Snakes…

[Kyrabee]

Retired here and on YouTube way too much. Well, I started watching videos from Snake Discovery. OMG, Emily could sell anything but above all she is super passionate about reptiles.
I think they are misunderstood.

I have decided my next critter will be a snake. I don’t know when. I don’t think a snake will fly with my 93yo Mom that lives with me. It doesn’t hurt to dream.

I don’t want anything big. I got species whittled down to corn snake, milk snake or hognose. The hognoses are so cute. I guess they can sometimes be hard to get eating mice. They usually eat frogs and toads in the wild. Milk snakes are a maybe but I stumbled across a lava morph corn snake. Wowza. They are gorgeous.

https://www.morphmarket.com/morphpedia/corn-snakes/lava/

I know Lauraruffian used to be on here and was breeding corns. Just wondering if anyone else has a snake (or two). A snake seems attractive to me as I would like to do more traveling (mostly short 3-5 day trips around the state) and only having to feed every week-10 days (when adult) sounds good. I would have someone come in every couple of days…it wouldn’t be abandoned while I travel.

There is a reptile zoo in town and I went and did a bit of handling so I know what it is like. This is a blue eyed leucistic ball python. They are definitely chill but don’t want that girthy of a snake.
I can go volunteer that this place so may do that in the meantime…it may change my mind to no snake too but better to know before I get one.

Susan

[Texarkana]

I had the most darling striped corn snake. I had him nearly 20 years until he passed away.

He was a fabulous pet. I plan to get another some day.

I haven’t handled any domesticated hognoses, but corn snakes and milk snakes tend to be pretty active when you hold them. Different than something like a python that will wrap itself around your arm and chill.

[Kyrabee]

They have a juvenile corn snake at the reptile zoo. They said to just ask one of the volunteers to get him out. I held the ball python because he already had it out. I will go back soon and see if someone will get the corn snake out and see if I can manage keeping up with his activity.
Ball pythons are so chill but like I said…a little bit girthier (heavier) as adults than little old me wants to deal with. I also need to think out that the snake may outlive me (I am 68) and have arrangements in place.

I am trying to be responsible about my little dream.

Susan

[Texarkana]

It’s not a bad thing they are more active. I could hold my snake and he would climb all over me. I liked the constant movement, I would just have to pay attention or else he would go exploring.

My corn snake got quite long- over 5’, but girthwise, he stayed pretty small. He was a great snake ambassador because he was so non-intimidating. His head was no bigger than the first knuckle on your finger, but his body was big enough as an adult that you were holding a substantial snake.

I’m having a hard time pulling up good pictures of him but this was my friend’s then kindergarten aged kid holding him (not the best technique, kid was 5, snake was so chill he was unperturbed):

[SummerRose]

I’ve had hognoses and they’re adorable. But yes, sometimes they can be really poor eaters and that can be a major problem. Most of mine ate well but the few who didn’t were extremely challenging.

And they are mildly venomous. They virtually never bite but on the rare occasions when you have a very eager-to-eat hognose, it might accidentally strike when it thinks you’re reaching down to give it a mouse. (And yes, I’ve been bitten. Completely my fault for being careless. No long-lasting effects but it was definitely painful.) Oh, and they don’t wrap themselves around your hands the way some snakes do so they’re a bit more awkward to hold.

If you do get a hognose (and I really did love mine, so I’m not trying to discourage you!) one thing to note is that the female is much larger than the male so if you want a larger snake, go with a female. And generally, if they’re already eating pinkies (or larger mice, if they’re older) when you buy them, they’ll usually continue to eat mice without any problems.

I’ve had a couple of ball pythons, too and if I was to get snakes again I’d probably go with one of those. But yes, they’re very girthy so I understand if they’re not your preference!

Between corn snake and milk snake, I would probably choose a corn snake. They are larger, which might not be what you prefer, but IME they tend to be a bit less temperamental. And I like the variety of color morphs.

I would caution that whatever you get needs to be handled fairly regularly to remain relatively tame.

Post pics when you have your new snake friend!

[trubandloki]

@Kyrabee

I know Lauraruffian used to be on here and was breeding corns.

I believe she still does. She has a Facebook group/page about it.

Edit to add - I can’t find it right now. When I do, I will post it.

[Kyrabee]

Thank you. I will look too next time I’m on FB.

[trubandloki]

I finally found it.

She has some lovely looking snakes.

Cleo's Kingdom Colubrids

[Kyrabee]

Thank you.

[wildlifer]

I adore snakes, what wonderful animals, although I don’t have pet ones because I also like mice, so my snake would starve, lol.

Hognoses are truly adorable but if you need your snake to be an ambassador, be aware one of their behaviors is to head butt or strike at things, which tends to freak people out if they are not already snake lovers.

All the best tempered snakes I have ever handled were corn snakes, just so chill & good with whatever. Altho I did know one ball python who was like that as well & she was named Snuggles bc the owner’s parents were afraid of snakes, so that was an attempt to make her more approachable.

ETA - all snakes can strike, of course, I’ve just seen it much more commonly in hognose snakes. Altho most of those that I have encountered have been wild.

[FjordBCRF]

I had a little red bellied snake when I was in grade school. I vividly remember the day my dad brought her home. I had just come home after eating pavement from my bike and my mom had just cleaned me all up. When my dad walked in with her I wanted to hold her, but she pulled back from the peroxide/bandaid/medical smell and I just started crying all over again. . She was cool!

[stargzng386]

I have a super sweet docile hognose snake. She’s so calm people who are afraid of snakes have held her. She’s fine eating frozen mice the western hognose are pretty domesticated and as long as the seller has been feeding mice you should be fine. Whatever you do do NOT buy based on color or photos online. You need to handle the snake in person. Look for reptile shows near you. I had a corn snake who was too active and fast for me. I also had another hognose who was waaay aggressive and scary. This hognose as a baby just curled around my finger and chilled and has kept that personality no matter what.

[Texarkana]

@stargzng386

Whatever you do do NOT buy based on color or photos online. You need to handle the snake in person.

This is very true. I was given the same advice when I got my corn snake in the early 00s. I got him at a large reptile specialty store. I picked him because he was very relaxed yet interactive and interested in me. He kept that temperament his whole life.

Your hognose is gorgeous! I have only ever handled wild ones.

[Kyrabee]

Gorgeous hognose stargzng386. I keep changing my mind on what species. Those hognoses are just so stinking cute. What size enclosure do you have for her? Re:color, I can tell the “tricks” they use to make their colors more vibrant than they really are.

I don’t think any snake could be any worse than my cat. She is a love biter🙄. She has gotten better. She was an older rescue so I know it takes some time.

[Kyrabee]

Another question re: females. Do they still lay eggs even not bred mated? I seem to prefer female critters but I’m not sure how often egg issues (like being egg bound) occur in females that have not been mated.

Susan

[SummerRose]

None of the snakes you’re interested in are likely to become gravid through parthenogenesis. But it is possible for some female snakes to store sperm for months to possibly more than a year so if a mature female has been exposed to a male, she may lay eggs long past the usual gestation period. But you’ll probably be looking at young snakes and most breeders will separate babies pretty much as soon as they hatch. Female hognose usually need to be at least 2 years old and 250 gms to breed and I think corn snakes usually mature even later. I’m not sure about milk snakes.

[wildlifer]

@stargzng386

I have a super sweet docile hognose snake.
…Whatever you do do NOT buy based on color or photos online. You need to handle the snake in person. Look for reptile shows near you. I had a corn snake who was too active and fast for me. I also had another hognose who was waaay aggressive and scary. This hognose as a baby just curled around my finger and chilled and has kept that personality no matter what.

I want to hug your snake. That is all.

[jumperoverwater88]

I wish you luck on your snake journey!

I’ve been watching an account on Tik Tok called molinaro_snake_lab. I like watching him post about all the snakes.

[Kyrabee]

There is a reptile expo/show coming to town in October. I will attend and look at all the little snakies . I probably won’t get anything until next year but that way I can do lots of research and prep.

More questions for stargzng386…Did you keep her in a “bin” as a baby or put her in her grown up enclosure? I for sure want to have everything set up before I get the snake.

[stargzng386]

She’s full sized now and I have her in a large exonterra tank. Honestly it’s a tad big they prefer a tank that just fits the length of their body and I keep it full of shavings and plants because they feel more secure being able to dig and hide. It’s next to my work desk and she usually
Chooses to stay right next to me watching what’s going on.