Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

angel148 · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: WHATS THE BEST SNAKE EVER???

What your favourite species of Boa or Python and WHY?
I have kept everything from Boas to Royals, Chondros to Burmese. I have been around most snakes in my 25 years of keeping reptiles. There is only ONE that stands out above all else for me, the Retic. I think anyone who has kept one successfully that is not a nasty wild caught snake will agree. At the moment I have Royals and Retics. I love the Royals and the endless morphs blow my mind but they have little personality compared to the Retic. These are the most intelligent snakes by FAR. They keep you on your toes and are a joy to be around. The aggression is often mistaken for the insane feeding response in these guys. When they are hungry they will cruise the cage looking. When you throw food in the will often strike at anything that moves nearby. Once you have hook trained them though it’s a different story. By tapping them on the head to let them know it’s you and not food you ‘turn off’ the feeding response. They can adapt very quickly and well. I recently got an 8-9 foot girl. CB but not often handled. She always looks for food and initially would rush at me but not strike. I have had her out a couple of time now. I used the hook method and by the second time she knew what was happening. Now, after almost no training I can tap her on the head and she just sits there. I can open the cage and clean out one entire half without any bother. I can take pictures just inches away from her once I have given her a tap. When you get them out all they want to do is explore, they are really active and nosey. It’s often a handful getting them back into the cage as they just want to stay out. The morphs that are now being produced are unbelievable and unlike most Royals their colours get better with age. People don’t like them because they are “too big and nasty”. NO, that was the wild caught ones. Of course there are always exception, some of my Royals strike; some of my Chondros were pussycats!!! But if you get a CB Dwarf and raise it from young using both the hook method and some degree of intelligence then you will end up with the most rewarding snake you have ever kept. These amazing animals are both beautiful and intelligent and have certainly stolen my heart. This is my personal devotion to this special snake, I would like to hear what has stolen your heart and why??
Paul

Donski · Contributing Member Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 85

Have to agree Paul, I think Retics have yet to see their day here as there is still so much bad vibe about them. Once the forums are filled with snakes like yours and the new stuff Henry is bringing in, people will get wise that they are not as bad as made out. That's not to say they are for everyone and are not demanding. In the wrong hands they will be as devastating as Rottweilers and Pitbulls (American Bull Terriers) have been. The purple albino is one unreal snake this photos sums it up for me.

2nd inline would be the Irian Jaya Jag.. stunning colours and patterns.

My own favourite in my collection is my Diamond x Jungle ( bred by Paul Harris) . No photo can do justice to her, she sparkles and is a lovely snake to work with

Central Scotland Reptiles · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:39 pm Post subject:

Stunning picture Donski.

For me, the Boelens Python is hands down the most beautiful of all snake species.
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Fraser Gilchrist
Central Scotland Reptiles - "Finding Beauty in the Beasts"

Lynne · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject:

mines is my wee normal royal kya, she was being tube fed mind? she is now eating for scotland.
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angel148 · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:01 am Post subject:

molurus · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

I would have to agree with Fraser,

Boelen's for me to, though i still haven't' had any in my collection as of yet Sad

angel148 · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:

Scott W · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:19 am Post subject:

Difficult one...'best boa or python I've owned'...don't think I can really pin it down to one, I'll try......

I guess if I were only allowed to keep one and for no reason other than a pet, it would have to be a burmese. Nice big albino female. Or maybe further down the road a beautiful Leucistic Burmese Wink

If it were for the fun of breeding them, then without it would have to be the Royals. With all the genetic morph potential you could be breeding for decades and still create everything.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

toyah · Key Member Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 228

No boa or python could beat corn snakes as my favourite species - if I had to choose one favourite species, there would be no competition there. But if I had to choose a favourite outside of the corns, then it would be womas. I just wish we could get the localities that the Aussies have, but I can't see them opening that avenue up for us anytime soon Wink

BallGuy · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject:

Currently, I'm really jealous of Toyah's Womas.

I can't choose a favourite of my own, they are all favourites for different reasons.

The Savu's, just because.

The male childrens python because of his attitude, the female because of the lack of attitude.

My common boa, because he was my frist "rescue".

The BRBs because they are beautiful.

My Royal and Dumerills, because of the problems I've had with feeding.
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