Rosy or Kenyan?

[672]

OK, I have definately made my final decision (well not really). I have narrowed it down to kenyans or rosies as my first snake. Now I know all the husbandry requirements and all the rest of it, excet for each of their recommended substrates.... what would you recommend? Now the main reason I made this topic is because, I would like to start with a female probably (just 1 snake for now) and if everything goes well, I will get her a mate in 3-5 years from now. Of course you now know I would like to breed them... So my question is, since they seem easy enough to breed, all I need to know is should I brumate kenyans, and at what temperature should I brumate rosies. Now my second question is, in which species are neonates easier to start to get feeding? (this will be probably the biggest factor in my decision because I don't want to have feeding problems, and if these two species usually do have trouble, I'd like to keep it at a minimum) Oh, and one last thing, what is the best place to aquire frozen mice/rats by mail order in Canada? Think you can handle that? lol

thx

[Linds]

Well, if you are looking to get a snake that you can see, go for the rosy. Kenyans spend pretty much all their time buried beneath the substrate. Rosies will cruise around, and they love to climb as well.

Neos of both species can take a while to get feeding regularily.

I don't know a whole lot about brumating Kenyans, but Rosies are brumated at 55-65 degrees for 3 months usually starting November.

[672]

hmmm... well I guess rosies could be somewhat beneficial for their activeness, but that's not really my priority... thx for the reply!!

[Stockwell]

Kenyans are not brumated. They are given a period of reduced temperatures druring the winter months. I breed Conicus, Johnii
and colubrinus(kenyans) all the same way, and this the same way most boids are bred.
From Nov to March let night time temps slip down to approx 68F.
Bring the temp back to 80's during the day.
KSB's breed in May to July with fall babies.
Conicus and Johnii breed sooner and have babies in June.

Buying lone females can sometimes be difficult, as suppliers dont want to get stuck with all males. You're best to buy a pair at the same time and raise them up together. They breed when they are 3 years old.
I would say Kenyans are the best to get feeding, but there is little difference . Most rosies feed fine too, but some Mexican locales refuse to eat until they have been cooled for several weeks.
You wont have that problem with Kenyans. Most of them all eat live pinks with little trouble.
I keep both rosies and Kenyans on BETA or ALPHA chip, produced by Nepco
Carefresh, and shredded aspen, as well as Aspen chip are also commonly used.
Sand is used by some but it's not really recommended. It clogs nostrils, abraids the eyes, is heavy, and tracks all over the house
www.nep-co.com

[672]

Are there any problems with shredded aspen? Just because it is easier for me to get... Also, generally which of these snakes would you recommend?

[Linds]

I wouldn't recommend feeding on shredded aspen as it can lead to impaction. Both are snakes are great, although I'm partial to rosy boas myself Sandboas do better with a loose substrate, but rosies are fine either or. I just keep mine on papertowel and they burrow between the sheets and I brumate them in Carefresh. If you wanted Beta Chip, what you can do is contact your local co-op about it. Many places will special order in products for you that they do not usually stock. This is what I ended up doing with Mazuri rodent chow instead of driving for an hour and a half everytime I needed it (same place that sells Beta Chip).