioned feeling his ribs break as the snake went about it's business.
They ended up chopping the snakes head off with a fire axe.
I don't like snakes.
There was also that South African idiot who wanted to be Steve Irwin. His "dream" was to touch the hood of a king cobra as it reared up. Snake bit him. 😯

BS on the boa story (not dating you're bs'ing but it sounds like a misrepresentation on the part of the zoo) . It may have been a big python or an anaconda but not a boa. Not big enough to break ribs.

The green anaconda is (incorrectly) labelled a water boa and that is a more likely.

Yeah, you always get idiots with any 'exoctic' animal. Venomous snakes are a competely different ball game...

We have a couple of cornsnakes, a couple of peacock geckos and now an 8 week old pup Norwegian Buhund

African Rock Pythons are one the cutest snakes in the world

What's the point? I just don't get it. They don't play with you, don't show affection, you can't take them for walks. They should be in the wild (or dead).

@loddrick-you could say that about any pets except dogs and maybe cats. Cats of course are in it for themselves so any affection is to get food and shelter (BTW I love cats precisely because of that).

But hamsters, fish, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits etc are all equally pointless as pets - especially fish.

That said I enjoy keeping snakes because I find them fascinating and the boas and particularly the big pythons have a pretty high degree of intelligence and there is some interaction. They certainly know their keepers from strangers and you can hold most of them.

Boas in particular will generally be happy to curl up and chill on you after 5 minutes of checking everything out.

No, they're not for everyone but they are very misunderstood. Spend time with them though and they can grow on you...

As someone who is sh*t scared of snakes I've found this thread really interesting. I'm not saying I'd ever get one, but I'd be tempted to have a closer look at one and maybe even hold one after reading this thread. As a few of you have said, they seem very miss understood. Mostly by people like me! Singletrack snake therapy!

Fear of the Unknown I used to be scared stiff of snakes and think of them as slimy and vicious. They are not slimy they feel smooth and soft. They don't size you up. Bites and deaths occur due to people's stupidity.
A miffed snake will hiss at you and try and get away before it bites and even then a tag bite doesn't hurt.
A food response bite from a big constrictor may require stitches if it rips your skin but they are caused by idiotic people.

As above the Burms and boas do enjoy attention. I'm greeted every morning by Harry the burn at the glass who then patrols the bedroom before slithering up the bed and resting on my lap.

Here's one of mine - Merauke GTP
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This is Dave my 7ft male Common Boa
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And Maria, my female Dwarf La Bahia Boa
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Snakes are brilliant, the way they move when you are holding them is fascinating.

I'm with Loddrick, can't see why you'd want to take any 'exotic' creature out of its natural environment and keep it in a cramped glass cage. Without a heat source it would probably die too. They also require morbid food sources.
That goes for gerbils, rats, fish, etc. All completely unnaturally couped up in cages, going completely against their natural instincts.
There's an argument to be had for dogs as they've been bred in close captivity for thousands of years - plus have the character traits mentioned earlier, cats are charming at times but I'm not a huge fan as I don't like to see the local bird populations decimated for kicks.
I used to avidly keep fish and am still fascinated by them, but rather than all the expense and time keeping them safe in a micro-environment I struggled to justify their captivity after a few years. A bit like a bird in a cage, it's just plain wrong to deny its flight.
Snakes look good, but just not in a box. seems a hark back to Victorian fascination with controlling the natural world to me. Plus for every snake/creature owned, dozens/hundreds are likely to have died in terrible conditions being smuggled in order to feed this strange fascination.

That green snake is my favourite. Never in a million years thought I'd catch myself saying that. Not so keen on Maria though. Think I'd freak out if one started wraping around me like that. Visions of having my arm broken and eaten!

Slimjim, the same can be said for dogs to be fair. Too often we hear of these dog farms with the poor things being kept in terrible conditions and sold on too young. Also the number of people these days who own dog's but work silly hours leaving them alone at home all day. The number of professional dog walkers around our way is unreal! I've never known so many people owning dogs. Seem a completely unsuitable pet for many of them in my opinion.

These snakes are not out of there natural habitat. These chaps are born and bred in the UK. If a snake was picked up and dumped in what ever country it's ancesters came from would most likely die (slow painful death) due to having no imunity are hiding, hunting skills for that new enviroment. Smugling snakes into the uk is not as big as the internet implies although it is a deplorable act. More birds and other fur monters are smuggled into the uk and europe.

Rabbits, gerbils, hamsters and dogs as well as a whole host of other animals are technically not in there natural habitat.

If you look after any animal right, it can flourish in any cared for enviroment. I don't know any keepers who keep the snakes locked up for long periods of time. If you do, you should do something about it.

As for 'Morbid food sources' I take it that you are vegan? Snakes it meat, fish, insects. What's morbid about that. It's no different as to what humans eat (or cats, dogs, birds etc)

What happend to the fish?

@dj. God's are beautiful snakes. A little harder to keep and not really one to handle too much (easy to injure) but in my wishlist.

@slimjim - snakes in captivity generally outlive their wild counterparts by some years and most keepers try to mimic the wild environment as much as possible and their animals well cared for.

Life for them is much simpler than in the wild. Snakes want to eat and that's about it. They only roam to eat. Boas generally don't even do that. They just hide out and grab whatever passes.

Captivity mimics reality much closer than people think accordingly. The enclosures may look simplistic but all the important features are provided.

Each to their own of course and I can empathise with your point of view but having really researched snake husbandry I can honestly say I do not think it is cruel to keep them.

As for want they eat. Well in the wild they eat the same stuff!

GTP's not gods. Never tried keeping a God to be honest...