Snakes as pets

[Snowleopard42]

I will hopefully be getting a pet snake soon and i was wondering which breed would be the best. If you have any recommendations or stories please share.

 

[Tig]

Everyone always says Garter or Corn Snakes are your best bet, but they're wrong. Get a captive-bred Ball Python and you're set. They almost always eat, and if they decide not to (which is rare) they can go for months and be absolutely fine. Great temperment and very intelligent. Most Ball Python keepers (including myself) report keeper recognition.
If you get a male, a 20 long will be good for life, or at least for a long time, and if you get a female, a 30 or 40g tank would be good.

 

[siamang27]

I would have to agree. I'm not a snake expert, but I have handled several ball pythons and everyone has had positive things to say about them.

 

[Chlidonias]

note that the poster is in Australia, and exotic snakes cannot be legally kept there. I would suggest a Children's python.

 

[CGSwans]

note that the poster is in Australia, and exotic snakes cannot be legally kept there. I would suggest a Children's python.

Any of the Antaresia specie (spotteds and Stimsons' are both more attractive than Children's though) or if a larger snake is desired centralian or Murray-Darling carpets have the best reputation for good temperament.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Any of the Antaresia specie (spotteds and Stimsons' are both more attractive than Children's though) or if a larger snake is desired centralian or Murray-Darling carpets have the best reputation for good temperament.

Antaresias for sure. Largely terrestrial so a 4ft fish tanks is OK. Make sure you have a very secure lid as all the Antaresias are great escape artists.

The Morelias [Carpets] are much more arboreal and few people provide adequate housing for them as a result. Not sure that I would suggest a bredli ["centralian"] for a beginner.

Always acquire a juvenile rather than a hatchling. Too many hatchlings are fussy eaters and starve to death in the hands of novice keepers.

 

[Chlidonias]

probably best to avoid scrub pythons too
Python attacks toddler in Port Douglas- Local Cairns News | cairns.com.au

29 December 2011

A PORT Douglas toddler has survived a snake attack in his backyard after neighbours rushed to the rescue and pulled a python off the child.

The boy’s mother told of her terror as she saw the python coiled around the two-year-old and trying to suffocate him.

She contacted The Cairns Post yesterday to share the traumatic event as a caution to others.

The woman was sitting on her porch when her youngest son moved off to chase after a ball about 7.45pm on Monday.

"Then I heard this blood curdling scream," she said.

"The snake was biting his leg and was wrapped around his whole body, to his chest. It started constricting."

The woman could not pull the snake off her son, but her screams alerted neighbours who ran to help.

She said the attack happened so quickly and was "very scary".

A Queensland Health spokesman said Mossman Hospital does have a venom detection kit but doctors already knew the bite marks were from a scrub python so did not need to use the kit as the snake is not venomous.

The boy was transferred to Cairns Base Hospital for monitoring in case of infection.
Queensland Health yesterday confirmed the boy was treated at the hospitals, that he had sustained four bite wounds, and that he was discharged after 24 hours.

A neighbour said it had been a long time since he had seen a snake in the area, adding "we’ll be keeping a very close eye on the dog".

Another neighbour reported hearing the woman’s screams.

Marlin Coast Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Rod Gilbert said pythons were more active between October and April when they were on the hunt for food.

He had never heard of a snake trying to eat a child but said pythons were known to prey on wallabies up to 30kg.

"I suppose a two-year-old boy is not much different from a wallaby – it could definitely happen," Dr Gilbert said.

"A snake wouldn’t be able to make the difference between a two-year-old boy and a wallaby, part of their normal prey."

Snake catcher David Walton said the incident was a timely reminder for residents of the Far North.

"I’ve never seen it happen before but given the right opportunity it’s certainly possible," Mr Walton said.

"It’s a bit of a worry."

Python varieties in the Far North can grow to several metres in length.

In March, pythons were blamed for killing nine cats in Cairns backyards and experts have said on average there is one cat death per month from snakes.

 

[Hix]

Always acquire a juvenile rather than a hatchling. Too many hatchlings are fussy eaters and starve to death in the hands of novice keepers.

Agreed, especially for Antaresia - some hatchlings are a nightmare to get feeding.



Hix