A few questions for those who know...

[hendo87]

hi, im interestied in getting a snake and i was wondering a few things....

• What would be the largest growing breed, but cheapest hatchling to buy?
  (i want a big snake like an olive python but dont have a huge budget with all the kit to buy)
• if i were to buy a diamond python or a jungle python, what lighting would i need?
  (i have a plant-growing fishtank lamp thats 2ft?)
• what is a large growing, not snappy breed?
• what is the easiest snake to breed for a newbie?
• what is the easiest snake to care for?
• how much would i have to pay for one of those red gtps?
• are there any jet-black pythons?
• how large a terrarium would i need for a baby diamond python or jungle?

cheers.

[MrBredli]

• What would be the largest growing breed, but cheapest hatchling to buy?
  (i want a big snake like an olive python but dont have a huge budget with all the kit to buy)

Probably a Coastal Carpet, you can get one for $100-150. Olives and Scrubs you're looking at $350-400+.

• if i were to buy a diamond python or a jungle python, what lighting would i need?
  (i have a plant-growing fishtank lamp thats 2ft?)

That lamp would be insufficient at providing UV. You could use an NEC T10 (about $15) but IMO you don't need it.

• what is a large growing, not snappy breed?

Bredli/Diamond/Murray Darling.

• what is the easiest snake to breed for a newbie?

Any of the Carpets.

• what is the easiest snake to care for?

They're all pretty much the same excluding Diamonds.

• how much would i have to pay for one of those red gtps?

$6500-7000.

• are there any jet-black pythons?

Only one, but if you can't afford a hatchling Olive don't even think about a melanistic Darwin Carpet.

• how large a terrarium would i need for a baby diamond python or jungle?

A small tub about 30cm x 20cm x 30cm.

[Snow1369]

1. largest breed is the scrub (not cheapest) Coastal is cheap and has quite a size

2. diamond needs basking spot of 28-32 degree (not sure about jungles) and UV

3.largest non snappy snake would be the olive

4.easiest to breed are macs (but costals for a bigger snake)

5.any of the antaresia group are "easy to keep" (again costals if wanting a big snake)

6.heaps (bout 7000 was the last on on herptrader, not readily availible, the red ones that is)

7.a dark diamond can be quite black

8.clcik clacks are best for hatchies
hope that helps!

[peterjohnson64]

Wow Hendo, lots of questions but I understand where you are coming from.

1. Largest growing but cheapest...... like you said, get an Olive but if that is too dear get a coastal carpet

2. If you dont live south of Port Macquarie dont get a diamond and if you do it will need UV but a Jungle wont (dont ask me why I know they appear very similar)

3. Olive, but ALL snakes are individuals so nothing can be guaranteed

4. Coastal Carpet (assuming you only mean big snakes)

5. Coastal Carpet, Darwin Carpet, Murray Darling Carpet

6. $5,000 but it will still turn green

7. Not yet but you can come close with the right OLD Diamond

8. baby? not even a terrarium juts this

[Snow1369]

danm, MrB beat me, and his was better

[hendo87]

thanks for the info guys!

id really like an olive but i dont think id be able to afford one... well i have to move house anyways, maybe when im settled into my new job ill find myself with more of a "disposable" income aside from the initial outlay of mula, how much does it cost to keep a snake? im not talking power bill or anything, just licences and food and supplements etc. per week?

costal carpets look pretty cool, like a leopard only more snakier lol.
anyone know of a good breeder of olives and/or coastals in melbourne/north vic (near eildon)?
cheers - mark

[Forensick]

cheap to keep...
few dollars a week for a hatchie

others will prob be more exact... i don't have a snake yet...
thats about 2 months away

[hendo87]

another thing, how do thermostats in enclosures work? wouldnt the thermostat not adjust to the room temparature? would it be possible to keep a snake in an enclosure that has a heat mat attached to an air temp probe that cuts in and out according to the air temp? if the temp is set to say 30'C and the air temp inside the enclosure is 29'C the heat mat powers on until the air temp is 31'C and then cuts off. when the temp cools to 29'C the heat mat powers on again, raises the temp to 31'C and round it goes etc etc. ??? obviously you couldnt use a light globe to perfom this task as the light switching off in the daytime would upset the snakes bodyclock...

i dunno, can someone explain how heating an enclosure works?

because i dont fancy spending $800 on a premade enclosure, i want to build my own. i have everything i need construction, cabling and tool wise - except the lamps, heaters etc. assuming i get a coastal, what do i need?

other thing is, anyone have a link to a guide on how to care for a costal? from a to z (aka: complete)?

[Mayo]

Read the WIKI at the top of the page "frequently asked Q's" should help answer some of your Q's

[thesilverbeast]

as for the thermostats, i dont have snakes yet but i will use the same system as what i have now for my blue tongues.

i have a light controlled thermostat set to roughly 23 degrees celcius which gives a surface temperature of about 100 farenheit on the hot end. (after all, its surface temps that matter)

when they turn off i have a flurescent light that stays on permanently during the day.

i will do the same for the snake but it wont have to be a UV emitting light like it does for the lizard.