What type of snake should I get?

[therat]

I see alot of people are saying Bredls, I have a yearling Bredl and i have to say it bites me everytime i handle it, but calms down. Then my coastal though wouldnt bite me if i had a rat hanging out my mouth most placid snake i've ever had, and of course the spotted, have one aswell and just as quite.

[hey_im_sam]

Hah, I have to say that 2 out of my 3 bredli are really not very good handlers, the other is the second best snake I've ever owned Saying that, I haven't had much time to handle them over the last couple years, but with the effort I have put in they've calmed down a lot. Most snakes will respond well to regular handlings, though there will be exceptions.

What I think you should be getting out of this thread, is look at the species suggested and decide which one appeals to you. I prefer a decent sized snake, so would be looking at coastals, diamonds, or bredli, and then I'd choose bredli because they're gorgeous realise that It'll be a couple years before a snake gets to an 'intimidating' size, and by that time you will have grown up with it enough that it won't bother you.
If smaller pythons appeal, you can't go past childrens (anything antaresia).

For a first snake, just be sure you buy one that is eating well, as it's a hassle a first time keeper shouldn't have to deal with. Try and find a breeder who'll talk it over with you, once you decide on species.
Enjoy

[dobermanmick]

Originally Posted by therat

Then my coastal though wouldnt bite me if i had a rat hanging out my mouth most placid snake i've ever had, and of course the spotted, have one aswell and just as quite.

Have you Tried it ?
I must say i am wondering why no one has suggested a murray ?
They are a fairly placid snake with a mid range adult size and really nice colours !

But then as therat says coastals are placid as well .
all of my coastals are dog tame the largest one around 7 feet long the worst she will do is hiss
I can kiss her on her nose without worry about her biting ,although unlike therat i would prefer not to have eaten a rat beforehand

[Fuscus]

Originally Posted by therat

... wouldnt bite me if i had a rat hanging out my mouth ...

Photos Please.

I have 4 bredli, one nipped me when I first got her but I can now trust them with children

[instar]

Most hatchling pythons are said to settle down well and get used to handling after a bit. Some (perhaps most) are snappy lil things to start with, understandable since there very small and defensive. After a month or two of regular handling there ok to be picked up without striking, mind you, every snake is different and like us they have bad hair days. Most importantly, you should get familiar and confident with handling yourself before allowing very little children to do so. Show them how to do it safely and gently can take time, but they'll get the hang of it. Golden rule with handling is lack of real restraint on your part, let them move where they want, support but not controll them, they will hold you.
Pythons are terrific pets and you and your kids can look forward to years of enjoyment with whichever snake you choose. Enjoy.

[Crocboy]

Coastal hatchling are the go, never had a problem.

[africancichlidau]

I believe any Australian python with the exception, maybe, of the Scrubbyand GTP, can be placid if obtained as a hatchy and given the right conditions and handled REGULARLY.

They are the best ever.

[Menagerie]

This is probably going to sound so ignorant, but I'm only just starting to investigate pythons!!! Which grows bigger? The diamond or the carpet python?

hmm, i'm not sure on comparrison though i know of a person who has a 16 or 17 ft carpet., like the second biggest or something.

[jimmy_the_kid]

scrubbys and olives get pritty big 5 or 6 metres maybe i here coastal i hear are the larges carpets could be wrong

[Menagerie]

impressive... can you handle them properly at that size?

[Fuscus]

Coastals are the largest of the carpet range ( The Diamond is a sub-species or variation of the carpets ) with some animals reaching 3.5 meters. Most carpets only reach two to two and a half meters, jungles being the smallest.
Scrubbies are confirmed to 5 meters and may reach 8. They are a slender snake and don't weigh much. They are not considered a beginners snake.
Olives reach about 4.5 meters and are a heavy and spectacular snake. The western sub-species Liasis olivaceus barroni is a much bigger snake with a TL over six meters. Olives are normally considered a placid snake.
The general rule with handling big snakes is one person for the first two meters and a person for every subsequent meter.

[jimmy_the_kid]

i thought it was 1 person for 3 metres and a person per metter after that

[koreanmug]

Hey Liberated~ how old is your bredli?