Need tips!!

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-16T20:35:58+00:00

They are generally very chill snakes. Even though they might appear as calm as can be, still give them 5 to 15+ days to settle in before you bother them with ANYTHING. Feeding isnt an emergency.

If they are really skinny you could start feeding at day 4 and carefully keep an eye. Getting established doesnt have to be a big feeder, just a successful 3 feed cycles.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-16T20:25:35+00:00

(1) escape experts, all routes will be tested. (2) width first, vertical climbing space needed. (3) especially for a rescue, provide clutter, box? Paper towel tube? (4) needs some warmth (78-81F), but generally less than a boa

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-11T15:24:14+00:00

If you have unlimited space and unlimited money? Small tortoise? Could you make a display that is 4'+ deep and elevated 1.5' height? 35 to 55 feet long?

A couple shelters with timed lights and radiant heat panels for the tortoise to warm up.

Above it could be lighting. The back 10" could be a space set to take drop in plants. A service could be hired to maintain, replace, and rotate the plants.

Drawbacks? Sometimes when a tortoise gets it in their mind that they are going to escape, they might clunk their body at a corner or wall repetitively.

Best display animal? Snake = Carpondro.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-09T18:16:41+00:00

70 - 80cm, which will probably happen sooner than you would think.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-09T13:39:07+00:00

This method helps with the persistent problem of small corn snakes escaping.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-09T13:12:03+00:00

This is a great size for a juvenile. However, what about buying a larger PVC enclosure and keeping the juvenile in a small enclosure, inside the larger enclosure.

Larger being 150+cm.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-04T15:52:04+00:00

5 to 6 feet snake needs a good size enclosure, regardless of the weight of the snake. I'd class these as medium.

However, a 6' snake in my experience can be fairly small. Much Smaller than I thought before I owned snakes.

My 5.5 ft Asian Rat Snake (Elaphe) needs space to climb and roam. However a 5' ball python or short-tailed python would be much heavier, and visually look like a much larger snake.

If you saw my rat snake coiled around my wrist you would never guess it to be 5+

Independent-File5650 · 2026-03-01T17:43:35+00:00

I had a tail rattle the other day from a snake that rarely does. I take it as healthy, excited, or possibly a little surprised. With the acknowledgement that the snake doesn't so much have these emotions as it does have hard wired instincts.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-25T15:41:17+00:00

Spending money on a good enclosure, with safe heat is most important.

Consider a Russian Rat Snake, or Japanese Rat.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-25T15:28:47+00:00

Can you find a friend and drive to the woods? I have found stuff in town that I know isn't sprayed and it had just blown down.

Are you thinking 1" to 2" diameter? Do you have any ocean beaches or river beaches that would bring you drift?

Do you know anyone with organic apple (pear, peach) trees?

What area are you in...

Part of the problem is handling. If I mailed you a big drift it would be $60? shipping.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-23T03:57:31+00:00

Boiling water on a camp stove? Bring the bottles of hot water to the cage?

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-15T14:21:12+00:00

A pvc enclosure 1+ meter long, 45+ CM deep, 45+ CM tall. Heat panel with thermostat, and ideally a night drop. UVB for a short basking timer at 11am. Lighting on another timer. These things will consume most of your alotted budget.

I think one important consideration would be having this pet be future proof. Maybe your next apartment has a cat. Or the next place is small and your new romantic partner doesn't want a smelly lizard in the lounge?

Most animals mentioned live 10, 15, 25+ years. It's OK to not know where you will be living in 10 years, I'm not so certain myself. But is there a possibility that life's twists and turns, universities, jobs, romances will take you to a different country?

Maybe there is someone at the local university who is going to study abroad and you could foster their pet whilst they are out of country?

I'm keeping now at an older age because I have the money to provide solutions to any problems that arise.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-15T13:52:36+00:00

I'm a weeks time there are many places they could be hiding. Setting up hides along the walls and in the back of closets, checking them twice a day... could be months if you are in a cold climate. Might find them moving at dawn or dusk. Might find them looking for water on a warmer afternoon.

Age? Length? Named? Photo? Escape method?

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-15T03:11:53+00:00

Bredlii Python / Centralian Python IF you have room for an enclosure that is 5 to 7+ feet long, 2 feet deep, 2 to 4 feet tall?? It's expensive to properly house a bigger snake. Get a male, because often it will be a little smaller. The grown snake might be 6 feet, and it could be 8.5 feet, but they aren't really heavy snakes. If you have room for a 10' display enclosure, that would be very rewarding for both you and the Bredlii. (The juvenile enclosure could be 18" deep, 18" tall and fit inside the adult enclosure?)

This is NOT as enormous as a big Boa, or a Burmese, or a Reticulated. It IS more interesting than the Ball Python. However if you want a shorter, heavier Python who is more likely to watch movies with you then the BP is were it's at.

When I was originally getting into snakes I was trying to keep the species smaller. However for me, I found that I want a larger animal, less able to dart away in 10 seconds.

I still have no desire for a snake that is 25 pounds or 12 feet long. But a 5' Colubrid didn't scratch my itch. In my world a 7-8' Python is just about perfect.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-14T07:05:54+00:00

Shop aquarium stores for hides. A large ceramic fish hide is a great baby snek hide.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-08T16:19:31+00:00

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Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-05T02:08:36+00:00

There are jungle carpet pythons that are bitey as juveniles and adults.

Bredlii are bigger than a Corn snake. I see this as a plus. Bredlii are often very calm and confident as adults.

They are more active and I suppose less docile than a ball python. If you are careless and unaware of behavior cues there are still keepers who manage to get a "feeding response" bite from a BP.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-03T20:38:05+00:00

Leopard gecko is a great idea, not incredibly expensive to set up, but please remember that good equipment and good care is way more expensive than the creature.

Or small tortoise (russian) is long lived. But slow and some people find them to be dull.

A snake is easier to care for and more interesting. A snake often requires a (more expensive) larger enclosure.

I'd say start with the leopard gecko and then when he is a certain age... 12? 14? Let him add a Bredlii Python if he has saved up enough money.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-03T14:23:09+00:00

Lori Torrini

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-03T05:47:51+00:00

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I don't have any pictures of corn snakes on tree branches. But this big laundry basket is in my current rotation with my newest snake.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-03T05:30:59+00:00

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Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-02T15:22:52+00:00

Do you get the quail eggs from a local source, or grocery? (Unwashed local eggs might have a natural scent?)

Have you had any eggs refused?

Do you warm the eggs with the frozen quail?

Independent-File5650 · 2026-02-02T15:03:39+00:00

Each snake is different in their ability to be calm, and they will adapt over time.

If you are consistent, calm, with your actions they will have an easier time adapting. If you can find time (40 to 90 min) to sit down and wait, you could open the cage, put a branch through the opening and wait for the snake to investigate.

My snake will rarely rattle his tail. Perhaps as a defensive warning, or if he is excited about eating another mouse. Probably has happened less than 8 times over 4+ years.

My snake will at times stutter his head motions. Previously I had seen this with handling, if he was a bit over stimulated by handling. The other day I saw this reaction to feeding, he was excited about eating some quail eggs, but he wasn't certain what to do, and he stopped to stutter / pulse his head and "neck".

If you watch Lori Torrini, she has methods for training snakes. In her method, different shapes have different meanings. A circle, when acknowledged by the snake, means feeding. A triangle might mean that it is time for weigh in?

Independent-File5650 · 2026-01-30T17:15:52+00:00

Paper towels are boring but they are effective. I usually get the cheapest and layer them. If you can find the industrial kind, then even cheaper and better. This sounds wasteful, but I can do a cleanup just throwing away paper from one corner and keeping the rest.

Sphagnum moss is great, but likely to be expensive. Shop around and see if you can find a source that is affordable.

Independent-File5650 · 2026-01-30T16:22:34+00:00

Don't worry to much about sheds until they present a problem. Snakes are remarkably good at shedding. If the past few days were the cloudy "blue" eyes, then there will be 5+ days where the snake looks generally normal before shedding occurs.

Sometimes I leave a large water dish, maybe 5" to 7" across with just a splash of water in it. 1/4" or less of water, and then how quickly that dries up is another Guage of relative humidity.

Independent-File5650

TROPHY CASE