10 best and worst snakes to have as pets

[Herpguy55]

Anyone no the ten best and ten worst pet snakes to own acording to the book "An Owner's Guide To The A Happy Healthy Pet Snake" by Lenny Flank, Jr. Hope you enjoy.

Best

1.)Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata)
2.)Rat Snakes (Elaphe species)
3.)King Snakes (Lampropeltus getulus)
4.)Milk Snakes (Lampropeltus triangulum)
5.)Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtais) and Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus)
6.)Pine and Bull Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)
7.)Ball Pythons (Python regius)
8.)Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata)
9.)Rainbow Boa (Epicrates species)
10.)Red Tail Boa (Boa constrictor)

Worst
1.)Any Venemous Snakes
2.)Any Wild-Caught Snakes
3.)Reticulated Pythons (Python reticulatus)
4.)Bermese Pythons (Python molurus bivittatus)
5.)Anacondas (Eunectes murinus)
6.)Green Snakes (Opheodrys species)
7.)Hog-Nose Snakes (Heterodon species)
8.)Water Snakes (Nerodia species)
9.)Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus)
10.)Racer Snakes (Coluber constrictor)

Now the question is who has more on the worst than the best list...lol [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

I know I plan on gettin some off the worst list [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Thanks
Kody Miller
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[BWSmith]

Worst:
Rainbow Snakes
Mud Snakes
Queen Snakes

I would never keep anything off othe worst list.................... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[BWSmith]

And I think it may be more appropriate to list the best and worst "beginner" snakes.
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[Bry]

I agree with most of the listings, but I have some questions about a few of them. I'm not trying to start a flame war, but putting in my perception of some of these species. Are they listed according to temperaments, ease of care, or what?

I do agree that rat snakes of the Elaphe obsoleta variety generally make good pets due to temperament, ease of care, and hardiness. But some get quite large (for a beginner), and some are not exactly known for their huggable temperaments, i.e. Texas Rat snakes (E. o. lindhermi). What about the Asian rats of the Elaphe genus? Are they as lovable and cuddly as corn snakes?

As for the Pituophis, don't forget the gophers. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Rainbow boas do have fairly good temperaments, but their care needs more attention than others. Keep in mind a lot of beginners think that you can simply toss a snake in an aquarium, give it water, feed it once a week, and it'll be happy. Such isn't the case with rainbow boas.

Why are hognose snakes on the list of worst snakes? Is this due to their mild venom and their amphibian/lizard diets? Otherwise, their care isn't too complex, and they're not known for biting.

Oh yeah, don't forget the rock pythons.

Why are hots on the worst list? BWSmith keeps them. That means I can too. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Bry
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	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[herp_chick]

I do not agree that Ball pythons are good beginner snakes, for the simple reason that they go off feed for long periods of time, which can freak out a beginner, or make them think, if I offer it live, maybe it will eat. Then, if it does happen to eat live, you have a mindset that "their snake" WON'T eat frozen/thawed, r prekilled.
BTW, I USED to have the book these lists came from, I have since thrown it away, as it was full of Crap.

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I would rather have 30 minutes of something wonderful than a lifetime of nothing. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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[deadboy]

i dont agree with the general term "Red Tail Boa". I mean i think that BCI are generally easy to take care of, but all others require more care that a beginner isnt usually ready for, such as BCC, BCO, ect.
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	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[RevMojo]

BP's oughta be on both lists


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[Bry]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> BP's oughta be on both lists </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with ya, Rev. I was gonna say the same thing. However, I figured since he put 'all wild-caught snakes' on the worst list, I figured the wild-caught ball pythons fell under that, while captive-bred balls should be on the 'best snakes' list, IMO.

Bry
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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[Blackwidow_woman]

&gt;&gt;I do not agree that Ball pythons are good beginner snakes, for the simple reason that they go off feed for long periods of time, which can freak out a beginner, or make them think, if I offer it live, maybe it will eat. Then, if it does happen to eat live, you have a mindset that &quot;their snake&quot; WON'T eat frozen/thawed, r prekilled.
________________________________________________________________________
Herp Chick, i totaly agree with you on that..!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]

&gt;&gt;Rainbow boas do have fairly good temperaments, but their care needs more attention than others. Keep in mind a lot of beginners think that you can simply toss a snake in an aquarium, give it water, feed it once a week, and it'll be happy. Such isn't the case with rainbow boas.
___________________________________________________________________________
Bry,, you got that one right on the money way to many people dont realize that rainbow boas need diffrent husbandry than say a corn snake or a ball python.. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[slaponte]

From a newbie perspective. having only had BCI, BP and BRB,

easiest) BCI was the easiest as a newbie. More forgiving, eat well.

easy, but not as easy) BPs came after. More &quot;nervous&quot;, finicky eaters, husbandry more precise, less forgiving.

not easy...) BRB, still getting used to it. Not hard, maybe I am just nervous to do the right thing. Maintaining the husbandry right is turning out to be more of a chore.


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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>4.)Bermese Pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>


GEESH!! You'd think that someone who wrote a book would at least know how to spell or use spell check
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]


Yeah..Why are the Heterodons on the worst list ?? Long as it is NOT the eastern one.. I don't see a problem in keeping them actually.

So what does this book state as the &quot;scale&quot; that is being used for the determinations in best/worst ??

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[telefrag]

Thats what I wanted to know Lori,
heck, any snake can be a &quot;good&quot; or a &quot;bad&quot; pet.

It all comes down to what everyone likes, theres lots of people who keep hognose and do very well with them, yet they still make it to a &quot;worst&quot; list.

And retics, despite their size are not bad pets if they are tame.
Granted, I would be much more comfortable with a 6 ft retic as opposed to a 15ft one.
Tame or not.
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[Stormyva]

IMHO the Rainbow Boa should not be on the best list. They are not as forgiving as some of the others on the list and have more involved husbandry requirements. There are others such as the Spotted and Childrens Python and some of the carpet pythons that would be much better suited as best snakes.

_________________
&quot;A man who carries a cat by the tail is getting experience that will always be helpful. He isn't likely to grow dim or doubtful. Chances are, he isn't likely to carry the cat that way again, either. But if he wants to, I say let him!&quot;
Mark Twain

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[roachpunk]

2.)Rat Snakes (Elaphe species)
6.)Pine and Bull Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus)
2.)Any Wild-Caught Snakes
10.)Racer Snakes (Coluber constrictor)

all my snakes were wild caught..


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[telefrag]

I dont think all WC snakes are bad pets, one of my best bullsnakes is a WC female, she is tame as can be, but my CB bulls, they are another story.

They hate me.

but, I would have me too if I were a snake so I guess thats a given.
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	Captive Born Captive Born

	Wild caught wild caught

[Domingo]

I would tend to agree that this list reads more like a best/worst FIRST snake list. I think the author was trying to dicourage irresponsible/uninformed people from getting in over their heads.

We all know that too many people take little &quot;Johnny&quot; to the pet store when he accidently kills all of his goldfish and proceed to buy some new and cute -- like a little burmese python. &quot;I here they won't get big if you put them in a 10 gal aquarium and only feed them once a month.&quot;

I think a corn snake is a good first snake. I started with a BCI, but I read a lot of information when I bought it. Being well informed, I was able to avoid most of the common beginner problems. I knew a lot more about boas than the pet store did, that's for sure.
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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[Domingo]

Ignore my previous post, I have just decided that a black mamba is a much better beginner pet. I used my patented anti-logical system. If you can handle a mamba, you can then move on to easy snakes with no problems. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Squeezer]

&gt;&gt;Why are hognose snakes on the list of worst snakes? Is this due to their mild venom and their amphibian/lizard diets? Otherwise, their care isn't too complex, and they're not known for biting.
&gt;&gt;
It was because of their diet.
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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>&gt;&gt;Why are hognose snakes on the list of worst snakes? Is this due to their mild venom and their amphibian/lizard diets? Otherwise, their care isn't too complex, and they're not known for biting.
&gt;&gt;
It was because of their diet.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>


Well if that is why..Then they should have only listed out the Eastern Hognose and not the whole specie I would think. The Eastern is the one that is the problem feeding ..amphibs diet needed etc...and the other ones are not actually like that.
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[Blackwidow_woman]

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img] Having the Eastern Hognose snake WC is not as bad as we thought, even though we use toads as trying to switch them over to mice is not fun at all.. Rubbin a mouse on a toad or using a toad skin on a dead mouse is a bummer as we love toads and the kids have them as pets.. its the hardest to keep the snake during the winter as there is no toads to be found.. so the kids are gone during the day and i sneak a toad from there cage and poof the snake has its meal.. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Kids are wondering where all there toads are going i told them they got out..hehehehe!! Im awful. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img] Man spring better get here soon.. im runnin out of toads.. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]
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