I am a big fan of being a keeper of different species (primarily snakes) and love experiencing all kinds of critters. I would love to hear anyones recommendations of species that isnt on the list below (whether lizard or snake but i will lean more to snakes because of the ease of care).
As a future note, I am going to eventually have three 4x2x2s open as some of my snakes are gonna out grow their enclosures and be moved into bigger homes. I will also have 2 5x2x2s open down the road and one 6x2x2. I refuse to own a critter though that gets above 7+ feet because of the risk factor and being alone/the sole caretaker.
Here is what i currently own:
Corn Snake
Ball Python
Black Pine Snake
BCI
Dumerils Boa
Cape House Snake
Black House Snake
Kenyan Sand Boa
2 leopard geckos
Bearded Dragon
I keep an Amazon Tree Boa, Kingsnakes, Ball Pythons, a Boa Constrictor and Garter snakes so I’ll speak from my experience with them.
I’d say if you want something unique and don’t mind spicyness I’d get an ATB. They’re a bit tough to socialize in my experience but I’ve heard its very much worth it if you can get them to calm down through regular handling.
If you want to get into more Colubrids as I see you have a few I’d give Kingsnakes a try if you don’t mind their insane food drive, the good thing being they will likely never miss a meal for you.
Garter snakes are fun as they will literally make use of their entire enclosure and they can be kept communally, they just tend to be more fragile in body and health than other Colubrids and they require a more frequent and diverse diet. Imo with their fragility they’re definitely a more display type species but its not impossible to handle them, it just requires more care and caution.
They are also not that widely available as a captive bred species, if you get lucky you can get ahold of a good breeder though. Just keep in mind that a majority of them in the market are Wild Caught.
Whatever you chose to go for just do your research and be ready for the species above all else.
Thats an awesome reptile room btw, love the huge dragon statue!
I have looked into garter snakes and getting two females that are the same age. How is your experience with them as far as terms of ease of care and dealing with cannibalism.
Short tailed pythons! 3 different species to choose from, all with the same delightfully chonky physique. Between Sumatrans, Borneos, and bloods, you also get a lot of different colour schemes (including some stunning morphs) to choose from.
I have a blood python I absolutely adore. They’re such cool snakes.
I would go with something on the odd side…or at least more unique and uncommon….how about, I love the big snakes, so an Olive python? They can get big, but not huge…and I love the look of them.
I dunno man, they’re one of the world’s giant constrictors, they can get pretty huge. (But still not as big as something like a burm or retic, which is probably what you meant.)
But they’re awesome! Definitely agree olives are an amazing species for anyone who has the space.
I am a python guy so I’d have to recommend bloods or any short tail, really. Big but not huge. Colorful even in natural form. Never refuse food. Vocal.
If you don’t mind donating a bit of blood try some of the Indonesian species. White lips, rings, timors, scrubs, freckles. Some get over 7’ but calm down with age and handling. Not necessarily white lips but they are beautiful. You’ll love to hate them.
Tree pythons, carpets, rough scaled.
Antaresia is another fascinating group.
Look at the ratsnakes too. There is a plethora of them. Different colors and patterns as well as many, many morphs. They range in size from small to holy damn! and are usually easily kept.
Amazon tree boas. More of a display animal but such natural variability. Some are bitey but others allow interaction. Not picky about food.
There are a few different species of sand boas as well as rosy and rubber.
Of course, the kings. Will try to eat anything sometimes,so,easy to feed. Stay small. Easy handling. The most vividly colored group of snakes along with the rats.
Pine, gopher and bulls. Again, colorful, easy to feed. Hardy as any rat or king.
Water snakes are an interesting group. Not just the nasty poop spraying tooth ropes from eastern N.A. there’s puff faces, dog faced, tentacled. Some Africans look remarkably like garters.
As for lizards the geckoes are a huge family. They range from the tiny sphaerodactylus to larger races of leachianus.
Same for skinks, another large family. Some can become real pets. They have bright colors and some are iridescent.
The anoles are a great group. Some can be kept communally and are colorful. They are non- vocal so their communication is visual.
If you want bigger but not dino-esque there are a few smaller monitors that you might like. Very intelligent. Not necessarily the devout carnivores we’ve been led to believe some will eat fruit and veggies as part of their diet.
Tegu. They are omnivores. Big, bold, smart, friendly if you put in the time. Can be kept outside depending where you live.
Remember to check your local laws when researching. Some, like tegus and iguana, are becoming an issue in some areas. Others are banned outright. Or their food is.
Have fun narrowing your search, there are a couple thousand species to consider. Not all are readily available but you will find something interesting.
Happy herping!
This will honestly depend on whether or not they are wild caught, and if they are WC how well established they are. As well as the quality of care the keeper/breeder gave them.
Both of mine are WC but they were well established before I purchased them, they slam down cut up silversides and tilapia as well as anything that is scented with silversides or tilapia, they can also eat chicken heart, earthworms/nightcrawlers, and pinky mice as long as they are cut up to an appropriate size (don’t offer pinky mice too often, they are quite high in fat for Garters). You also have to be mindful of what types of fish are safe to feed to Garters as there are certain types that contain Thiaminase that is toxic to them (blocks absorbtion of vitamins, causing seizures, amaciation, or death).
Some individuals will never establish well in captivity leading to failure to thrive, some even well established individuals may even just die for no apparent reason as this is a species that breeds for quantity over quality leading to health issues, developmental issues and so on…
You’d also have to quarantine any WC individuals for a much longer period of time than a cbb animal, a minimum of 6 months after purchase or onset of concerning symptoms.
I’ve personally never experienced cannibalism in Garters, though I know it is possible. Try to keep same-size individuals housed together, don’t house babies/juvies with adults. Tong feed them individually if they will let you or cut up their food to bite-size pieces so multiple snakes don’t latch onto the same food item. Watch them while they eat to ensure one doesn’t accidentally latch onto another and start eating them, once that food drive is kicked in they might not be able to differentiate “friend” from food.
I agree that pythons in the brongersmai complex are worth considering. They’re different enough from what you already keep that they’ll be interesting. I kept a pair from hatchlings through breeding (and maternal incubation) and it was a great experience overall.
The arboreal recommendations given so far are also something different. Rainbow boas might be an option (I keep Brazilians).
I learned a lot about keeping reptiles when I started keeping dart frogs, because of the stark differences. Not sure if that’s on your options list, but keeping amphibians (especially ones that we don’t just keep like wet reptiles) can be a very eye opening experience.
I have thought about them. I love they are big snakes in a compact package. The only issue, which i have no experience in but have heard of, is their temperament. Majority of my critters are held or handable due to my niece wanting to experience them. So im not 100% how they can be around children.
But i do see them at expos and enjoy looking at their lively colors!
Huge fan of boas, and actually have a bci! I do hope maybe obtaining a super fire down the road as i find them dropdead gorgeous! I just stray from bcc because of the bigger care requirements and not really having the space to care for a fullgrown critter. But i do love boas and would love to keep more!
This is good to know. I definitely dont buy any wc which i know makes it difficult for me in purchasing them, but i rather not deal with possible parasite loads and failure to thrive.
I must ask, where do you source your food for them? That is my number one concern in feeding these guys and finding meals/variety good for them.
Ive never expanded my collection outside of snakes and lizards (thats where my biggest fascination is with), but I feel this is something that is coming onto my radar as Im desiring a fresh new experience with another critter that isnt a snake or lizard. Possibly a small tortoise may be in the future works.
I have been curious about blood pythons. What would you say your experience is like and also the possibility of children handling them?
Hi!!! Your reptile collection is awesome! I’m jealous/hj lol
Personally, I’ve done a lot of research into both western hognose snakes and boa constrictors (although the second one would be a lot lol). I’m very partial to snakes as well, and I think a rosy boa or western hognose would be awesome!!
I also think scheltopusiks are super cool, but I’ve never done any research into them, so I can’t say whether they’d be a good pet or not haha.
I get silversides (frozen) and earthworms from my local pet store.
Chicken hearts and Tilapia is bought from the grocery store, and the occasional f/t pinky mice are produced from my own breeding colony. Of course you can also buy f/t pinkies from pet stores or online sources like Rodentpro.
Idk if every pet store will sell silversides and earthworms though…
(But still not as big as something like a burm or retic, which is probably what you meant.)
….looking for ways to get one in Florida 
